The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-10-29

In 1871 only n few weeks before actual
,,a.,,,,,ta. h-oi,o On, h.,,o All. Nor,h and
pos','''o' ''oN' o's '.' 10" '"' ,
South, Captain L. U. Adams was REQUESTED
10 write series Of articles on tho Southern |
.i,p,,,,, for n leading Nav York paper,
-, -, -. -. ,,hi,.h.a
oeNerA Vi tneso a'''o'o' "''o
The following, however, was rejected, on
the ground that Its arguments were falla-
,iors .s,,claIlv an far as thew related In tho
80. 80, ia.,,t. 80 ,..., eao
state VI 'ns'"m i'ooA'us oa.A "ou' ioo''
we recognize the fact that the reasoning
was sound, and the truth Of the authors
.,.,o,o.r,. .,ood IN, hoIa,v 4, IN. l,gh, of
''','o'Ie, ~ -,
subsequent e'eu's' nut II was nov tn's tuA'
induced US to request the article Tor publica-
ton In the REpuptIoAN. Il was on &C.
-, =, 49,, .,r,,o.h,,,,, ~ oy,I,. ~ IN.
''""' W NV apP's"''' w
present day OF what was so wen SAID In
1861. Slavery 10 dead. virginia Ia no more
cprsed with tho traffic in human aesb. and.
aNes'ing '"e ar''c'e Vi u" Tvs re'e'onoo' w
the Interstate slave trade, which were proper
under the then existing state of Affairs, and
NO h,,.o, or,,,no,, vorv vail .,,,.d for
y,
the present day. Inc article Is rs ioho"s
The people OF the North have alarmed
themselves considerably of late, lest what arc
called the border States should link their
fortunes to those which have seeded.
There were those among us who saw, or al
fected to see In such course serious blow
struck at the peace and prosperity OF the
whole country, aud perhaps the total over
throw Of Northern government. But has IL
ever occurred to the rejecting reader that
the South and not the North had most to
fear from the secession OF the border Statesi
Virginia holds the most important position
among these States, apd while all proper
means of Cancellation should be extended
toward her by the people Of the North. 1t
must not be forgotten that by remaining
attached to the Union she renders Q service
to the Southern Confederacy without which
property In slaves would DO Of little value.
Having, as the seeding States assume,
brought their obligations to the Union to an
end and abrogated Its laws, there was but
one step more needed, and the Institution OF
slavery would have had stricken from under
1t one OF It's strongest safeguards. That step
would have been taken when the Southern
Con'ederacy pushed It's boundaries up 70 the
line OF freedom. Had this step been taken,
the destructive plot oil the southern Tragedy
would have been complete. The very exist
ence OF slavery depended on the number and
strength OF the barriers OF safety II can for
tify Itself with, and even these Ii Is forced 10
seek In laws repugnant 10 the spirit Of civ
niLation and an impeachment to Its progress.
There were undoubtedly men enough In
South Carolina and other Southern States,
ambitious demagogues, visionary theorists
and disappointed politicians, ready 70 urge
the taking Of this fatal step. But the more
sensible and fax.seeing Of these public men
saw what would be the result OF leaping
from so fearful precipice, aud hence were
opposed to drawing Virginia aud North
Carolina into the secession vortex. Nor
were the more considerable virginians blind
to the evils secession would draw upon
them. They knew that out Of the Union
there was nothing to hinder their slaves,
who were not so ignorant of what IL
going on In the political world as our Demo-
cratic friends think, from taking up their
march, and going In search Of land OF
freedom, as the children OF Israel did. Ex-
perience has taught US not TO accept the
Wlses, the Masons and the mad gentlemen
who write for the Richmond Enquirer as
good specimens of YOUR modern yirpluIaus.
They are the disappointed politicians, who,
having failed to gain the favors they laid
siege to, 20 over the country peddling their
grievances at the cheapest price, as q hsh.
monger does his cod. II Is undoubtedly true
that virgldlans OF the better class are good
diplomatists, aud take more enlightened
and safer views OF State policy than the
Carollnaus or Georgians. The Carolinians
never can be got TO look the grievances OF
which they perpetually complain square 10
the face. and are sure to seek for remedies
in the wrong direction.
Virginia, by remaining In the Union, can
supply that barrier OF safety TO slave
property the Southern Confederacy stands &C
much In need OF, but which some OF Its mem
bers, In Their mad career, would have tori
down. Her present ppsltlon gives her more
strength, and by exerting II Judicio usly
and remaining true to herself, she can per
form the Office OF peace preserver to thu
Union. To the genius and patriotism o
her sons, more than any other, the UnioI
owes its life aud greatness. Let their deseen
dants take heed, then, that some future his
torlan does not have reasons for tracing III
downfall to acts OF theirs. The sympathies
social and political, of Yirginians undoubtedl,
incline towards the people of the cottoi
States, but she has really but few Interests IL
common with them. They afford her, II !
true, marke for her surplus negroes, bu
even these she might tn to better adv an
tage ultimately, by employing In new de Id
OF enterprise. The cotton States prod uct
enough coarse tobacco for themselves, ant
Import the better qualities from Cuba
Wheat, corn, and provisions they can ge
cheaper from the West, over their own rail-
roads; and as they manufacture no luxuriei
virginia wants, her trade Ia forced Into
other channels. Virginia now hnds he
best markets and customers for her surplu,
products at the North and abroad. She woulS
have to seek these same markets, II sh,
seeded from tho Union, but 1t would b.
under increased disadvantages, and with
less profits to herself Chivalry cannot
flourish unless trade furnish the means.
The same Is true OF North Carolina The
cotton States make pitch and turpentine
enough Tor themselves, and want little else
that she produces. Neither OF these States,
then, have anything 10 gain by linking theil
fortunes to the cotton confederacy. The!
have much to lose by severing their Politica
connections with the North. The people
South Carolina have offered the people Q
their sister States several examples In tn
way OF purchasing rods to break their ow
backs, which 1t would be well II they studie
with more care HOW 70 increase the foreig
trade oil charleston nas esen the great proolet
puhZ,lng Tue brains OF her people and &c
stroying their peace; But In adopting mean
10 tne emo desired they nave lnvariabi.
coupled them win polltical motive, To
impractlcaoillty oil which was sure to In
crease the expense and destroy the who'll
enterprise. IL Is no doubt very notifying