Arkansas true Democrat., 1861-01-19
Can the South Sustain itself by its own
 Resources

JAMES F. PURL, Chairman,
 IL o. SPENCER, Secrefary.
 | Can the South Sustain itself by its own
 Resources9
 7 We copy the following convincing and Forcibe article from the New York Herald, for the benefit of those persons who may be incredulous as to the ability of the South to sustain itself:
 "One of the arguments of Helpers book against the practicability of the indepen- ience of the southern States is the poverty | of those States, and the alleged fact that | they do not produce food in sufficient quan- tity to be self-sustaining; and those who | believe in the gospel, according to Helper, are now putting forward the same argu. ment, since secession has become imminent and southern confederacy seems inevita- ble. But nothing can be weaker or more fallacious than such an argument The southern States, including Virginia. Ken lucky, Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina and most of South Carolina. are the finest grain growing countries in the world, and were not cotton, tobacco and rice more profitable, those States might export corn, wheat and other cereals in large quantities.
 The slopes of the Alleghanies on both sides are as fertile and as well suited for the production of breadstuffs of all kinds as any lands in the country. They are covered with beautiful farms, the soil and the climate are alike favorable, and it is the height of absurdity to talk of the pov- erty of the southern States. To some ex- tent at present they cultivate other crops, which they exchange for food, because they Tan do so with advantage to themselves; but throw them on their ownresources, and cut them off from northern and western supplies, and they can produce not only enough for themselves, but compete with the North in exportaton, to the serious damage of its interests.
 \ In the interior of the southern States almost every description of food abounds, and is far cheaper than in the northern and eastern States. It is only strip of the Feabord that forms the exception 10 the mle, and there the production of cotton and rec amply compensate for the deficiency of creals. It is only because the conveyance b sea of food to the southren ports from tie North is cheaper than the carriage by .rtilroad from the interior of the southern States that wheat, corn and other grain are slipped to any extent from the North in exchange for cotton. tobacco and rice. But il the policy of non-intercourse should pre- vail, the demand at the southern seaboard would soon produce the necessary supply rom the interior. In the event of seces- sion and separate confederacies, however, the North would only be too glad to send its surplus food to the seaports of the South for cash, or for those productions of the South which the North does not yield and which are better than gold to the northern States. To use homely proverb the North will not always cut off its nose to vex it's face, as it is now doing; and the great danger will be that the South vii wholly withdraw its trade and its exchanges from the North, and transfer them tt England, France and other European countries.
 -BIt, after atfif 1t is \ very sirTail}f prapor tion of the breadstuffs and other food con stunned by the southern seaboard that come from the North For instance, Mobi derives it's chief suppi,s from New Orleans one of the cheapest markets in tn, United States. According to the mos recent quotations, the prices at New Or leans, Savannah, Charleston and Nev York compare thus;
 N% os''' as fSo,n1s Soy as Nov ?s' % Flour, s4M@75o GO W@27 % 6Oo @7sO4s5 @7e5 coFa ''' 6s@ 7a 75S 85 es e s eSss sS s' ss, ss Potatoes, I0 @ 5n 5Gap- l 50 @oO0IaO Ca2Oo n;'s 's"@ s ls 4 4 sS es E 1s' e 92 5s ,a as as arsf. aps.. eoss ag dS 5Sh dSa ,sS 1a 2 a Y I @ ;,
 Here, then, it will be seen that the aver age cost of these essential articles of foo, is less at New Orleans than it is at Nev York, and from New Orleans, which i supplied by the Mississippi, all parts of tn cotton gulf States are accessible either b. water or railroad The Atlantic cottol States are also connected with the nterio southern States, both by water and by rail road communication. At Charleston, will be observed, corn is nearly as cheap a at New York; and at Savannah. notwith standing the short crop. owing to drouth the price is very little higher than at tn great emporium of the North, where almos daily, sales of North Carolina corn an, wheat contribute to keep down the prices Thus the whole argument founded on powe ot the North to starve the South, vanishe into thin air like the base!esS fabric of vision. leaves not a wreck behind.
 Then, the South produces food of bette quality than the North Southern flour for instance, commands the highest pric in the market of New York. The averay daily sales of southern flour in this marke are from l20o0 to 15000 barrels, and if W take into account the quantity of four an, other breadstuffs sent here from Virginia Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, NortI Carolina and other slave States, perha ps the balance against the South, on the SCOT of food, may be exceedingly small.
 The South, moreover, excels the Nortl in its water power, and teens with coal an, other minerals It has cheaper labor an, q better climate, and therefore can success fully compete with the North in manufac lures. Owing to the mildness of tn, weather in winter, its factories can worl all the year round. and the South require less clothing and less fuel for its population 1.-two main items in the expenditure of th narthcrn mechanic, and therefore highe degree of comfort can be obtained for thu same labor at the South than at the North
 In word, the South possesses all tn, clements and resources of a great nation and can prosper perfectly independent 0 the North if wall of brass were reared between them to the skies. As for coercion on the part of the North, that is out of th, question. Even the Tribune admits th absnrdity of such an idea. In yesterday, number it ''insists that the cotton State cannot be prevented from seceding, anC that the attempt must not be made. e."- And 1t goes on to sy
 "Five millions of people, more thar half of them of the dominant race, of whom at least half million are able and willins to shoulder muskets, can never be subduec while fighting around and over their owY