Year: 1861




reals for wears 10 them TO come up and fulfill
their obligations From the beginning Of the Gov
ernment, the man can not rise up and charge the
South with VIC ating, in the slightest degree
their obligations. We never asked Congress to
do anything against the interests of the Northern
States: we never complained Of their institutions
we never wished to interfere with then -sall We
rested upon the great principle that Zach State
should govern itself; that they should govern
themselves as they pleased and let US govern our
selves we please. This was the position of the
South, and we made the same appeal to them for
years; and only when this party came to matu-
rity, and when so many States openly disregarded
the Constitution when they got the Government
/ in their hands, Il was then the South thought il
necessary to look out new safeguards for security
/ lt was then she resumed her sovereign powers. Ii
was then she became satisfied that the people of
.he North would not fulfill their portion OF the ob
/ legation. and even then we believed it would be
better for them and US to live on together each
and all doing their duty, but they would not dis
charge their duty. We said we would even try il
and even then sent commissioners to them with
the olive branch of peace. Our overtures were
/ disTegarded, and hence this war. But the point
present to you is, that we stand now where our
Revolutionary fathers stood. All we ask is to be
permitted to govern ourselves as we please; and
for one, | declare to you to day, you may think
of il rs you please, the people of the South NAV
Il
never surrender this principle, though every val
| ley from here to the Potomac should run with
Southern blood. and every hill top be bleachel
with Southern bones. Tremendous applause
Can we cope with the Northl- l-that is the uues-
ton. We have not less than four thousand
millions of taxable property within the COnfed
crate States, upon the least minimum estimate
At last years rates, We therefore could raise from
one hundred millions to two hundred millions for
years to come, and vet survive. The wealth
nations, the ability of nations to sustain war; de
pends not so much upon its taxable property rs
its productive capital. 1t is the latter we must
look for the means and ability to sustain war for
in times of war generally all business is inter
rupted.


! The great difference between the North and
/ the South to carry on the war-and this say to
/ YOU in prospect OF long war, for wish our peo
pie TO see the full magnitude and to feel the full
responsibility that rests upon us in it, and to see
/ our responsibility to meet its this: The North
( sold Us some two hundred and fifty millions all
nually. This was their riches; hence came their
wealth. hence grew their cities Our cotton was
the source of it, and how Mr.. Lincoln is to get
his four hundred millions of dollars, i do not
know. That II matter for him to determine
though | NAV say more about il before | get
through, but at present il is sufficient to say that
Lincoln has damned up the water that turns the
mill of Northern prosperity, How long the mill
will run time time alone will determine. But it
/ is not so with US.


( Let the blockade last; let the Northern people
be cut off from trade with within the eleven
Southern States, we could for years carry on the
war, support ourselves and our armies and, rather
/ than to be subjugated and become vassals of Lin
coins power fight it out, be,eaguered by blockade
all around. We grow supplies that the nations
OF the earth must have-that is, the cotton. How
the North is to do without it, As l have said,
I mats 6pa1s of d. Il
dent upon it for their daily bread. and these peo-
pie are turned out of employment. Perhaps
they are the men, who, for want of bread. Joined
| in this unnatural and suicidal war, which will be
TO them as disastrous as to u.s. In England per
h"P0 not less than five millions of people depend
upon cotton for their daily bread; in France sew
eral hundred thousands, if not millions II am not
particular in my statistics.) And when you come
to take INTO consideration the amount of capital,
I the number of sailors, and the amount of tonnage
employed in this trade, you will be still more sur
prise.


l meet many asking about the blockade. /
can not, to day, tell YOU how the blockade is TO
be raised. But there is one thing certain-in
some way other it will be obliged to he raised.
or there will be revolution in Europe-there will
be starvation there. Our cotton is the element
that will do it, and it is this great staple which
the tremendous lever by which we can work out
our destiny. under Providence, | trust, against
four hundred thousand, or against four times four
hundred thousand Applause l am here to-
Ray to discuss before you the hfty million loan,
| bu L frankly tell you it may be one hundred
millions, and | think it probably will be. The
object OF wise and good government is TO make
the burden fall light upon the people as posi-
BILE to meet every exigency. The proposition the
government makes, therefore, is to take a loan
in produce.


The object is to get along with as little tax as
possible; but, my cUuntrymen, do not suppose the
| government will not tax you it necessary for |
tell you the government does not intend to be
subjugated, and if we do not raise the money by
loans, If the people do not contribute, tell YOU
. We intend to have the money, and taxation will
be resorted to if nothing else will raise it, Every
life and dollar in the country will be demanded
rather than you and every one of us shall be over
run by the enemy. Applause On that you
may count


The government proposes TO give you bond
bearing eight per cent. interest, paying the inter-
est semiannually. 1t is not gift or Donation
but simply your surplus cotton. much as you
can spare This is the position-"We, the sub
scriberS agree to contribute to the defense of the
Confederate States that portion Of our crop set
down to respective names; the same to be
placed in warehouses or in the hands of our
factors, and sold on or before the - next"
''And the net proceeds of sale direct To be
paid over TO the Treasurer of the Confederate
States, for bonds for the SINE amount, bearing
eight per cent interest" There is the whole Of
it. The cotton planter directs the cotton to be
sent into the hands of his factor or his commission
merchant. He only tells the government in his
subscription the portion he lend. He directs
il TO be sold and the proceeds to be invested in
Confederate bonds. understand that commit
tee viii be appointed before this meeting adiourIIs
TO canvass this county Every planter, therefore,
Of Richmond county, will be waited upon and af
forSled opportunity TO subscribe. / wish, there
fore, to say to that committee and everybody
subscribe.


Inquiries have been made Of me, and take
this opportunity to answer them: whether these
bonds will circulate as money-will they pay
debtsT" On this point wish no mistake. They
are not intended currency; they are untitled to
answer the purpose OF circulation. The bond is
not suited to carry in your pocket book and use
Ii would wear out Ii is intended to represent a
fixed capital. permanent investment-just so
much you spare from your cotton crop.
That is ALL Instead of putting your surplus in
lands, negroes, houses and furniture, useless ex-
travagances or luxures just put it in Confederate
bonds. But while | said it not intended to
circulate or to pay debts, | have not the least
doubt that anybody who will sell his crop entire
for bonds, will find difficulty in getting the
money for them, for they draw interest and are
better than money; and any man holding note
will give il up and take bond, for a note draws
but seven per cent and this draws eight have
no doubt that all minors and trust property will
soon be inv ssted in it. | have been frequently
asked if these bonds were good. Well. want 10
be equally frank on tiat point. II we succeed, If
we establish our Independence IL we are not over
ridden, ii we are not subjugated / feel no hesitan-
cy in telling you it Is the best Government stock
in the world that know of; but candor also com
.