New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1860-03-23
!. spurssRzsN 81 N.lEAcrunas.

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The Harpers Ferry affair has excited cults
spirit h our community in favor a an excessive
system OF manufactures in the South. Ihas seems
70 be BASED pretty equally upon desire % "
rninisA the political preponderance q THE Nofsh'
ana a desire to spite the Yankees as mere ha'as,
| Of revenge. If the former motive be discosefeu
| Nv tle people to be really urgent, the measure
VIM doubtless obtain tangible existence Ing
latter motive cannot, ID our opinion ever become
1 q ruling one AZ the South
If he people should become clearly and
thoroughly convinced Of the necessity OF suppress
nv fartAer patronage Of the North, it could be
aas;tv accomplished BY legislation, A heavy tax
an iii goods sold not having been manufactured
III liz state, Or d handsome bonus to goods SO
manufactured, would soon dot the country over
with thriving factories of every sort. This protec
ton could be continued, if necessary, though
there ii hardly any reason to believe that such
would be slie case. Our pine woods would furnish
the heathiest locations and cheapest fuel; the up
land regions Of Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and
Tennessee would offer inexhaustible water power
and cheap food while Southern climate would
be found materially to diminish expenses other
wise.
The thing Is entirely feasible, but woulditb adj
yisables There are some objections to it which
may claim attention. In the first place, would it
really advantageous to the State to force money
into one Investment, when the inducements
profit invite it into anothers If factory will net
5 per cent less than the same amount of money in
vested in cotton plantation, il would seem 70 be
an injury rather than an advantage. So Is a war
always injurious even to the victols but the supe-
riority gained oyer the enemy more than counter
balances the actual loss sustained in money and
men. If by this means the power to pursue an ag-
gressise and sectional policy were taken from the
North by sapping the foundations of their wealth
and consequent population, tho South might think
its money we'll invested. But in point of fact, it
may be well doubted that such an investment would
be less profitable than others, or would long re-
quire public aid. Already we see the report of
factory in Georgia paying Or proposing to pay a
dividend of Is per cent, and there is no reason
why the experiment should not be as successful
elsewhere.
Again, it may be said that one of the chief adj
vantages Of our Confederacr is free communica-
ton among the States az to persons and property
without the onerous restrictions of passports and
duties. Very true. But this feature of our politi-
/ cal system should not be taken advantage of by
stronger section Of the country to obtain an undue
advantage over a weaker one. AT present the
/ North, outveting us numerically, force upon the
South anodious tariff, which drains money from our
| pockets to pamper their dollhouse factories. They
! grow rich and insoient upon the custom which
their legislation forces from weaker portions of the
Union. We.do not object to a wise and generous
| system Of discrimination, which lends helping
4 hand to diffident but deserving enterprise. But
! when experience shows that the enterprise cannot
4 become sefsnstaining it should be left to its fate
i and it's own merits.
II, then, these parties take advantage Of the Con-
federacy to Tux us for their exclusive advantage,
we will do well to make use Of our local rights as
4 States to ward off the effects Of such legislation
Let all discrimination in the National tariff be dis
continued, If it Is to be made instrument of sec
| tional advantage; let each Northern State, that
thinks ii wise to foster its home manufactures do
50 at the expense Of its own people let foreign
goods come into our ports with no other duties
than those necessary to a revenue, and we viii
cheerfully continue our free, unhampered inter-
course with the Northern States. Even this would
bs a great concession to goodfeeng On cur part,
since they by no means observe that principle
themselves in their Legislation the subject of our
| slaves.
On the whole. therefore, we think the idea 4
\ good one, and the occasion favorable. Consider
4 ing the general excitement on the subject which
has pervaded the South ever since the Brown inva-
sion, it seems strange that legislative step has
been taken to promote this end. Irrespective,
however, of the Abolition question, it might be
worth the consideration of Southern Legislatures
whether some such steps should not be taken, for
the simple purpose Of defeating the selfish object of
preponderating sectional influence in Congress
| Of preventing an unjust advantage sought to be
taken of US. Viewed in this light, it is mere
question of peeuniary sefprotecton.
rgHurfahs Hurrah; Hurrah,-The re-
rberang echoes Of the cheers Of The -four hundred sswar
mechanics employed soats Sewing Machine Factory are
still ringing in ears, and thinking Of the fesve