Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-09-26

0Gn@B - 4AAH D0AL42tEAL8 8lAttD4
EDETo7s UNION AND a 81 oAN: The political indie
pendencc Of zhe Confederate States is an accom-
plshed fact Their recognition BY the United States
Eaglan1 and France would not make the result
more certain or irreversble. Sooner or later such
A recognition will be rnade-but it il not enough
thatwe become politically independent Of the North
ern GoEernment-0ur whole interest will not be
secured until our commercial and financial ndepen-
dence is full and permanently established.
You were kind enough, few days ago, to allow
me space in your paper for certain observations on
the sovereignty of the States. My object in that
raper was TO show entire right to political iude
pendence. now ask you 10 repeat your kindness
and allow me room to give some views that enter
tsin ss TO The Commercial and Financial Independence
Of the Confederate States.
The force of habit has constituted the chief obss
Gle to our political independence-the habit Of
cherishinty for the Union cordial and immoYable
attachment, Of thinking and speaking Of il IS pal
ladium of our political safety and prosperity, and
of diaeountenancing Whatever might suggest even
suspicion that il could in any event be abandoned
This habit had acquired all the strength Of second
nature and nsEer could have been changed except
after long train of abuses and usufpations, pursu
ing invariably the same object OF sectional domino
ton and tending inevitably to absolute despotism
Looking to its aggregate results it il difficult 70
oyerestimate the value of the Union, but looking to
its results in detail it is readily seen that certain
positions of the United States have enjoyed the
Unions share of its beEets II Is worse than that
trading upon the capital produced by other parties.
The whole truth is still Worse-certain portions
have for wears been little more than colonial depen
denotes of other portions so far ct least as their
commercial and financial interests have been con-
cerned. In the progress OF this communication
each one Of these positions viii be fully established
The growth Of the commerce of our country,
from 1894, when il was interrupted by the growing
difficulties between the colonies and the mother
country to the present time furnishes the strongest
e l,<.IT
whole. This grow 9TH is exhibited by the following
figures:
- Imports. Exports.
In I764.........S5 ,5O2,S60 $ll,203, 800
In 1860. ......... So, 1867 3l3,lS9, IA
In the fiscal year ending June 3d. 1860, the amount
of our surplus products of all kinds, exported to
foreign countries and exchanged for their prodqcts
was three hundred and seventy millions of dollars
The amount Of foreign products so exchanged for
was three hundred and sixty-two millions. AS the
trade between nations consists of an exchange OF
simple products it is apparent that the amount OF
our surplus products for export furnishes the pes.
test of our national prosperity. But this general
exhibit of our wonderful prosperity as a nation
Furnishes but an inadequate view Of the real proa
perity OF the different portions of the nation. The
account must be stated between the two sections IN
order to have correct view of the subject. The
exports of the Northern and Southern States stand
thus: aas
Exports of Northern products .......$ 97,346,973
Exports Of Southern products. -. 2l8, 895, 450
Exports of Gold and Silver Coin $50. 26,033,57S
Exports Of Gold and Silver Bullion.... 30,9l5,l7S
Total exports for 1860. - ss73 ,274
Viewing the North and South as two partners en-.
barksd in foreign trade it appears that whilst the
North is twice as numerous as the South, yet the
South furnishes more than twice the capital Of the
concern. .--4
nh
our imports. In 1860 they amounted to $362, 1885,
254. OF this amount the official tables show that
there was imported: Fl.
Into Southern Ports. 40,5S5, 1868
Into Northern Ports. 32l, 580,SS6
Here is great fact that ought to arrest Southern
attention. Although the South produces for expor-
tston and actually exports from her ports, largely
over two hundred millions Of dollars worth Of pro-
duee yet of the goods for which they exchanged
abroad, less than one-ffth of the amount comes
back through our own ports-the residue comes
back through Northern ports.
But it must be borne in mind that whilst the South
exports from her own ports largely over two
hundred millions worth Of produce, she does not
eTpo7f his produce IN Southern UeSsels Six-seTenths
OF these exports go abroad in Northern vessels,
thus furnishing to Northern capital, vested in ton
mage the round profit of twenty millions year,
made for freghfing Southern produce to foreign
markets. Such has been our dependence on the
North for the transportation Of our surplus products
to foreign markets.
l do not write this as a subject for complaint
against the North 1t is legitimate for her capital
lists to build vessels and to engage in carrying
products TO market. But when we become COM
mercially independent, we shall have to provide
our own means of transportation if we maintain
that independence.
Nor do l note the fact that one hundred and
seventy eight millions of the goods imported in
change for Southern products are brought to us
through Northern ports, for the purpose of making
it the subject of complaint against the North. The
fact however, is important, in as much as it shows
no dependent we have heretofore been upon the
North for most of the necess4res and luxuries for
which our products have bsen exchanged. We
have been content to furnish the products, and then
to depend upon Northern capital and enterprise for
converting it into the goods which We require in
exchange. We cannot complain If we have con
scented to rely on Northern men as our factors and
agents, in carrying on our foreign trade, and in
furnishing US with goods. They have an1assed
immense fortunes in thus trsnsaeting our business,
and we have been satisfied with our depende ut con-
dition. -, -. ~. = I
If they have made twenty millions annually in
the way of freghts on our products to Europe, and
twenty millions more for freights IN bringing back
the goods for which they were exchanged and thir
ty millions profits on the goods thus brought
back and sold TO our retail merchants, We have
submitted TO it without murmuring and do not
now bring it up for any other purpose than to show
how quietly and patiently we have aequiesced IN
the course of trade winch mas enabled Inem 70
make annually seventy millions in acting as our
agents and factors. It is too obvious to require
comment, that if the capital that worked this ma
chinery of trade had been owned in Baltimore,
Charleston and New Orleans, these immense profits,
instead of building up Boston, New York and Phil
adelphia, would have contributed to building up
great Southern cities 1t is equally obvious that If
we employ our own men and means hereafter. in
managing our foreign trade, we shall have South
ern cities rivalng those of the North. ~
1t is not to be supposed that all Of the surplus
products of the South are exported to foreign
countries Unfortunately for accuracy of statement,
we have not the official data on which to exhibit
that portion of our products which is sent directly
to the North for exchange for Northern products.
We know that about 100000 bales Of our cotton
worth over forty millions of dollsrs-are sent
yearly to New England, and we know Of many
other articles worth millions upon mlions Of doll
lars that are sent and exchanged for Northern pro-
ducts, but of the aggregate amount we can only
form estimate. A very able and reliable North
ern writer T. P. Kettel, Esq, after careful inves-
tgRtion has expressed the opinion that the South
sends annually to the North produce to the value
of two hundred millions of dollars. Assuming this
sum to be reliable, the account will stand thus
Goods imported through Northern
ports in exchange for Southern
products-, .....-..-, ...-- - SIlooSo,49O
Produce sent directly North. ...,,.... 2G0OOO,O0O
1Olal. .'...' S1AO50SO.s0V
As we buy at least as much from the North as we
sell there the trade between the two sections is
double this sum, or 1881 10000 annually, If this
immense trade was carried on, on terms mutually