Clarksville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1865-1867, 1865-12-29
Policy, versus Numerical Strength,

The South can no longer doubt that it is the
purpose of the radicals to hold it in subection as
conquered territory and to tax, degrade and insult
its people in every available shape. Since the re-
lection of the Southern members of Congress, res
outions have been offered, tending directly to
these results aud unless the influence OF the Presl
dent prove sufficient to defeat these Vaccinations
our political condition will become that of total
cnslavement to the now dominant faction. Pecun-
iarly, too the South will be ruined unless the peo-
ple take such action in their own defense as pru-
dence suggests, and take it promptly and de-
cisively.
Among the measures contemplated by the radi-
calls, against the prosperity Of the South is pro-
position to amend the Constitution so as to enable
them to lay export duties upon the agricultural
reductions of the rebellious States. Thad.
Stevens said in his late speech, that an export duty
of ten cents per pound, on cotton, will yield an
annual income of one hundred millions of dollars
In this, he may, or may not, be mistaken; but one
effect such duty will certainly have, and that is
to enable the shoddy aristocracy of New England
TO get cotton on their own terms, and thus swell
their now enormous profits at the cost of all out
siders. We said that such an export duty would
certainly have this effect; but we were mistaken /;
it can be prevented and turned against the avari-
cious fanatics who are connecting Tie scheme
Eet the South build manufactures to consume the
great bulk of the raw material, and the radical
game is defeated at once. Cotton can be worked
mp in the South as well as in the North. We have
the water-power and the COAL which will enable us
to place the spindle and the loom in the cotton
field, and save freight, commission and insurance
to the home manufacturer. If the South has not
the capital, invite it from abroad, and offer such
terms as will insure its coming. Selfpreservaton
demabds some such step, and it ought to be taken
promptly. We have nothing to hope from the
justice of the fanatics They are resolved not only
to dsfranchise but to mpoverish us, and they will
do it, unless their efforts are met in the most de-
termined manner
But it is not in this way only, that the South
may protect its commercial interests against the
enemy who would crush them. Our Gulf coast is
indented with safe and capacious harbors-any and
all of which may be made points from which to
carry on direct trade with Europe. New Orleans
has already, about eight steamers constituting a
line to Livepool and if the citizens of the Cres-
cent City viii lesolve to import largely and to hold
out sufficient inducements to the merchants of the
interior, they can make that point the New York
of the South, and, by depicting shoddy pride
through the only sensitive poin,
the radicals can be made as plant as they
are now unyielding-as courteous as they are now
rude and vindictive.
Art can never contrive facilities for trade which
will compete, successfully, with the channels
opened by nature, provided equal energy is dis
played in behalf of both. The Mississippi is ont
of those great channels, and with its tributaries
gives advantages to New Orleans which are pos
sessed by no ether point in the United States
Why, then, do our merchants trade with New
York, and pay higher freghts than to and from
New Orleans? Because the capital and the enter
prise of the Yankee are greater than those of tn
Southerner, and because a triaing difference il
price stiles those higher considerations which ough
to induce our people to stand by their own sec
ton and withhold their patronage from those VIII
are striving to compass our ruin. New Orleans ca
this order of trade and direct it in its natu
raj channel. Interest is the great motive power
and whilst appeals to sectional pride would b
laughed at, even by Southerners they are not in
sensible to the charms of the almighty dollar
To this passion, then, capital must appeal. lie
the imports into New Orleans be sufficient for tn
country that ought to be tributary to it--let tn
prices, to the interior merchants, be low as the
are in Northern cities, and the good work will b
accomplished. This policy, of direct trade betwec
foreign countries and Southern ports if backed b
an extensive manufacturing system, will do NOR
to secure Southern rights and tame the savag
spirit Of fanatcism than can be effected by an
other means. Let New Orleans begin the WORK
aad the example will prove contagious from tn
mouths of the Mississippi to the Chesapeake.