The Southern museum. (Macon, Ga.) 1848-1850, February 03, 1849, Image 2
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EDITED AMU PCBLISUED UT.LKIV, BV
HARRISON A MFEB?,
CITY PHI .V TERS.
A ,
ADDRESS
OF TIIK SOUTHERN DELEGATES
iu Contgi'f -'ft* to Constituent *•- Mr»
Calhonn's.
We are indebted to the Editor of the
Telegraph f,r a daily Charleston Mercury
of the 31st ult, containing this address.—
From ;be lateness of the hour, we are com
pelled to give but an outline of the strong
points made in the body of the address,
with one important extract and the clos
ing remarks entire.
It opens with a presentation of the sub
ject-matter to the constituents of those
whose names are affixed. Then the sla
very agitation is alluded to as it had com
menced. spread and infected the masses of
the North—“aggression following aggres
sion, and encroachment encroachment, un
til it has reached a point when a regard
for our peace and safety will not permit
them to remain longer silent.” And tak
ing up the debates in the convention that
framed the Constitution, showing the dif
ferences of feeling and opinion in that
body, the address details the compromises
there effected, wi liout which the South
would never have confederated with the
North—the apportionment of representa
tion and taxation, the delivery of fugitive
slaves escaping from servitude into free
States, the prohibition of the slave-trade
after the year 1808, and the provision that
no capitation or direct tax shall be laid,
but in proportion to federal numbers. All
of which measures were adopted almost
unanimously—the one in reference to fu
gitive slaves entirely so. The address
then proceeds to show with what faith ties
provision, particularly, lias been observed.
It then takes up the subject in detail from
the time of the anti-slavery agitation in
1819,0n the admission of Missouri into the
Union, and characterizes that year as one,
“ it is to be feared, destined to mark a train
of events, bunging with them many, and
great, and fatal disasters, on the country
and its institutions.” To the excitement
on that question is attributed the hostility
that soon disclosed itself in the North a
gainst that portion of the Constitution
which provides for delivering up fugitive
slaves. And this aggression, in its turn,
led to hostile acts, intended to render this
provision of non-effect, arid which have
been so successful “ that it may now he re
garded as practically expunged from the
■(institution. The importance and fun
damental character of this provision is
then explained, the decisions of Judges
Story and Baldwin upon it are cited, and
the refusal of several of the free States to
comply with it, is decided to be “a clear
and palpable invasion of the Constitution.”
It then declares all indirect acts of those
“ secret combinations which are believed
to exist in most of the Northern States,
whose object is to entice, decoy, entrap,
enveigle, and seduce slaves to escape from
their owners, and to pass them secretly
and rapidly, hv means organized tor the
purpose, into Canada, where they will be
beyond the reach of the provision, ’ are
declared to be equally violations of that
sacred instrument. In the following ex
tract the address reviews rapidly the more
systematic operations of the abolitionists
from 1545 :
“ There remains to ho noticed another
class of aggressive acts of a kindred cliar
actei, but which instead of striking at an
expresss and spacific provision of the Con
stitution, aims directly at destroying the
relation between the two races at the
South, by means subversive in their ten
dency of one of the ends for which the
Constitution was established. We refer
to the systematic agitation of the question
by the Abolitionists, which, commencing
in 1835, is still continued in all possible
forms. Their avowed intention is to bring
about a state of tilings that will force e
mancipation on the South. To unite the
North in fixed hostility to slavery in the
South, and to excite discontent among the
slaves with their condition, are among the
means employed to effect it. With a view
to bring about the former, every means arc
resorted to in order to render the South,
and the relation between the two races
there, odiou3 and hateful to the North.
Forihis purpose, societies and newspa
pers are every where established, debating
clubs opened, lecturers employed, pamph
lets and other publications, pictures and
petitions to Congress, resorted to, and di
rected to that single point, regardless of
truth or decency ; while the circulation of
incendiary publications in the South, the
agitation of the subject of abolition in
Congress, and the employment of emis
saries, are relied on to excite discontent
among the slaves. This agita’ion, and the
use of these means, have been continued
with more or less activity for fifteen years,
not without doing much towards effecting
the object intended. We regard both ob
ject and means to he aggressive and dan
gerous to the rights of the South, andstib
versive, as stated, of one of the ends for
which the Constitution was established.
