The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-02-08
The Power Of the south.

We commend to the careful perusal Of our
resders the following passages, which we mud
In the eminently able speech delivered a few
days ago in Cor grexs by Mr.. Keitt, of South
Carolina:
What spectacle does the South now pre.
sent to the world! The South, with her
matches resources, her splendid domain,
aud with millions on millions of gallant peo-
pie, still clinging to this Union, though she
knows it is only by expressions. What has
she given TO 1t in the past She hos given
blood and treasure, genius and Craftsmanship,
courage and arms. An illustriOus Southerner
reused the colonies TO resistance an illus
trious Southerner led the armies OF the keyo-
luton to victory; and illustriOus Southern
ers bnilt up this Government from founda-
ticn stone 10 battIement and parapet Nor
have her contributions in lICdern times been
stinted. She gave the men WhO led the republic
safely through lhesecond neutrality-suspicious.
She gave the men. too. who, in the lats war
with Mexico carried your arms to the famed
capital OF the enemy, and illus trated them by
series Of victories unmatched even by those
of Cortez. Splendid, also, as have been her
contributions 10 arms and craftsmanship, she
has added no scanty treasures to American
literature In every field OF letters she has
left her footprints and when the names of all
other American authors are forgotten save
that of Fenimore Cooper, the admiration OF
posterity will continue to brighten round the
memory of one sha has given to the world as
the "great wizard of American romance"
(Simms) Yes, the South has made u history,
an empire, and civilization, and she can de-
iend them all
Why, then, does the South pause in the es-
Enlistment of an Independent government
Simply because she is under the spell ! the
past, its traditions and its memories, and be-
cause she hopes tor 4 sTeturniug sense OF JUS
tIce" az the North, which may secure her
safety in the Union. Day by day the spell is
dissolving, and when she despars OF this '.re-
turning sense OF Jus siice'-and many If her
trOpSt have already fpSpairtO d lt-Siie
will shatter the bonds Of the Union, aud VIM
dicate her independence. Should the Repub-
lican party succeed in the next Presidential
electien, my advice 10 the South Is, TO snap
the cords Of the Union At once and forever. l
appreciate the superior entanglements and
dlfllcuitles OF the border States and Will look
mt first only TO the States further South.
They must withdraw from the Union, and
establish confederacy fer themselves. Tins
they can do without disturbing their social
system III the least degree. Their State. gov
ern1neiits are sufficient tor all domestic pur-
poses, and q federal can be organized
among themselves i'll time to meet all torelgu
aims or complications. What would such i
eoniederacy have 10 fear! Nothing. Abso-
| lutely nothing Foreign Powers would court
her alliance, and no government on this con-
tinent would dare to invade her.
This Union, great and powerful as 1t Is, can
| be tumbled down by the act OF any one South
ern Safe Ii Florida Withdraw, the Federal
Government would not dare to attack her
Ii it did, its bands would dissolve as If melt
ed by lightning. Let q Southern State with
draw, aud wherever her flag floats it will be
respected, for it Will be the armed hand, and
the whole South will rush to lis defence, and
would emerge from the struggle with an or
ganiZed slavehOlding confederacy. And how
vast would be the power of the South! She
is now more imperial than Rome ever was
If, by some cataciysm of nature, the great
West, with its fertile fields and rich harVests,
were lost to earth, mankind would only pause
tor moment III contemplating the rum, as
some fearful ca tastrophe of nature. II the
North, with lis crowded marts and vast facio
ries, were at a single stroke swallowed up in
an abyss, commerce would still move on, and
the footsteps OF power halt only for a moment.
But if the South could, in the twinking OF
an eye, be struck into primeyai chaos, how
would it be! The civilized world wou Id avert
her face, the advance of nations wonld be ar
rested, and every throne in Europe would be
reduced to dust and ashes. Yes. the Sou h has
the monopoly of tropical productions, and
upon them hang the des TIMES of peace civili-
cation and empire. And the South with all
these elements of power and invincib!lity, is
told that she is to be bound to this Union
through all the muta ions OF time. MaZepp:t
is to be tied to the black horse, and with hun
cry wolves pursuEg, to plunge madsy on
through field and forest, across plain aud river.
on, and on, and on, till both dying man and
dying beast fail shattered together.
And if she resist IS, what. She is threatened
with subiugation. From whom come these
impUGent and idiotic threats! What sacranent t
OF baptism has consecratef these men into the
communion OF rulers. What achievements Of
arms have illustrated their escutcheons. Sir.
II Northern army should come down to sub
jugate the South it will be the first one in eur
history that has encamped on our Southern
soil. Will it come now, when 1t did not come
in the trials of the Revolutions! In 1851, when
all the forces of the British were gathered upon
| the soil of Virginia, what help had she from
the NOrth1