The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1860-02-18
Southern Commerce and Manu-
faCtuPe.

faCtuFe.
We have always been an advocate of
southern manufactures and Southern COM
merce, or direct trade with Europe. We
have advocated this policy from the first,
though not through any hatred to the North
or any other section Of the Union, but more
for the love eff the South, our birthplace,
and our home. 1t was with the idea that
nations or States, could only be truly indie
pendent by producing the various articles
that enter into use among their Inhabitants,
and not having to rely for their supplies ON
other parties. By some it may be said that
this notion is anti commercial. Not so.-
This very impression has been stumbling
block to the prosperity of the South: For
with soil and climate the best in the world
she has totally disregarded everything but
agriculture, and even in that she has not ex-
celled her less fortunate neighbors. Her
great hobby has been, we will say, agricul-
ture; and whilst that might have been
turned to more profitable account, she has
ignored one of the chief elements of wealth
to community-manu factures-appare
laboring under the idea that if che produced
40 abundance of the earth's products, they
would pay for all else she might need; till
she finds at this late day-though she can
not yet realise the full measure of her ca
iamity-that she is totally dependent on
other sections for everything in the way of
manufactures.
The late foray of John Brown, the abol-
tion emissary into this State, has awakened
an interest in the subject of Southern man
ufacturer and direct trade, which we hoped,
and still hope, may prove instrumental in
rendering the South independent; though
waconfess we do not look for such a result
to Rediately follow. 1t must be borne in
mind0hat the habits and customs of ma
ton are not formed in day, nor can they
be changed in day. Tine must be looked
TO for this glorious result to be effected
Give us time and the earnest determination
OF the people, and the work will be surely
accomplished.
The Northern papers are considerably
elated with facts and figures they parade
before their readers, showing that where
they have expected falling off of Southern
trade, they have been disappointed by meet,
ing a result directly opposite. They say
that Southern trade SO far has been anu
sually brisk, and that it continues to be
good. Well, grant that it is so, it no doubt
can be accounted for. The crops of the
south have been unusually abundant, and
5outherners generally are not very self-de
nying people when they have means at their
command. No one expects the people of the
South to deprive themselves of their usual
comforts and necessaries of life; and until
other arrangements can be perfected, such
rs the erecting of factories workshops
On her own soil, and the establishment of
her own merchant marine, things mast 90
on pretty much as they have done hereto.
fore.
A great deal of party capital will no
doubt be made of the John Brown raid, as
has already been the case, both North and
South. But the masses of the people in
the entire country, since education has be.
come more general, keep quiet and have an
eye on the politicians. The great and final
issue has not yet come before the American
people. They do not feel the necessity for
dissolution, though frequent use OF the
Term has somewhat familiarized them with
it's sound, though not its meaning. Stop
tall the working classes of this country are
made aware of the threatened danger, and
sse if they are ready to sacrifice the proud
right of American citizenship for the sake
OF freeing OF enalavinga sort of a noH-de-
script, who has carried waste and desolation
wherever he has been freed, and turned
from civilization to barbarism on account of
his freedom "a race which the efforts of civ
iiization have been yainly spent in trying to
improve, since the first dawn of enlighten-
ment on the world-a race, in fact, formed
by the hand of Omnipotence for servitude,
aud made minus the selfgoyerning faculties
of the Caucasian, in order to be the de-
pendent OF that superior race. Ask the
American cltieen if be is willing to give up
the boon which the down-trodden, king,
ridden people Of EarOpe are painting for