The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1858-03-11
Resources OF the south--tsov. HAM
~ monde Speeeh.

monde speech.
Oar able contemporary, the Petersburg Tatelli-
kenser, ia commenting on a late mastery speech
Of Gov. Hammond, OF South Carolina, In the Uni
ted States senate. gives the following comprehen-
sive summary Of his glowing description OF the
resources Of the South:
sThe South, he said, has eight hundred and fifty
thousand square miles OF territory, an
large as that covered by Great Britain, France,
Austria, Prussia and Spsia. The North, even ar
ter the admission OF the two large territories OF
Kansas aud Minnesota, will fall one handred
thousand square mtles short OF the South. This
does not include the territory lying west Of the
Rocky Mountains, which will never come into
autagonism with the south. We have the best
soil, the best climate, indispensable productions
that cannot be grown elsewhere, shore libe OF
three thousand miles, and 80 indebted with bays
and crowded with islands as to make the whole
measurement twelve thousand miles. Through
the heart Of our country runs the mighty MIS-
sissippi, info whose bosom are poured thirty-stx
thousand miles OF tributary streams. In the
great valley IL drains win be the seat Of the
worlds empire. We have population four times
as large as that which conquered our indepen-
aence, aud q thousand fold rs strong. Upon
eur muster rolls we have million Of men. AT
any time the South can raise, equip and maintain
10 the field larger force than any power on earth
can send against her-men, too, brought mp on
horsebaek, with guns In their hands. Tho wealth.
of a people 10 TO be estimated by their surplus
productions All the enterprises of peace and war
depend on what a nation is able to spend Inc
reports of the Secretary OF the Treasury snow
that the exports OF the United States amounted
last year TO x279 900. exclusive OF gold ana 10
reign merchandise re-exported. OF this amount,
the productions of the South are $3.50 ooo,ooo. In
addition 10 this we send To the Northern States
$4,000 900 Of our staples making onr surplus pro
auctions worth SZ29. DOC, 0oo equal to $40 90 per
head of our population. surprising it to be twelve
millions. a dividend which no nation on earth can
show"
This IL o grand picture and true, every word 81
It, But what them VIII the South be less pro-
vince out of the Union than 10 it! When 1t has
become independent in name, will it be 80 in fact
Will the North cease to be its factor will it cease
10 bring and carry; will it cease to finger that hun
drsd and fifty millions of Southern money wh ich
now passes through its hands, viii it cease to
be our school teacher, our shoemaker, our book
maker, cabinet maker, machine maker; In one
word, our commercial manufacturing, literary
and religious master, Pray, why are we not indie
pendent nowf What binders us from having
ships, commerce, manufactures, literature of our
our own All, whati Answer that question, and
see If Disunion will remove that cause of all our
woe. IL we prefer now inglorious ease to SELF
denying tolls II. now, one section would rather
behold the prosperity of abolition town than of
rival section within it's own State lines, will Disu-
MON make us more enterprisins and more harmo-
niousl Where il the Covington aud Ohio Rail
Toadl Where the James River aud Kanawha Ca,
nali Where the movement to meet France in an
ocean line of steamers2 Where as much spirit of
selfdenal as even the old women of New England
showed when they gave up tea for independence!
Who is willing to surrender up a single luxury, to
deny himself even a cigar or q mint julep, to wear
plain clothing, aud less costly furniture In or
ern commerce. NJ. Lacoutre, in his late powerful
letter TO Gov. Wise, urges the people themselves TO
come orward and sustain the French ocean en- ter
prise, the French people sustained their govern
ment in the crimea war, and he shows how it can
be done. But will uybody do it, win any soul
listen TO Monsieur Laeoutref
We despair, totally despair, of Southern indie
pendenee In any shape and form till we see South
ern harmony, selfreliance, enterprise. present
the South is province Of the North, and 1t is So
not because of the Union, but because it prefers
life of agricultural repose and dignity to the 'ple
bian' pursuits of trade aud nutaetures. SO It
will remain, until its legislators to quarrel
about rival lines of railroads and to tax their
the shape of commerce from the South. So it will
remain, until, like our forefathers In the Kevolu-
ton, willing to live on sweet potatoes, wear
homespun, give up Injuries in every shape and
form, and walk with bare and bleeding feet on the
cold and rugged road of industry and selfdenal.