Slavery is a domestic institution. It be
longs to the States, each for itself, io de
cide whether it shall be established or not;
and if it be established, whether it should
be abolished or not. Such being the clear
and unquestionable right of the States, it
follows necessarily that it would he a fla
i grant act of aggression on a State, de
structive of its rights, and subversive of its
independence, for the Federal Govern
ment, or one or more States, or their peo
ple, to undertutc to force on it the eman
cipation of its slaves. 13ut it is a sound
maxim in politics, as well as law and
morals, that no one lias a right to do that
indirectly which lie cannot do directly ;
and it may he added, with equal truth, to
aid, or abet, or countenance another in do
ing it. And yet the Abolitionists of the
Nor h, openly avowing their intention, and
resorting to the most efficient means for
the purpose, have been attempting to
bring about a state of things to force the
Southern States to emancipate their slaves,
without any act on the part of any North
ern State to arrest or suppress the means
by which they propose to accomplish it. I
’J by have been permitted to pursue their
object, and to use whatever means they
please, if without aid or countenance also
without resistance or disapprobation.
What gives a deeper shade to the whole
affair, is the fact, that one of the means to
effect their object, that of exciting discon
tent among our slaves, tends directly to
subvert what its preamble declares to be
one of the endsfor which the Constitution
was ordained and established : “ to ensure
domestic tranquility and that in the on
ly way in which domestic tranquili y is
likely ever to be disturbed in the South.
Certain it is, that ati agitation so systema
tic, having such an object in view, and
sought to becarried into execution by such
means, would, between independent na
tions, constitute just cause of remon
strance by the party against which the ag
gression was directed, and, if not heeded,
an appeal to arms for redress. Such be
ing the case where an aggression of the
kind takes place among independent na
tions, how much more aggravated must it
he between confederated States, where
the Union precludes an appeal to arms,
while it affords a medium through which
it can operate with vastly increased force
and effect 1 That it would he perverted
to such a use, never entered into the ima
gination of the generation which formed
and adopted the Constitution, and, if it
had been supposed it would, it is certain
that the South never would have adopted
it.”
The address adverts again to the agita
tion on the Miss mri question, and gives a
lucid history of the scenes of hat time, the
different sentiments of the parties engaged
in the controversy, and the pacific object
of the compromise. “ Many,” it states,
“ hailed it as a permanent and final ad
justment that would prevent the recur
rence of similar conflicts; hut others, less
sanguine, took the opposite and more
gloomy view, regarding it as the precur
sor of a train of events which might rend
the Union asunder, and prostrate our po
litical sys'em. One of these was the ex
perienced and sagacious Jefferson. Thus
far, time would seem to favor his forebod
ings. May a returning sense of justice,
and a projecting Providence, avert their
final fulfilment.” From tha 1 time to the
admission of Texas, the aholiti n excite
ment in reference to territories abated.
At this time it broke out again with re
doubled violence. “ The war with Mex
ico soon fo'lowed, and that terminated in
the acquisition of New Mexico and Cali
fornia.” “ The near prospect of so great
an addition rekindled the excitement be
tween the North and South in teference
to slavery in its connection with the terri
tories. which has become, since those on
the Pacific were acquired, more universal
and intense than ever.” And now “the
issue between them arid us is the naked
question, shall slavery he extended or
not !” Passing hastily over the discus
sion of last session in regard to the right
of Congress to exclude the citizens of the
South, with their slaves, from the new ter
ritories, the address states the issue be
tween the North and South to he, not the
extension of slavery on our part, hut “that
we shall not he prohibited from immigrat
ing, with our property, into the territories
of the United States, because we are slave
holders ; or, in other words, that we shall
not on that account he disfranchised < f
a privilege possessed by all others, citi
zens and foreigners, without discrimina
tion as to character, profession or color.
