The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1860-02-01
, A SOUTHERN REPUBLIC. !

QfSS0lutl0n OF the pOfitipai pphSso ~ "Hio
they are united to the non-slave-holdlnS
States as a measure good in itself and TO
be taken as soon as possible, do.not, m
our opinion, constitute any very consid-
cradle portion of the Southern people. II
their feelings and opinions were eanvassed
It would probably be seen that all Of them
are led to this position chiefly BY the1exs
pectations of forming a new Southern
Union, composed Of all the slavesholdlng
States, after tie model Of the present con-
federacy and with all its predominant
features. This new Republic, free from
the intermeddling Of Northern fanatics,
free from the pestilent slavery agitation,
is the occupant Of their constant thoughts.
Believing that they deceive themselves
with fallacious and uncertain calculations
we propose, however unpleasant the
theme is to contemplate, toexa1iine briefly
the grounds on which they base their
hopes. 81
let us assume that for good and suifl,,
cient cause, for grievances suffered, for
constitutional rights violated, for unlver.
sal Northern hostility plainly declared, OF
for aggressions threatened by an over
whelming majority Of abolitionists IN all
of the free States, the entire South had
seeded from the confederacy. 9Tbese
fourteen States mot reckoning Delaware)
would return to their condition OF soyer-
eign and independents nationalltles, each
absolute within her own border, each en-
tirely at8liberty to form any alliance Or
coalition with any other State or even
with any foreign power. They would
possess one institution, that Of slavery,
in common aud as far as its influence ex-
tended it would favor political combina-
tion. but even in this some of the four
teen would have far less interest than
others. In the grain-growing States Of
Maryland, Virginia, Kentucky and Mis-
souri,, whose slave population does not
increase much now and must diminish BY
the increasing demand for labor in the
lcotton States, however much the people
may be attached to the institutions Of
+ their fathers as matter Of pride or on
principle, there cannot be the same in
terest felt for fortifying the Southern sys
TEN and for charging the field OF its rule
I as will be felt in farther Southern States
1 The Northern tier Of States will con
4 tinue to be exporters Of slaves, selling
every year to the cotton States numbel
nearly equal to the rapid natural increase
They will have direct interest in main
tanning the present prices Of slaves anf
4 in opposing any cheaper supply OF tn
4 Southern demand.A The advocates OF thu
new Southern Republic expect as thlns
of course to get rid Of the federal restrIe
4 tionu the slave trade.by. escaping iron
4 the present union and that eachState vii
be left free to import slaves whence
pleases. Ii is not probable that the gralI
growing and slave selling border State
!, would assent to form parts OF union o
terms that might diminish the marke
s value of their slave property from on
!. Third to ope-half in a single year. .Ntt
would they consent to bear their share
/ the taxes and burdens Of the almost j
Eeyitable maritime war which the restor
= ton of the African slave trade Woul
bring on. Between Missouri and Sont
Carolina, though both slaye-holdin
States, there is no4more identity OF int
! ests than there is now between Rsntuek
and Southern Illinois and Southern Inc
ana. The interests of the Southern Mi
sissippi valley States have no especial /
n permanent identity with those OF Il
j. SoutherplAtl Atlantic States, any more tia
o the agricultural States Of the West a
. Iaidentical in interest with the MAMMA
= turing States of New England In IA
!. it has been for some years our settled GO
r yiction that in the event Of disruptis
of the confederacy the States Of the Nj
sissippi valley will be the first to'for
7 among themselves either new union (
y which is equally probable, an allan
Is offensive and defensive with mutual Fl
e trade and the common privilege Of Fl
ie navigationpf the great channel Of Weste
g and Southern commerce and all its trit
y ,taries, shat such new confederacy
ID league will include all States and pal
g OF States whose products find their W
J. to foreign market through the mout
* - - X T. %x