The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-05-05
THE CURSE OF SLAVERY.

No stronger statement of the blighting in
huence of Slavery could be presented, than the
following from the Richmond (Va.) Dispatch
How can the editor fail to see conspicuous
cause of the ruin he so graphically describes
SOUTHERN RAILWAYS AND CITIES.
1t is generally assumed, not only in New
York, but throughout the country, that the COM
mercial position of that city is beyond dispute,
and the tcit admission of that fact has of itself
paralyzed the energies of other sections having
greater natural advantages, and accomplished
as much for the preservation of New York SUI
premscy as has been effected by her own exer-
tions. No one can question the admirable To-
cation of New York as a commercial city; no
one can be insensible to the advantages and
beauties of its glorious bay, only equalled in
loneliness by the hay of Naples, nor shut his
eyes TO the two bright and grand rivers, the
Hudson and the East, that clasp their silver
arms around the queenly neck of the Empire
city. But all the natural advantages of New
York were of no avail till the Erie canal was
completed.# Up to that time, she was behind
Philadelphia and Boston, and would never have
overtaken them to this day, but for the success
full genius of that great man, De Witt Clinton
Why should other cities, with greater natural
advantages, despair of rivalling New York,
when they can bring to their aid the same sys-
TEN of internal improvements which alone has
made her natural resources available?
What would be thought of an individual. in
any kind of business, who should assume, at
the very outset of his career that his successful
neighbOr could never be equalled in good for
tune by himself, and should therefore sit down
and fold his hands in inglorious despair and
sloth? That is just what most of the cities
south of New York are doing at this time.
Look at Norfolk and Portsmouth, the CONNER
cial centre of America, with the Atlantic pour
ing in a wide flood at their wharves, broad
enough and deep enough to float the fleets of
Christendom look at Richmond, with one hand
upon the James and the other upon the York,
and then consult a map of the United States,
and see how these cities present the straightest
most direct and natural outlet to the sea for the
illimitable treasures of the Mississippi valley,
and what must be the sluggishness and irresolu-
ton which can permit such phrase as " cant
rival New York" to palsy its nerves and divert
it from a brave purpose and q manifest destiny ?
Even the New York internal improvement men
admit that their city is not impregnable. They
confess that continuous water line to the Ohio
would be the most formidable rival that New
York can encounter.
The writer then goes On to invoke the mer-
chants, property holders, and all citizens of New
York, to rally to the preservation of her COM
mercial supremacy, threatened as it is by the
railroads Of Philadelphia and Baltimore, nei-
Their of which disadvantages to be spoken of in
the same generation with the great highways
to the Atlantic which Virginia will present
when the Covington and Ohio railroad and the
James River and Kanawha canal are compile
ted. If a railroad as far north as Philadel.
phia-if the Baltimore and Ohio, with its heavy
grades. and at neither Atlantic terminus a har-
Dor worth the name of harbor can present
elements of competition which alarm New
York for its boosted supremacy, what may we
This is a mis- axe. New York was ahead OF Phila.
aenhia in 1870 which before The Erie canal was
oonee we'd in the brain 81 De VIII Clinton, Or any
long before the enterprise was commenced.