All, whether savage, barbarian or civiliz
ed, may freely enter and remain, we only
being excluded.” Our equal and free oc
cupancy is claimed, (Congress being de
nied the authority under the Constitution
to discriminate between the persons or
discrip ions of property that may be carri
ried into tli ise territories,) on tiio ground
of “ right, justice and equity.” This
ground is sustained by referring to their
acquisition by the common sacrifice and
efforts of all the States, in which the South
was not behind the Nor h—by the rela
tion which the confederated hut indepen
dent States sustain to each other, in whom
the right of property vest —by their ne
cessary equality—“ equal in rights and e
qual in dignity.” “ But as solid and im
pregnable as are these grounds in the
eyes of justice and reason, they oppose a
feeble resistance to a majority determined
to engross the whole.” The address then
proceeds in a statement of the action
of" ihe members of tho abolition party at
the present session of Congress, referring
particularly to the introduction of resolu
tions for the abolition of slavery in the Dis
trict of Columbia, and then continues :
“Wo have now brought to a close a
narrative of the series of acts of agres
sion and encroachment, connected with the
subject of this address, including those
that are consummated and those still in
progress. They are numerous, great, and
dangerous, and threa'en with destruction
the greatest anil most vital of all the inter
es sand institutions of tho South. Indeed
it may he doubted whether there is a sin
gle pr (vision, stipulation, or guaranty of
the Constitution, intended for the security
of the South, that has not been rendered
perfectly nugatory in all but two States.
Itrnay even be made a serious question,
whether the encroachments already made,
j wi.hout the aid of any other, would not,
| it permitted to operate unchecked, and iu
emancipation, and that at no distant day.
But he that as it may, it hardly admits of
a doubt that, if the aggressions already
commenced in the House and now in pro- 1
gtess, should be consummated, such in the :
; end would certainly be the consequence.
Little, in truth, would be left to he done |
after we have been excluded from all the j
| 1 en itories, including those to he hereafter
1 acquired ; after slavery is abolished in this j
j District, and in the numerous places dis- j
j persed all over the South, where Congress j
has the exclusive right of legislation, and !
after the other measures proposed are |
consummated. Every outpost and barrier!
would be carried, and nothing would he!
left but to finish the work of abolition at
pleasure in tho States themselves. This
District, and all places over which Con i
gress has exclusive power of legislation,!
wou.d be asylums for fugitive slaves,;
where, as soon as they placed their feet,
they, would become, according to the doc
trines of our Northern-assailants, free ; un
less there should be some positive enact
ments to prevent it.
Undet such a state of things the proba
bility is, that emancipation would soon
follow, without any final act to abolish sla
very. '1 lie depressing effects of such
measures on tho white race at the South,
and the hope they would create to the
black of a speedy emancipation, would
produce a slate of feeling inconsistent
with the much longer continuance of the
existing relations between the two. But
be that as it may, it is certain, if emanci
pation did not follow, as a matter of
course, the Huai acts in llie States would
not he long delayed. The want of con
stitutional power would oppose a feeble
resistance, 'i lie great body of the North
is united against our peculiar institution.
Many believe it to he sinful, and the resi
due, with inconsiderable exceptions, be
lieve it to be wrong. Such being the case,
it would indicate a very superficial knowl
edge of human nature, to think that, af.cl
aiming at abolition, systematically, for so
many years, and pursuing it with such un
scrupulous disregard of law and Constitu
tion, that the fanatics who have led the
way, ands reed the great body of the
North to follow them, would, when the fi
nishing s roke only remained to he given,
voluntarily suspend it, oi permit any con
stitutional scruples or consideration of jus
tice to arrest it. To these may he added
an aggression, though not yet commenced,
long medi aed and threatened ; to pro
hibit what the aholiti mists call the in
ternal slave trade, meaning thereby the
transfer of slaves from one State to anoth
er, from whatever motive done, or however
effected. '1 heir object would seem to be
to render them warthless, by crowding
them together where they are, and thus
hasten the work id emancipation. There
is reason lor believing that it will soon fol
low those nowin progress, unless, indeed,
some decisive step should he taken in the
meantime to arrest the whole.
