Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-03-12

territory by extending. our dominion
lover the Gulf of Mexico and the
Caribbean sea. Others, with the cha
4 racteristie shrewdness of, speculators,
saw in the beginning of the present
European war q good chance to restore
our marine by the purchase of the Ger
man steamers. Others look to the regen-
Grating influence of free markets for the
Z purchase OF ships. Others place their
q hopes of regenerated commerce in the
more certain, available, and never-failing
resource of sssubsidies. y They regard
subsidy as the propitiatory offering due to
every adverse fate. This offering is as
sweet to the gods of this age as the sayory
odors of slaughtered bulls were to those
of ancient Greece. They have built rail
roads and telegraphs, manufactures of
iron, steel, and all the nameless textile
fabrics in market. If constantly sup
4 piled, subsidies will support them.
have but little faith in their power to re-
store our commercial marine upon econ
omical principles Nor am. so well as
sured that our people are not more happily
| and probably employed on land, and that
our capital has not found amore remuner-
alive channel through which it flows than
the carrying trade could offer. If COM
merce will yield greater rewards than
| production, capital and labor will flow
there. If not, then the use of foreign
| capital on the ocean is quite as desirable
| as in the construction of railroads and
other enterprises. aa 1s
| What we most want is an abundant
supply of all the productions of industry
for our own and the markets of the
world. To secure this you want coun-
try happy and contented and interested in
the prosperity and permanency of the
Government, concious that they do enjoy
its protection and advantages equally and
impartially administered.
Let justice be generously and bravely
done to all the sections, and a confidence
will be inspired that will make the South
again glow with the treasures of her fer
tile fields. 1t will crowd your sea ports
with productions demanding transit to |
distant markets. This will open up to !
those who dwell upon the ocean ample |
fields for their enterprise and capital. |
Charity in this instance cannot be |
in excess, and will yield the rich |
est reward of any possible investment !
No subsidy will repay 50 great an inter- /
est. .-- 3D."
NATIONAL DEBT.
As soon IS the country can recover its
healthful vigor it will demand the repeal
of the internal revenue system and the
dispersion of the bands of informers,
spies, and revenue officers, who, like
swarms of harpies, are defiling the whole
land. When this is done the South will
be compelled to pay two-thirds of the
revenue. The national debt and the tax
thereon will be extracted, in large de-
gree, from their industry. They cannot
pay the debt contracted for the over
throw of their cherished cause--a debt
which furnished the sineWs of war for
the desolation of their homes, the de-
struction of their property and sons
without some compensation by rights
protected and privileges guaranteed.
This continued sting must be deprived of
its power to wound and pain by the pre-
sentation of motives that will allure the
public mind from its consideration. Re-
move every monument of defeat and
every cause of discomfort. Substitute for
them the enjoyment of equal privileges
the realization of cherished hopes, the
conscious pride of confidence, import
ance, and influence. At any rate, make
smooth, by just treatment, borough way
to the cOnsumation of this hard task
These distinctions are impolitic and
unjust. Is it polite, to say nothing of
the justice and patriotism of the course,
to perpetuate cause of sectional antipa-
thy, and thereby keep up constant
jealousy and want of confdancel Is it
not the direct interest of every citizen to
give every section assurance that it will
enjoy the full measure of rights and priv.
leges guaranteed by the nation2 The
districts look to the South
for their greatest markets. 1t is, indeed,
almost the only reliable outlet that our
States possess. The grain
growing States are equally interested in
charging the consumption of the South !
Without prosperous South our COM ]
merce, foreign and domestic, must dwin.
die into insignificance; our large cities {
would be retarded in their growth; their
business, diminished, would fail to sus- ;
tain the rapidly increasing population.
Every year yields from two to three hun {
dred millions of gold in the article of cot {
ton alone, as purchasing power. A
great portion of this finds its way to I
the manufacturing and grain growing I
States. They are at the same time, through s
the operations of the high tariff, cut off |
from the advantage of foreign competi- {
ton for all they buy, and at the same
time are compelled tn rely, without the
aid of bounties or subsidies upon a for {
eign market for all they sell. I
This burden upon their capacity to pro- {
duce, or on the proceeds of their industry i
Is check upon enterprise, and furnishes '
\ continuing cause of discomfort. After q
heir years labor has closed, the Govern f
nent stretches forth its Briarean arms L
and bears away from the Treasury ard b
he pockets of the manufacturer at least L
one-hslf of all the planter has produced. 1t t
S no argument to say the people of the t
planting States may go to manufacturing. b
This only; changes the bounty from t
State to one Of the inhabi- f
ants OF that particular State. The tax t
IT'LL comes out of the pocket of the plan I
er. The Government, it is true, must be G
and there is no tax so easily I
collected as custom duties. 1t does not, :
Tor this reason, draw less from the laborer. c
It's burdens are equally cnerous. There t
,hoI1ld at least he some cOmnaneatiOr for