The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-03-08

ImportaAt Proposition I'm tho Cotton Com
NeAeraoy-The Border Slave states Be-
tween Two Fires.
We published yesterday telegraphic de-
spatch from Montgomery stating that the Con-
gres Of the Confederate States adopted reso-
luton to the effect that the Judiciary Com
mittee be instructed to inquire into the expe-
diency of prohibiting the importation Of slaves
into the confederacy from the United States,
except owned by persons emigra.ing thence
for settlement and residence" The object of
this measure is to bring such q pressure on the
border slave States as they cannot resist-to
compel them to join the cotton States on pain
of losing their only market for the slaves which
they breed.
II Q bill of the kind indicated should be
passed Virginia would either have to become
free State or member of the Southern con-
federacy. Her slaves In future would be Of SO
title value to her that she would have to eman-
cipate them. and let them shift fer themselves,
as she could not afford to feed and clothe them
without remuneration. That Is too much even
for Northern philanthropy. Virginia, &C
oording to the returns of the census Of
last year, had 495,826 slaves-or say she
has now in round numbers half million
of negro bondmen. This is the largest
number held by any State. 1t amounts to half
the number of the white population of the
State. Now, Virginia has no cotton fields, and
does not need so many slaves for her own
labor. She sells them, therefore, to the cotton
States, who can afford to pay good price for
them; and it is in this way that slaves are q
source of wealth to her. If she had no market
In the cotton States, so far from being source
of wealth and profit, the slaves would become
q cause of poverty and loss and, In selfdefence,
she would be compelled to abolish slavery.
Hence the measure proposed in the Southern
confederacy is q menace to her that she must
speedily take one side or other in the quar-
rel with the North.
It was with view to gain over the border
States that the confederacy inserted in their
constitution prohibition against the African
slave trade; for the opening Of that trade, which
down the price of negroes, and it is on this
ground, and not from any philanthropic
ideas, that Virginia and other border slave
States have been always opposed to the
African traffic. The question of slave trade
between the cotton States and the United
States was left designedly an open question in
the Southern constitution, and to be decided by
Congress, in order that it might be lever with
which to hoist the border States into the con-
federacy. By the census it appears that Ten
nessee has 287, liz slaves, Kentucky 225,490
and North Carolina 32s,377 equal to half her
white population). These States would be all
affected by the proposed measure, but not to
latter that it is intended specially to operate,
because as Virginia gees they will all go.
On the other hand, If Virginia and the other
border slave States should secede and join the
cotton confederacy what security would they
haye for the rendition of their fugitive slaves by
the Northern confederacy? None whatever, un-
less there should be treaty of amity between
the two confederacies. Moreover, in the event of
civil war their soil would be the battle ground,
and they would suffer more than either the
Northern or the cotton States. They are thus
placed between two fires, and 1t is question
with them on which side lies the balance
of interest There can be little doubt
that, on the whole, they would consider
the preponderance of interest lay with the cot
ton confederacy, for If, in civil war, the North
ern fanatics should prove successful, they
would assuredly abolish slavery in every South
ern State. Hence the proslavery interest in
Virginia, interpreting Mr. Lincoln's inaugural
as indicating coercive programme, is becom-
ing more violent and revolutionary. Secession
is making rapid strides. The Richmond En-
quirer, as our readers have seen, calls upon vir-
ginia to take her stand Immediately and be no
longer divided as very soon she will have to
fight either under the banners of Jefferson Da-
Wis or Abraham Lincoln. The argument of
Wise's organ for joining the cotton confedera-
cy and thus making the State unit is that, in
the contingency of coercion, the secessionists
will join the army Of the South, whatever the
State may do, and that this might lead to civil
war between the virginians themselves.
Unless the President, therefore, in some de-
cided way announces peace policy very soon
there is every probability Of the secession of
the mother of States and Of Presidents, and that
border slave States with her.
Hercules HAcKIEY.-Great hopes rest upon
the performances Of the new contractor for the
cleaning of our streets Let him beware how
he disappoints them. He has it In his power
to make himself one Of the most popular of off,
cials, but he also runs the risk of accommodating
upon his head the maledictions dire Of whole
community. Atlas himself did not bear
greater weight on bis shoulders than does our
Hercules Of the bosom. Besides keeping seve-
raj hundreds of miles of streets free from
their accustomed muck heaps, he has to
protect the dry goods and fancy stores, the
crinoline and patience of the fair promenaders
Of Broadway, from the penetrating influence Of
the binding particles which are borne on the