Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1861-04-12

value, which she has never before had The North,
by protective laws and otherwise has acquired and
welded the financial power of the country, and has
thus managed TO get the control of Southern pro-
ducts, and paid for their imported merchandise with
them, which they have again turned around and
sold to the South at profit With revenue laws
framed especially favorable to commerce, Southern
ports will unquestionably gain large importing
trade, and capital win come with it, Already
Northern merchants seeking locations for bust
ness in Southern cities, carrying with them their
capital and merchandise. This is butthe beginning
of what will take place in this respect, and the pres
ent separation will inevitably transfer large pro-
portion of Northern commerce and Northern capi-
tai to Southern ports aud cities.
There is no doubt as to the financial ability of
the Confederate States to sustain their Government.
Their Congress has imposed an export duty on cot
ton, and yet we have since seen cotton advance two
cents per pound. Not because of the duty, but in
spite of it. The world is compelled to have her
great staple as long as she can produce it.
1t is not TO be supposed that such people-after
having established and put into operation an indie
pendent govornment-after having been recognized
by the leading governments of Europe, as they un-
doubedly will be- and after having established their
commercial relations with the world by which they
gain largely increased capital and lucrative COM
merce-l say it is not to be supposed that they will
abandon all these things and come back into the
Union upon any terms that the North may choose
to give just for the purpose Of living in Union with
a people whom they regard as having injured and
driven them out.
How will it be with the North in undergoing
and adapting herself to this change in the internal
political relations of the country? Her prosperity
and wealth depend almost entirely on commerce
and manufactures because their agriculture makes no
exporting products. Once in four or FIVE years,
there is probably some considerable export demand
for grain and provisions-the only exporting pro-
ducts she does, or can make And this depends up
on the mere chance of failure of such crops in Eu-
rope. She does not now produce one-fourth of the
exporting material which enters into the foreign
trade of the country, and if left to her
ces could not sustain and keep up one-third of her
present commerce. She could not buy and import
from other nations, because she makes nothing they
want in exchange for the imported merchandise.
Her manufacturing interest would not be in a
much better condition. We all know how her man
ufacturcs have depended upon protective tariff 10
cut off foreign competition, working with cheap la
bor and how she would not move an arm without
government protection, Now here is Il large and
important class for whom she manufactured under
and not only destroying the protection, SO far as
they are concerned but actually charging the man.
ufacturer duty on his goods, and opening their
markets to the balance of the world on the same
terms. Her manufacturing interest would be deeply
and seriously injured.
Her agriculture could not be a source of wealth
to her, because, as we have before seen she makes
no products that the foreign world is compelled to
have, or even want. Besides the reduction of her
commerce and manufactures will effect great de-
creace in the home consumption of her agricultural
products. Can she rely upon her old customer
the South-to furnish her market for her surplus ?
If the South is not utterly blind she never will al
low herself to live dependent on a foreign nation
and people for the very staff and necessaries of life
She can and will make her own necessary supplies
The question is, therefore, which of these two
sections will be most likely to desire and seek a
reconstruction of the Union? Which will most
likely be ultimately compelled to ask ii for after the
sway of passion and excitement subsidies, it will
then be likely to become question of pecuniary
interest. 1t is easy to determine which will be the
suppliant party, if have drawn true representa-
ton Of the effects of the separation. The question
far the South is concerned is now in the hands
of the Border Slave States and if they will not be
in too much haste to patch up any sort of settle
ment by which they can fairly afford to continue
with the North themselves l am not without hope
of seeing the States, in time, again united.
! To complete this communication, already too long
let us briefly examine whether Middle Confedera-
cy ever can become a respectable nation or not-a
scheme largely favored in the Border Slave States
to avoid the necessity of uniting with the Southern
States if they cannot with honor continue thel
connection with the Northern States,
There are but two paths to National strength ant
greatness. One is military power, the other com
mercial power. Most of the great Empires of an
cient history were purely military. They lived by
war and conquest, and levying tribute on the con
querod. When there were no more nations to con
quer, or their conquered provinces became exhaust
ed by excessive tribute, they either crumbed anC
decayed and, in turn, became conquered province
themselves, or fell like meteor and bursted int
fragments. Rome closed the temple of Janus il
times of peace and opened it in war>and believ,
it was only closed twice in period of seven hund
red years.
Russia and Austria are the purely military pow
, ers of the present day. They make no strides il
Wealth, prosperity and civilization. They sustain
their power and prestige by standiag armies an,
fortified cities It is true they cannot now lev.
tribute as the empires of old without quite as mucl
expense in enforcing the levy the tribute is worth
but instead of it they are always knocking at tn
doors Of bankers and capitalists with their depreci
ated bonds for the purpose Of contracting loans.