Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1860-03-24


pers to bring us more slaves that thereby their
profits might be increased. 1t would make them
urge on the acquisition of Cuba and the annexation
of Nicaragua, Musquito Rutan Islands and all!
What contrast to this would be the position of the
northern States Rival, always, in manufactures, in
trade and in commerce, bordering countries with
border disputes on the st. Johns in Maine, on the
ST. Lawrence in New York and OH St Juan in Ore
gon-nothing but Old King Cotton has heretofore
kept the peace!- The had but to rise from his snowy
throne at the South shake his white locks, raise his
omnipotent finger and bid them be still, and they
have been still This is but metaphor Mr.. Edi-
tor but every statesman in the land must admit its
truthfulness.
While these strong inducements to the friendly
consideration of the great nations of Europe are Of
fered by purely Southern COnfederacy, it would
afford but few or no causes for distrust jealousy
on their part. We are far removed from the scene
of their struggles; we have no disposition to inter-
fcre with them; our commerce is but small and we
should require but few ships of war to protect it;
our coast presents its Defence VIC have no rich
and large cities on the sea to tempt cupidity; we
are engaged in enterprises calculated to bring us
into collision with foreign nations we are not ag-
gressve; we need offend none, unless it be our
Northern Puritanic philanthropiStS, who say we
"sin in slavery" and to prove it. invoke ian anti
slavery Bible and anti-slavcry God" and would
call in "a higher law" TO punish us!
A few words to the ability of Southern
confedcracy to maintain high position among the
nations Of the Garth. shall not in this cOnsidcra
tiOn enter into examination of the causes that
give power and authority among nations 1t would
require too much time and space; suffice it to say
that one of the chief of these is the ability of
State to maintain a large and prosperous trade
with the chief and rival States of the world and of
this we have ample. | will now give few state
ments to show the ability Of the South to take care
of herself and to support powerful State in an ef-
ficient and dignifed manner. First, as to revenue
the statistics OF the United States show the fact
that of the whole exports Of the products OF the
country Except specie amounting to 27S millions
annually, the slavch0lding States alone exported
900 millions, while the nOn-slaychOldng States eX
ported less than millions, the balance being so
mixed it could not we'll be asccrtaned to which
ton the values belonged. Now this export of the
products Of the SOIL to the extent of 800 to 24O
millions by the South, gives basis to an import of
full 200 millions land leaves handsome surplus)
on which reduced tariff of 30 per cent. would af
ford a revenue Of 80 millions Of dollars without
any direct tax which would be more than ample
| for all our wants. Indeed, could readily reduce
the tariff to 10 per cent average and still have am
pie means to support government quite as well as
! the present one under its system of waSteiul eX
| travagancc and constant frauds. We should be re-
| lievcd from the enormous cost of fortifying New
| York, Boston, the Lakes &c. We should have no
| Mormon war, requiring transportation of troops and
! supplies, and almost fabulous prices, and giving
birth to a legion of contractors able and oritting
| to prey on the government To an unlimited extent.
| Our coasts need but few and small size cruisers.
| Our commerce not being or likely to be very
tended for many years, would require but few ships
| of-war or protect it in foreign ports Our army
need be but nucleus to form on, in Of necessi
ty. Having then, an abundant supply of funds to
| carry the government, the South has ever shown
herself to possess the first statesmen of the country,
| and no where can more enlightened intelligent and
patriotic series of be found than those offered
by the South from George Washington to those now
representing her in the councils OF the nation in Wash
ington City. We can fearlcsSly yield our interests
and those of the government into the hands OF those
statesmen, with whom it will be intrusted on the
formation of Southern confedcracy. | will now
consider some OF the more prominent points of the
position that would be presented to the North by
conlcdcTacy of the Southern States, in case such
were TO occur. Massachusetts, Vermont, WiscOn-
SIM and several of the other Northern States having
already repudiated the contract between us, l. e.,
the constitution, by passing laws contrary to the
provisions of that contract in those particulars that
do not please them, and thereby wedding the
whole contract" let suppose that the fifteen
| Southern States were to accept the annulment"
and call convention among themselves Ito form
| more perfect Union" under confederation.
Let us suppose further that in the interval between
the election of black Republican President and
the time Of his Inauguration in March, q period Of
| four months this convention had met, organized,
agreed upon contract or constitution which had
been accepted by the States in their Legislative
Sembes; had elected and inauguratcd President;
had called home her sons from the army and navy,
and put the country on her defence, 4 defence not
only of political rightS-not only of property, nor
even Of lie but of that which is far dear, of
the defence of their wives and families from the
horrors of another St Domingo war! and think
you, Mr.. Editor, would not the North pause before
attempting to "whip in" such people armed for
defence of such a cause? and would they not, even
if all of them were inspired with the deadly hatred
| e ,rnnh nfor Of
lacking us, and that without motive, and against
their own obvious interests? For the purpose of
argument, however, let consider this question of
an attack of the North upon the South, either for
the purpose of "whipping" us back into a forced
Union, or of conquest. The States of Virginia,
Maryland, Kentucky Tennessee, and North Carroll
ma possess militia of over 500 900 able bodied men,
badly armed it is true, but quite well as were
their fathers of the revolution Of this body 200,
600 could always be kent ready for action, mean
while living in their own country and among friends
at little expense. Now to dttdcG an enemies cOun-
try an army must be well armed and thoroughly
equipped, provisioned, &c This by the estimate of
our engineer corps cannot be doEe under cost of
81 900 per head that to form and bring into the
field ready for attack in enemies country, an
army of 900 men, which would be the least
number any military man would think of beginning
an attack with, would cost not less than 100 mil
lions of dollars Where is this sum to come from
Recollect Mr.. Editor, there will then be UNITED
States in whose name loans can be raised and the
bankers of England France and Germany will
hardly be willing to loan money to their rirdls to
crush their friends whose products so necessary
to them, while the South offer any security upon
the pledge of her products. IL acas upon the pledge
Of Southern tobacco and rice that this government
made ats first loan an Europe through Silds
Dean from BedumdrchGis, the French banker. In
short if the North united in attempt to
force the South back into Union, it would soon be
driven off in disgrace by the power which the South
possesses of raising not only her forces in de-
fence but by the control she has of the material in
ttnol.