Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-07-03
A Pro-Slavery Journal i'm Europe
ssThe London Cotton Plant,

| Inc LONDON COTTON RIaBt.''
Among the disabilities which the South en-
| dures for want of immediate commercial in
tercourse with Europe, we have reckoned tn,
evil effect of Northern journalism on public
| opinion abroad, as not the least detrimental
to the interests of slavery. Intellectual iso-
lation Is the inevitable consequence of sew
erance from the world in the relations o.
| trade. On the other hand. the reciprocal in
| tuence of diverse social systems will be in
exact proportion to the intimacy of theiI
commercial association. Between Great Bri-
tain and the Northern States of this Confed.
eracy there subsists the closest and most con.
slant cOnneXiOn in the bonds of mutual traf
| nc. Hence the public opinion OF England is
materially modified by the prejudces of Bos-
! ton and New York; and, in turn, the social
| and intellectual habitudes of the North are
essentially affected by contact with TIE prev
| alent ideas in Great Britain. Meanwhile. the
| South stands aloof, neither receiving impress
sions from abroad nor prOpagating its own
convictions among the people of the Old
| World. But the advantages by no means
balance the embarrassments of its position;
| for while the Intervention of hostile medium
prevents the action of Southern thought on
| the mind of Europe the anti-slavery opinion
of Europe is aggravated in its effect upon the
intellect of America by combination with the
abolition fanaticism of the North. We are ex-
posed to attack but at the same time denied
the privilege of retaliation.
The South is secure within her lines of de-
fence. Her people are firmly attached to the
institution of slavery and ab1ndantly able to
protect 1t against external attack. Bnt they
weary of an attitude Of passive resistance.
Such Is their confidence in the strength of their
cause and the truth of their argument. that
they are inpatient to enter the lists of Euro
pean controversy. Having arrested the march
of invasion they obey the law of reaction and
propose in turn to wage war of aggression
upon the dominions of anti-slavery They are
possessed by the spirit of prOselytism,-t
intend to propagate the faith in the very
strongholds of ignorance and error. And
these champions of the South ask nothing
more In their adventurous enterprise, than an
opportunity of appeal to the sober judgment
of the world.
But the ear of the world is closed against
the arguments of the pro-slavery philosophy.
Though she speak in the accents of divine in
SEPARATION, and with an irresistible power of
reason, 1T avails nothing for the enlighten-
ment of Christendom; for an impenetrable
wall OF prejudice intercepts communication
with the intellect of Europe. The booksellers
of the South are not in correspondence with
the booksellers of Great Britain and no North
ern publisher will distribute pro-slavery argu-
ments among English abOlitionists. The
journals of London and Paris exchange only
with the journals of Boston and New York
and so 1t comes to pass that the image of
American thought and life daily presented to
the eyes of Europe, is a caricature of Southern
character and libel on Southern institutions
In every Cdfe on the continent one may find the
Times, Tribune or Herald of New York, but
never does sight of Richmond, Charleston or
New Orleans paper gladden. the soul of the
Southern traveller. Need we wonder then,
that the public opinion of Europe is SO mimi
cal to the interests of slavery?
Approaching these impediments to free
and friendly intercourse between the writers
of the South and the readers of Europe. and
the consequent disadvantage under which the
cause labors In breasting he public CD MON of
the world, we have long looked forward with
impatience to the establishment of a Pr
SLaUery Journal at London or Paris We have
thought IL an enterprise of such essential i'm
portance to the interest of the South, that we
have often wondered why American slave
holders did not at once contribute means to
Its successful contamination. Considering the
thousand millions of dollars dependent on the
security OF negro property, we have never
doubted but an insignificant expenditure for
so Important an object as the support of
faithful and efficient organ of slavery at the
centre of civilization, would be cheerfully
borne by the Planters of the South. We have
scarcely expected them, with their habits of
apathy and Indifference, to initiate the move
ment of their own impulse, but we have an
ticipated hearty response to call for assis-
lance when once the enterprise was put in
operation.
At lastwe have the satisfaction to announce
the publication of a Pro-Slavery paper in Eu-
rope. 'The London Cotton Plant is the sig
nihcant title OF the Journal. OF the project
ors of the enterprise, of the individuals who
contribute to its columns, and of the auspices
under which 1t appears, we have no inlorma-
ton whatever No name is on its title-page;
no high-sounding prospectus sets forth its OBJ
)ects with magnificent parade of eXtravagant
professions. 1t comes among us unheralded,
aud with the modesty of genuine worth. 1t
makes no promise. 1t claims no credit in adj
vance. 1t solicits support of the South on
the basis of actual performance. In any
event there can be no betrayal of confidence,
since we are only asked to trust the evidence
of experience.
The first two issues of the London C6tton
Plant have been received at this Office We
have carefully read every article in each num-
Der, and can most cordially recommend il as
an equally able aud accurate exponent of
the Pro-Slavery sentiment of the South. OF
course we do not intend To avow an absolute
acquiescence in all the propositions which
the writer incidentally aflirms in support aud
illustration nj his main argument Wesimply
mean TO attest the general soundness OF his
philosophy and the sincerity ofhis pro-Slavery
sympathies. The articles in another column
from the pages of the journal may give the
reader an inadequate idea of its mode of
thought and style of utterance
In conclusion. we have to say that nybody
who wants to contribute to the success of this
enterprise, can accomplish his object by trans
hitting ten dollars TO the Office of The South.
We will be responsible for the receipt of the
money by the publisher of the paper in Lon
don. The price of subscription is high for a
Weekly Journal, but it is admirably print,
on the best paper, and exhibits copious va
riety of original articles with interesting ex-
tracts from the British press.-RichHaond South.