The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1912-01-11

which we will publish every week I'M
til all have been published. The one
this week is written by Fredonia Mon.
grue of the Eighth Grade, B.
THE CAUSES OF THE WAR BE-
TWEEN THE STATES.
| The chief causes of the war for
Southern independence may be based
on the widely different characters and
interests of the cOlonists. The geo.
4 graphical conditions made manufac-
turing the most profitable industry in
the North; the alluvial lands of the
South gave precedence to farming.
AS early as 1919 slaves were intro
duced into the Colonies. The indus
trial and climatic conditions of the
South were more suited to them and
slavery gradually died out in the
North.
| The growth of slavery in the South
after it had died out in the North led
to important differences in economic
and industrial opinion. In 1890 a petit
ton headed by Franklin for the eman-
cipation of slaves was sent to Con-
gross. Congress decided that it had
no authority to interfere with slavery
in the States.
With the increased cultivation of
cotton in the South the demand for
manufactured articles increased. The
manufacturers wanted a protective
tariff which would bring higher prices
for their goods. The planters of the
South felt that only a revenue tax was
necessary and that would insure low.
er prices for articles which they need
ed. In spite of opposition protective
tariff acts were passed. Those of
1924, 1928 and 1882 were highly pro-
tective to the North.
Laws passed which were not bene-
fetal to all States were considered I'M
constitutional. Accordingly when the
Act of 1882 was passed, South Caro-
lima called a convention which declar-
ed it null and void. Jackson tried to
enforce the laws and bloodshed was
avoided by a compromise proposed by
Henry Clay which provided for a grad
ual reduction of duties.
When Missouri applied for admis-
sion the question as to whether the
western States should be free or slave
States arose. The population of Mis-
souri, was from both the North and the
South. The influence from the North
ern faction was sufficiently strong to
admit Missouri as a free State. The
amendment of 1920 provided that Mis-
souri, be slave State, but prohibited
the extension of slavery in any State
north of the southern boundary of
Missouri.
The anti-slavery movement became
more pronounced through the North.
In 1881 an Abolition Society was form
ed whose object was to defeat the
fugitive slave laws.
In 1850, when California applied for
admittance, the South felt justified in
trying to enforce the Missouri compro-
mise bill. The controversy which fol-
lowed resulted in the Omnibus Bill
which would admit California as a free
State but allowed slavery in the terri
tory added by Mexico. This bill was
defeated but other measures were
passed which prevented secession for
a time.
When Kansas and Nebraska applied |
for admittance the people were allow
ed to decide the question of slavery
for themselves. This was at first con-
tested by the North, but the bill was |
passed. Both sections then sent emf |
grants to the Territory. Two consti-
tutions were framed and in the bloody
conflict which followed the Northern
faction was successful.
The Supreme Court decided in the
bred Scott case in 1859 that a man
had the right to take his property into
any State, and slaves were property.
This caused more excitement among
the abolitionists. Close upon this fol-
lowed the John Browns raid in which
ne invaded Virginia, captured Harper's
Ferry and attempted to incite the
slaves into Instruction.
This and many other acts only help
ed to strengthen the opinion of the
South that the North had no regard
Tor the constitution or law. Unbiased
leaders held that the constitution was
compact between sovereign States
and gave the States supreme authority.
The constitution was to be lived I'D
20 on both sides, but If violated it was
lot binding and the States could with
iraw If they saw fit. The North was
distinctly hostile to the South. John
Browns raid, the personal liberty
avs and other unconstitutional acts
lad been upheld by the North. The
ew decisions which had been rend-