The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-02-06
The East and West.


The half-secesh demagogues seem to have
already given up the idea of leaving New
England "out in the cold" That game is
played out before it is fairly begun. The
West can't afford to try the experiment, and
does not wish to il she could. The West has
been made what she is by New England men
and ideas. Her churches, academies and
colleges have been built by the lberality of
New England christians, and her railroads BY
the money of New England capitalists. What
the West would have been without the enter
prise, wealth and culture she has received
from New England it is not difficult to esti-
mate. and the same process will show what
would be her future destiny if she could cut
off all connection with the East and repudi-
ate the ideas and institutions for which she
is so greatly indebted to New England. But
the West entertains no such absurd and i'm
possible proposition, and the demagogues who
suggest it she will overwhelm with con-
tempt.
But it should be understood that New
Eng land is not in the least degree alarmed
at the idea of being left out in the cold, even
if the threat were made in good earnest.
the West were insane enough to unite her
destiny with the impoverished and barbarous
slave states, and if, which is still more pre-
posterous, Pennsylvania and New York
should join in such partnership, the New
England states would be abundantly able to
take care of themselves. Compact, populous,
and easily defensible, they would fear no ag-
sression from abroad; cheaply governed, and
with their public works and institutions per-
sected, they would be relieved from the heavy
taxes imposed by the development and de-
fense of extensive wild territories: and they
are certain that no political lines could break
their commercial connection or make the
West independent of the trade which is now
reciprocal benefit. There is great talk
about the re-opening of the Mississippi, as if
its commerce were of vital Importance to the
West. But it is greatly overrated There is
large trade of the upper valley of the Mis-
sippi with New Orleans, but it is not 1.-THE
of the trade of that valley with the eastern
sea ports and the increased facilities of rail-
road transportation eastward have caused
the commerce with the East to gain rapidly
upon that of the Mississippi for the last twen-
ty years. The census statistics are conclu-
sive on this subject. The entire exports from
New Orleans of produce brought down the
Mississippi amounted in 1860 to but S2. 800.
600. In the same year there were carried by
railroad and canal to eastern ports produce
to the amount of S225, 100000. Western
merchants say that nearly the whole trade OF
the West as far down as Cairo, Illinois, had
been turned into eastern channels before 1860
and that in five years more of peace the new
lines of railroad would have secured the trade
of the valley to the East as far down as
Memphis. The West wants the Mississippi
open to her commerce, and will have it, bu,
it is mistake to suppose that she depend:
upon her southern trade for any consider
able share of her prosperity, and if she could
succeed in diverting the current of trade from
its now preferred channels she would only
impoverish herself by the operation.
If New England were inclined to take the
mercenary view. she has more prospect o
losing commercially from the restoration o
the Union without slavery than from th,
restoration on slavery basis, with hersel
left out. Make the South free, and open i
to enterprise and capital, and it will not b,
long before Charleston, Savannah and Mo
bile will compete with Boston, New York ans
Philadelp phia for the trade of the valley o
the Mississippi. The railroad connections
between St Louis and Cincinnati and thes,
southern ports are quite as direct, and will
comparatively small outlay can be mad
much shorter than the roads to the eastern
ports, and the southern cities may attain tn
Importance they have long hoped for bu
could never reach under the slave system
But truce to all sectional jsalousies an,
chickering's. What is essential to the peace
unity and well being of all sections of tn
country is not to thrust any one section, bu
slavery and its partisans, out in the cold.
and leave the nation unclogged in its caree
of prosperity and glory.-Sprngteld Re
publican.