I lie question then is, will the meas
ures of aggession proposed in the House
be a lopted ?
“ i hey may not, and probably will not,
be this season. But when we take into
consideration, that, there is a majority now
in favor of one of them, and a strong mi
nority in favor of the other, as far as the
sense of the house has been taken ; that
there will he in all probability a i onsider
ahle increase in the next Congress of the
vote in favor of them, and that it will he
largely increased in the next succeeding
Congress, under the census to he taken
next year, it amounts almost to a certain
ty, that they will he adopted, un'ess some
deceisive measure is taken in advance to
prevent it.
“ But, it even these conclusions should
prove erroneous—if fanaticism and the
love of power should, contrary to their
nature,for once respect constitutional har
riers ; or it the calculations of policy
should retard tho adoption of these meas
ures, or even defeat them altogether, there
would be still left one certain way to ac
complish their object, if the determination
avowed by the North to monopolise all
ihe Territories, to the exclusion of the
South, should be carried into effect. That
of itself would, at no distant day, add to
the North a sufficient number of States to
give her three-fourths of the whole ; when,
under the color of an amendmont of the
Constitution, she would emancipate our
slaves, however opposed it might he to its
true in'ent.
“ Thus, under every aspect, the result is
certain, if aggression be not promptly and
decidedly met. How it is to be met, it is
for you to decide.
“ Such then being the case, it would
he to insult you to suppose you could hesi
tate. I o destroy the existing relation be
tween the free and servile races at the
South would lead to consequences unparal
leled in history. They cannot be separa
ted, and cannot live together in peace, or
harmony, or to their mutual advantange,
except in their present relation. Under
any other, wretchedness, and misery, and
desolation, would overspread tho whole
South. The example of the British West
Indies, as blighting as emancipation has
proved to them, furnishes a very Taint pie
tme of the calamities it would bring on
the South. The circumstances under
which it would take place with us, would
be entirely different from those which took
place with them, and calculated to lead to
far more disastrous results. There the
Government of the parent country eman
cipated slaves in her colonial possessions
—a Governmet rich and powerful, and ac
tuated by views of policy, ( mistaken as
they turned out to he,) rather than fanati
i cism. It was, besides, disposed to act
| justly towards the owners, even in the act
j of emancipating their slaves, and to pro
tect and foster them afterwards. It ac
cordingly appropriated nearly §100,000,-
1000 as a compensation to them foi their
losses under the act, which sum, although
; it turned out to befar short of theamouii',
1 was thought at the time to he liberal.
Since the emancipation, it has kept up a
sufficient military and naval force to keep
| the blacks in awe, and a number of mng
j istrates, and constables, and other civil of
; ficers, to keep order in the towns and plan
j tations, and enforce respec’ to i heir former
I owners. To a considerable extent, these
I have served as a substitute for the police
! formerly kept on the plantations by the
owners and theiroverseers, and topreserve
j ihe social and political superiority of the
! white race. But, no withstanding all this,
I the British West India possessions are ru
ined, impoverished, miserable, wretched,
! and destined probably to he abandoned to
j ihe black race. Very different would he
the circumstances under which emancipa
tion would take place with us. If it ever
should he effected, it will be through the
agency of the Federal Government, con
trolled by the dominant power of the
Northern States of the Confedracy, against
Iheresistance and struggle of. he Southern.
