The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-08-12

matter how much is made, if it is al
consumed. If man possess million!
of dollars, and consumes his income, il
he rich? Is he competent to embark
in any new enterprise? Can he builC
ships or-railroads ? And could peopl,
in that condition build ships and roads
or 90 to war? ALI the enterprises O
peace and war depend upon the surplu,
productions of a people. They may b,
happy, they may be comfortable, they
may enjoy themselves in consuming wha
they make; but they are not rich, they
are not strong. 1t appears, by going t.
the reports of the Secretary of the
Treasury, which are authentic, that
last year the United States exported in
round numbers $279,0OO,O0O worth Of
domestic produce, excluding gold and
foreign merchandise re-exported. Oh
this amount, $158, 000,0 900 worth is the
clear produce of the South-articles
that are not and cannot be made at the
North. There are, then, $50, 900, OOC
worth of exports of products of the for
est, provisions, and breadstuffs. If VIC
assume that the South made but one
third of these, and l think that is
low calculation, our exports were
$185, 900, 900, leaving to the North less
than $4,000, 900.
In addition to this, we sent to the
North $30,000,000 worth of cotton,
which is not counted in the exports.
We sent to her 81, 900, 900 or SO, 900, 600
worth of tobacco, which is not CO united
in the exports. We sent naval stores,
lumber, rice, and many other minor ar
ticles. There is no doubt that we sent
to the North forty million dollars in
addition but suppose the amount to be
thirty-fve million dollars, it will give
us surplus production of two hundred
and twenty million dollars. But the
recorded exports of the South now are
greater than the whole exports of the
United States in any year before 1856.
They are greater than the whole average
exports of the United States for the last
twelve years, including the two extraor-
binary years of 1856 and 1857. They
are nearly double the amount of the
average exports of the twelve preceding
years. If | am right in my calculations
as to $220,000,000 of surplus produce,
there is not a nation on the face of the
earth, with any numerous population,
that can compete with US In produce
per capita. 1t amounts to S16.66 per
head, supposing that we have twelve
million people. England, with all her
accumulated wealth, with her concen-
trated and educated energy, makes but
sixteen and a half dollars of surplus pro-
duction per head. | have not made a
calculation as to the North, with her
$95, 100000 surplus; admitting that
she exports as much as we do, with her
eighteen millions of population, it would
be but little over twelve dollars head.
But she cannot export to us and abroad
exceeding ten dollars head against our
sixteen dollars. | know well enough
that the North sends to the South a
vast amount of the productions of her
industry. | take it for granted that
she, at least, pays us in that way for
the thirty or forty million dollars worth
of cotton and other articles we send her.
| am willing to admit that she sends us
considerably more; but to bring her up
to our amount of surplus production,
to bring her up to $220,000,000 a
year, the South must take from her
1926, 100000; and this, in addition to
our share of the consumption of the
1888, 000,0 900 worth introduced into the
country from abroad, and paid for chiefly
by our own exports. The thing is alb
surd; it is impossible; it can never
appear anywhere but in book of sta
tlStlcS.
With an export of 100000, 900
under the present tariff, the South, Or
gained separately, would have forty
million dollars of revenue. With one
fourth the present tariff, she ould have
a revenue adequate to all her wants, for
the South would never 90 to war; she
would never need an army or .avy,
beyond few garrisOns on the frontiers,
and few revenue cutters. 1t is com
merce that breeds war. 1t is manufac
lures that require to be hawked about
the world, that give rise to navies and
commerce. But we have nothing to do
but to take off restrictions on foreign
merchandise and open our ports, and
the whole world will come to us to trade.
They will be too glad to bring and carry
for us, and we never shall dream of
war. Why, the South has never yet had
a just cause of war. Every time she
has drawn her sword, it has been on the
point of honor; and that point of honor
has been mainly loyalty to her sister
Colonies and sister States, who have
ever since plundered and illuminated
her.
But if there were no other reason why
we should never have war, would any
sane nation make war on cotton? With
out firing gun, without drawing
sword, should they make war on us, we
could bring the whole world to our feet.
The South is perfectly competent to 90
on, one, two, or three years, without
planting a seed of cotton. | believe
that if she was to plant but half her
cotton for three years to come, it would
be an immense advantage to her. | am
not so sure but that, after three total
years. abstinence, she would come out
than ever she was before, and
better prepared to enter afresh upon her
great career of enterprise. What would
happen if no cotton was furnished for
three years? | will not stop to depict
what every one can imagine, but this is