Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-03-10

Constitution. And 50 Ion positions or burdens
for revenue or other State purposes, not
regulated according to the ctiz enship OF the
parties to pay them, but bearing on all per
soas alike, cannot b. regarded as IN conflict
with that clause.
The slave States possess many advantages
oger the free States 10 climate, in the sta
pie productions of the soil. in salt. iron and
gypsum, they are without competition, while
ia the extent and variety of their coal fields.
they bear favorable comparison. Same OF
them possess the largest cal acity for the
development of all kinds OF manufacturing
industry, and it is idle to say that their sys-
TEN Of labor is Incompatible with its estab-
lishment among them. Navigable streams
furnish everywhere facilities for internal
commerce, and these facilities have been al
ready much increased by extended systems Of
canals an railroads, and may be multiplied
easily to any extent. Noble forests, in their
native gra udeur, accessible to the sea board,
cover extensive portions of their vast terrific
~, and abJund in the materials necessary
i0r ship building. Extending from the 24th
to the i0;h degree OF north latitude, they
cover an area of Sjl 524 square miles, they
enjoy all the climates oi the temperate zone,
with the exception of its extremes OF heat
aud cold. and produce all the valuable sta
Piles of the world.
Great as are these advantages for sgri-
culture and manufacturing industry, and
extensive as are the facilities for internal
Commerce, the advantages aud facilities for
the growth among us Of foreign commerce
are not less striking. Stretching from the
head waters of the Chesapeake Bay to the
point on the Gulf of Mexico where the Rio
Grande emptiss its waters every one ot the
entire number of the slaveholdIng States lies
upon the ocean or gulf or is washed by the
great father of waters or some tributary to
bis foods convenient ports Of entry are
found everywhere along the extended coast,
while one, at least for capacity, position and
depth OF water, is without an equal upon this
ointment.
The advocate of Disu nion can suggest no
benefit anticipated from that event. which
this system will not insure, while all OF its
attendant evils are avoided. We will con!iD-
ue members Of this great confederacy, par
ticipatIng in its progress and protected by
its power; we will escape the dangerous
precedent of dissolution, precedent to which
any Southern cOnfederecy that could be
found would ever be exposed 10 tho future.
Strong in our rights and secure in our
strength, whatever may be desirable hereaI-
ter, and strength can obtain, will be within
our reach.
Let the system be inaugurated; let the
minds of the people be turned 20 1t; let the
press do its duty; let sober, practical men
take hold OF IT, men not ambitious OF place,
nor cOvetous of office, but men who acknowl.
edge the rewards of gosd deeds in the well
fare and happiness Of their country; let the
Southern Convention take hold OF it, if in
deed that body can deal with what is pract-
cal and promising of fruis: above ali, let the
legislatures take hold of it, and fashion and
mould il. These are but hints; their wisdom
will supply what is needtul.
A. the success of the system will depend
on the concurrence of all the Southern States
and as some time must elapse before their
concurrence can be communicated, 1t Is not
expected that any one State will immediate
ly put the system into operation. Bot pre-
liminary resolutions may be taken, aud eI-
ecutive correspondence entered upon, and
more than that, laws may be enacted re-
curing all merchants. traders aud shopkeep'
ers, when they apply for license hereafter, TO
fie with the com missioner o! the revenue,
the county court, or some proper authority,
a statement Of his purchases, such as Is lndl-
Gated above.
These measures taken, at once, by the
legislatures in session, will give some earnest
of action, AMI greatly stimulate the zeal OF
the people. Ii they do no other good they
will furnish valuable statistics now unknown
to the public.
The interesting experiment OF direct
trade between the port of Norfolk, and the
newly established French port OF St. Nazaire,
which now attracts SO much of public atten-
ton, will derive strong encouragement from
the movement, and it may, under its intlu-
ence, realize the sanguine hopes Of its au-
thurs.
It's a Southern measure, having for its
object the advancement of Southern inter
ests; let DO Southern man, therefore, deny it
Just consideration. Its success will estab-
ish commerce and manufactures among US,
and impart to the slaye-holding States, all of
those elements of prosperity that have en-
riched their Northern competitors.
There are those who maintain, that the
trainers Of the constitution established 10
that Instrument On equilibrium OF political
power between the slave-holdng and the
free States, which Ly unconstitutional enact
ments, have been overturned and destroyed,
and they desire, by proper amendments, to
restore that equilibrium. There are others
who believe that nothing but disunion will
cure our evils; and there are others whose
principle of action il resentment against our
aggressors; this measure does not necessary.
ly initiate against any of their cherished
wishes. twill bring the Southern States
into more intimate relations, and harmOnizs
their interests. Those OF them that 6ud ag-
ricuture most profitable, may continue to de-
vote themselves to that single pursuit, while
the others, differently situated, msy embark
in commerce and manufactures. Whatever
of wealth, pr sperity and power, these bring,
will be enjoyed by friends, not conferred on
enemies. Bot the altered condition Of things
may make those satisfied with the Union
who are now dissatisfied; in any event it will
unite and strengthen Us, and SO make prepa,
ration for dissolution, il that extremity be
forced upon W..
Sorely, es many think, the Union has work
ed upon US, we ought not to forget that it has
added Mississippi, Alabama, Florida. Lou
isiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, Ar
kansas ard Texas to the number of slave,
holding States. aud thus given an empire to
the institutions Of slavery. That our external