Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1860-12-21
Dir NreeNxeas
RLINGTGS
FRIDAY MORNING, DEC. 2I, 1850.
COUNTING THE COST.


As South Carolina rcsolutely refuses to
count the cost of setting up for herself, the n
Y. Zee. Posi- does little ciphering for her .
Leaving other expenses out of the question,
the Posi- calculates the cost of the standing
army, with which that strong minded sister
expects to resist the federal government, as
she must or cease her rebellion. With its
customary liberality the Post allows enc
CaIolinian to be as good as six soldiers from
any other state, which as the army of the
United States numbers $4,000 men, make q
necessary Palmetto army of 5000. Sup
posing this force divided into threeregiments;
one Of Cavalry, one Of Infantry and one OF
Artillery, the estimate (Which is drawn out
in detail on the basis of tie expenses Of the
Z. s. army) shows that the annual e1pend,-
ture of the South Carolina army will be
S2,3Sl ,lS4. This sum does not include the
cost of tie raising and outfit of the army
or Of providing barracks to sleep in, fortif-
cations to fight in. ships to guard their sea
coast, or pound of powder or SHOT to fire
salute with on Independence Day. 1t is
simply the annual cost for pay of the soldiers
and supplies for such force, on peace
footing
The Post further aliudes by the way to the
facts that the debt of South Carolina (mostly
owned abroad) already amounts to fourteen
dollars a head for every white citizen, and
that new issue Of her bonds under the cir
cumstances, would not pay the cost Of paper
and engraving.
Taking these things into consideration
remembering too, that thece is the cost of q
evil government, diplomatic service, and the
new $ c. monarch's civil list TO be provided
for-not to mention the cost of actual war
with somebody, which is certainly possibil-
ity-and that .theee burdens must be carried
in the face of deficient corn crop, decreas-
ing exports of cotton, a general interruption
Of all kinds of business, the prospect of un-
pleasant relations with the federal govern
ment Of indefinite duration, and the certain
ty that it would be but the first step in
their new expenses, which would double,
triple and quadruple if they persist
ed in the movement for Independence,
and it does seem as if South Carolina would
be paying rather dear for her whistle. Eve
~ South Carolinian however nowadays feels
about as Mr.. Webster did on an occasion
not fully described in his biographies. He
was making one of his great speeches, and,
as the story goes, had taken the precaution
to place a friend at his back, to remind
him in their order, of the successive topics
on which he wished to speak. Warmed up
by his effort and by something<tronger than
water. the statesman omitted q good deal,
and in particular an alusion to the national
debt of England, which was to have been es-
pecially effective. The friend thought this
would not do, and pulling hard at the tail
of the blue coat with bright buttons, sue
ceeded in arresting Mr.. Webster with his
whispered suggestion, of "the debt of Eng
land, the debt of England "Oh,' replied
the orator aloud, by this time entirely be
yond stopping for trides, and rich enough to
pay anything, hang the debt of E"gfo"d'-
III pay thot myself
In their present frame of mind there is no
stonninr our brethren of the Palmetto State;
but the sober second thought must come IN