The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-02-12
Lost Southern Custom.

The walls that come from the TanulaC
turing communities ofthe North are causec
by that general source of evils that no"
food the Countrywide abolition o
slavery. The South would not restore
that institution. She will never conSenl
to be the sufferer from such another infer
nal crusade as that which was carried or
against her for thirty years by the north
crn people. But that slavery enriched the
North, and that its abolition is infictine
the most injurious consequences on north
ern enterprise, are both facts too vel
known to be denied. The South was con
sidered the plantations of the North, and
southern planters but the stewards Of
northern merchants. The abolition Of
slavery has released the planter from bis
stewardship, but it has greatly damaged
the northern manufacturers and merchants,
The South was an immense market for
goods and manufactures. Negro clothing
was q large trade, and its exact style and
the extent of the demand for it were SC
well understood that the trade in ii
was steady and certain, aifording a regu.
lar business with handsome profits. So il
was with the fabrics for the households OF
southern gentlemen, and the whole supply
of goods needed for them. Now, this fine
business, which was SO uniform-so profit
able-has become nearly extinct. The
poor negroes spend their wages in gewgaws
and notions, and the supplies sent to the
South to meet their wants, as understood
before the war, find scarcely any demand.
The white population have been without
money, and have been compelled to econo-
mise in clothing, so that the trade with
the South, which was so rich-so rcmune-
ratiye-is now whitfield down until it is
contemplate compared with its former
magnitude.
So with iron manufactures and agri-
cultural implements. The demand in the
cotton and tobacco regions of the South
for these was immense, and annually in
creasing. Northern FORCES and foundries
found the South their richest field. Now,
what does this trade amount to? The an
swer of the manufacturers will be sad
cnough-as sad for themselves as for US.
This is not the worst for these merchants
and manufacturers. The thrifty trade
they once had with the South will never
return to them. Slavery being gone, the
southern people will necessarily withdraw,
in q measure, from the cultivation of staple
commodities and give a part Of their labor
to the production of the necessaries OF
life. This will be attended by a more
economical mode of living, and q great
variety of articles of household economy,
which they before the war bought at the
North, will be made at home. Besides, labor
will seek occupation in manufacturing.
Much of the cotton produced at the South
will be there manufactured, and it will not
be long before all the agricultural imple-
ments used in the South will be made in
the South.
Therefore the abolition of slavery will,
in the end, turn out to have injured the
North more than the South. In time, the
South will recover. Her white popula
ton will increase by remaining at home
instead of emigrating to make room fol
the slaves-and a new condition of indus
try and enterprise will ensue-one which
we have reason to believe, will increase the
political power and aggregate wealth o.
the South.