The weekly Ottumwa courier., 1861-05-22
Ten Weeks i'm the SOgEsEa.
Aims and Resources Of the Rc0olution,

dtHS dNt AeSOuTceS ot Gte AeCotHst0ihS.
Three months ago the writer started on a
tour Of observation through the South, actu
ated by a desire to look at the Secession
movement from Southern point of view; to
learn what real or financial wrongs the
Revolutionists complained Of, what motives
impelled them, and what they hoped to act
complish. Solely in pursuance Of this de-
sign, since the middle of FEBRUARY have
journeyed through every Slave State east of
the Mississippi except Florida, attended the
Louisiana and Mississippi Convention, and
enjoyed some unusual facilities for learning
the animus and expectations Of the Secession
leaders. Subjoined are a few leading im-
pressions derived from the tour
WHAT THE SECESSIoNISTS COM
PLAIN OF.
The masses in the Gulf States seem to
have vague, angry, "sore- headed impress
sion that the South, in some inexplicable
manner, has been wronged that the North
means to subugate them, and that the
South can't be whipped. Some complain of
the John Brown raid, and others (often those
who own no slave property, and of whom the
epigramatic remark of Fred Douglas that
"fifty of them could rot buy one negro ba-
by" is very true) talk about the nom execu-
ton Of the Fugitive Slave law, and the prac-
tical exclusion of the South from the Terri
tories. But the ideas of the masses seem
very indefinite and nebalous as to the exact
wrongs of which they complain. The Sec,s-
sion leaders are more specific. "The South"
says late writer, 'has had a great many
wrongs; but the most intolerable grievance
ever thrust upon her. was the Census Report
Of 1860" This is the whole story in a nut
shell. When asked a gentleman who has
done more to inaugurate the Secession move
ment than any other man outside of South
Carolina, ''Why have you raised all this
tempest about Mr.. Lncoln's election ?" he
replied: "Do not deceive yourself; Mr..
Lncoln's election had nothing to do with it,
beyond enabling us to rouse our people
If. Mr.. Douglas had been elected, we should
have broken up the Union just as soon. IF
Mr.. Bell had been elected, it would have
delayed us but very little. Even if Mr..
Breckinridge had been elected, we would
have secedod be fore the close of his term
We believe that there is an essential incom-
patibilitS between the North and the South"
(0nly Mr.. Stewards axiom that there is an
irrepressibe corlct between Freedom and
Slavery, expressed in another form.) "The
North, g." he continued, "has grown rich and
poUertuI, and extended from ocean to ocean,
aohils the South has comparatively stood
still" This seemed to be the Fundamental
grievance in his mind and though a man
of re re'narkably liberal views in general, he
did not appear to have the faintest suspicion
that Slavery had anything to do with the
decadencc of the South, or Freedom with the
gigantic strides of the North. He was a
representative view. Individual ambition
has no doubt had its influence with the lead
ers, but the keynote to their complaints is /:
@The North has grown rich and powerful, at
the expense of the South"
RESOURCES OF THE SOUTH.
Notwithstanding al the stealing that has
been done, the South is not as well armed
as the North. It's facilities for the transpor-
tation of troops and munitions, andthe feed
| ing and clothing of forces, are incomparably
less. Few at the North realize how entirely
the whole South IS fed by the North,
West. Very little corn, wheat, or pork is
produced in Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana
and Texas. The quantities on hand are al
ways short, for produce is ''cash," and there
is great tendency to live "from hand to
mouth" through that section; but the sup
plies are now much lighter than usual, on
account of the protracted droush of last
year. According to the best information
could gain, there are not in the four States
named sixty days supplies Of these the,
great steplcs. From thirty to fifty per cen
more corn than usual has been planted thi
season, but if all supplies from the North ar
instantly and effectually cut off, it will be :
terrible blow to the Revolutionists. 1t will
cali for the exercise of the utmost patience
and endurance; and patience and endurance
are the distinctive traits wanting in Southern
character.
TEMPER OF THE PEOPLE.