Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-10-08
GRt Stan0arA,
For the Standard.
FREE TRADE.
A SEQUEL TO THE PAMPHLET 1lTITLED "OuR
CURRENCY"

A SEQUEL TO THE PAMPHLET 1lTITLED SOUR,
CURRENCY"
Pending the bloody struggle of the Southern Con-
federacy for her independence, before name or a
standing amongst the nations of the earth has been
accorded to her, and whilst her sea ports remain
closed by force, it may, to 'some seem premature
and quite unnecessary to enter upon discussion
of the subject at the head of this article.
We are, however quite satisfied that the end OF
these things is almost at hand and that it is quite
the time to begin to inquire into the soundness Of
certain foregone conclusions upon this very impor-
tant and interesting subject; to endeavor to look
through the mists of prejudice that envelope it,
and to do away, if possible. early impressions
against it, that have been produced by wrong ed
ucation, bad precedents, or by misinterpreted ex
perience Besides, the Southern COnfeoeracy is
actually governing herself; she is legislating, as
we'll as warning endeavoring to discharge her civil
Her military efforts, however Important they may
be, will not probably need to be e1erted but for
time. The foundations of her civil policy, however,
on the other hand are intended to be- and if wise,
it is hoped will be laid for all time. 1t is quite as
important then, that she should lay those founda-
tons Alright as that should crown her mill
tsry efforts. Independence will be no great boon
to her unless it shall be exerted wisely and to the
best political ends.
already, in measure, committed herself A tariff
already stands out in bold relief upon her statute
book, as though it were matter of course and ne
ceSsarily resulted FROM and must needs follow her
claim of independence; as though indeed the asser-
ton of her independence would have seemed to be
mere sound if not accompanied or followed imme-
diately, by an exerton of her power abroad. 1t is
certainly to be regretted, that allimportant SUBJ
ject as her foreign commerce should so prematurey
have been seized upon to be made vehicle to the
world of her capacity anil determination for self
government; for, in however strong terms, or
loudly, 1t may proclaim her power, it may not, and
We cannot withhold the expression Of our convlc-
ton that it does not in equally strong terms, pro-
Claim her wisdom or the soundness of her policy.
Thirty years agone and more, it certainly re-
quired no supernatural eye to foresee prophetic
wisdom to forete, to what results the persistence
by the United States In her favorite policy of pro-
lection BY tariffs, must inevitably lead The very
calamity that has befallen her, and with which she
is now struggling, through blood and slaughter was
then clearly foreshadowed The dark cloud that
has now eliminated and burst upon her with more
than the fury and destruction of an hundred tenn
pests, was then lowering IN the horizon its light
ningi visible, its thunders audible to those who
looked or listened with attention. Notification,
disunlon, division, secession, or revolution, ill some
wa and by some means, cost what it might, if her
impotic and suicidal course were perSereredin was
then already, too manifest to be mistaken or mis-
understood and yet that course, We are surprised,
well as grieved to see, is the very one upon which
the Southern Confederacy have too hastily we fear
set out
Let her, We say then be warned in time Let
her profit by the fatal example of the United States
That government took its cue in its protective poll
cy from the examples and action of European gov
ernments, and she is reaping the bitter consequent
ceS thereof
Now, men of the Confederacy, let US ask our
selves what is the policy in this respect of the old
burthened oppressed, laboring struggling, bank
rupt governments of Europe, to US? Artificial and
unnatural in their origin construction and conSti-
tutionS they artificial in much of their policy
indeed, must be so. Their internal as well as their
foreign conflicts and contentious and wars have so
involved them in debt that the plain natural sug-
gestions of sound policy and political wisdom, in many
respects are no longer applicable to them. They can't
adopt them. They have enormous debts to pay an
nuslly, and they must be met, although nearly the
interest Of what they respectively owe yet it is far
more incumbent upon them and necessary, that it
shall be paid punctualy and promptly, than that
any very great care effort should be had or made,
about the payment of the principle, and the gov
ernuents of that quarter of the world almost with
ont exception, that can devise the ways and means
Of paying the interest of their debts and of meeting
their current annual expenditures, may DC said to
have accomplished great feats in finance. Witness
for example, the annual budget from the treasury
department of Great Britain. How closely debit fol-
lows upon the heels of credit; if it does not over
step them, what a small balance either one way or
the otter. How every thing is made to contribute
its quota to the general fund, whata nice adapta-
ton of means to ends! 1t turns out perhaps, that
the interest of her debt is paid and her current ex-
pen tures for the year met, once more, and the
MISUNDERSTANDING; or it may be, that a small
dch't of a few millions of pounds sterling is ex-
hibted, and an almost universal joy and consratula-
ton is expressed that it is no larger The finan-
cial talent of the treasury department gets great
credit for its economy and providence and another
year of accruing interest and of expenditures is en-
tered upon with the anxious hope, though not with
out fear, that 1t may come out as well as the last
year has done. AS with Great Britain, so with all
the nations of Europe. The penalty for nations
departure IN the first instance, from the plain
patent and obvious paths of political economy and
wisdom, is, that it shall straggle and struggle on in
its own mistaken and devious way, unaided and un-
directed by the plain and prominent finger boards
that designate the true and direct road National
Indebtedness like that of an individual. affects ;ts
whole being aud action, and the deeper the indcbt
cdness the more it transforms the nation into
new political being and constrains it to 20 counter
to the plain suggestions of true political wisdom,
ana as IN the case Of an individual, it sometimes
even humans, and prompts him to do, what. in a
different condition, he would scorn so in the case Of
Nations, it has led to acts and doings that stand
promlnenrand perpetual memorials Of their inius.
t'ce and oppression History abounds with them
Away, then, we say with all European prece.
dents, in this matter of lettering commerce They
are unsuited to our country to our age. to the cc
MUS Of our people, to our form of government and
10 our Constitution We are born into new era
politically as we'll as temporarily.
The natural advantages of the Southern Confed.
crazy her geographical position, her climate, her
SOILS. the variety and character of her products.
ana the facility with which they may be almost in,
definitely increased and multiplied ought to give,
nay, they must command for her, position and
prominence amongst the nations of the earth never
heretofore In the history of the world accorded to
so newlybor nation-never so ear1v in ts ~, W
litical life attained by any other government Her
whole catalogue of natural products will he If tho
most desirable and marketable character and a. ~
stnted prices The demand for them must be- &C. mo-
stapt and steadily on the increase Corn c and
wheat and cotton and rice and and G01n ana
and hemp, and turpentine and lumber and 49, ;uoU
and copper, and coal, and silver, and gold WI. >
list! And yet these are but few Of tho ; nas
Complete it and then add to it. at no distant daS
49,, ".