“ It can then only he effected by the
prostration of the white race; and that
would necessarily engender ihe bitterest
feelings of hostility between them and the
North. But the reverse would bcihe case
between the blacks of the South and the
people of the North. Owing their eman
cipation to them, they would regard them
as friends, guardians, and patrons, and
centre, accordingly, all their sympathy in
them. The people of the North would
not fail to reciprocate and to favor them,
instead of the whites. Under the influence
of such feelings, and impelled by fana i
cism and love of power, they wou and not
stop at emancipation. Anotherstep would
be taken—to raise them to a political and
social equality with their former owuers,
by giving them the right of voting and
holding public offices under the Federal
Government. We see the first step to
ward it in the hill already already alluded
to—to vest the free black and slaves with
the right to vote on the question of eman
cipation in this District. But when once
raised to an equality, they would become i
the fast political associates of the North,!
acting and voting with them on all ques
tions, and by thi.-. political union between
them holding the white race at the
South in complete subjection.
•‘The blacks, and the profligate whites
that might unite with them, would become
the principal recipients of federal offices
and pa ronage, and would, in conse
quence, he raised above the whites of the
South in the political and social scale.—
We would, in a word, change conditions
wi li them—a degradation greater than
has ever yet fallen to the lot of an enlight
ened people, and one from which we
could not escape, should emancipation
take place, (which it cer ainly will if not
prevented,) hut by fleeing the homes of
ourselves and ancestors, and by abandon
ing our country, to our former slaves, to
become the permanent abode of disorder,
anarchy, poverty, misery, and wretched
ness.
“ \\ i !i such a prospect before us, the
gravest aid most solemn question that ev
er claimed the attention of a people is pre
sented for your consideration : What is to
be done to prevent it I It is a question
belonging to you to decide. All we pro
pose is, to give you our opini n.
“ We, then, are of opinion that the first
and indispensable step, without which no
thing can be done, and with which every
thing may be, is to be united among your
selves, on this great and most vital ques
tion. The want of union and concert in
reference to it lias brought die South, the
Union, and our system of Government, to
their present perilous condition. Instead
of placing it above all others, we have
made it subordinate, not only to mere
questions of policy, but to the preserva
tion of party ties and ensuring of party
sflccess. As high as we bold a due re
spect for these, we bold them subordinate
to that and other questions involving your
safety and happiness. Until they are so
held by the South, the North w ill not be
lie-e i hat you are in earnest in opposition
to their encroachments, and they will con
tinue to follow, one after another, until the
work of abolition is finished. To con
vince them that you are, you must prove
by your acts that, you hold all other ques
tions subordinate to it. If you become
united, and prove yourselves in earnest,
the North will be brought to a pause, and
to a calculation of consequences ; and that
may lead to a change of measures, and the
adoption of a course of policy, that may
quie ly and peaceably terminate this long
conflict between the two sections. Jf it
should not, nothing would remain for you
but to stand up immoveably in defence of
rights, involving you all—your property,
prosperity, equality, liberty, and safety.*
As the assailed, you would stand justifi
ed by all laws human and divine, in re
pelling a blow so dangerous, without look
ing to consequences, and to resort to all
means necessary for that purpose. Your
assailants, and not you, would be responsi
ble for consequences.
Entertaining these opinions, we arnest
lv entreat you to be united, and for that
purpose adopt all necessary measutes.—
Beyond this, we think it would not be
proper to go at present.
We hope, if you should unite with any
thing like unanimity, it may of itself apply
a remedy to this deep sealed and danger
ous disease; but if such should not be the
case, the time will then have come for you
to decide what course to adopt.
(Signed)
J. M. Mason, R. M. T. Hunter,
A. Atkinson, Tho. H. Bayly,
H. Bedinger, R. L. T. Beale,
T. S. Bocock, It. K. Meade,
It. A. Thompson, W. G. Brown,
of Virginia.
J. R. J. Daniel, A. W. Venable,
of North Carolina.
A. P. Butler, J. C. Calhoun,
A. Burt, I. E. Holmes,
R. B. Rhetf, It. F. Simpson,
D. Wallace, T. A. Woodward,
of South Carolina.
H. V. Johnson, of Georgia.
H. T. Turney, F. P. Stanton,
of Tennessee.
AV. R. King, B. Fitzpatrick,
John Gayle, S. W. Harris,
S. W. Inge, T. W. Bowdon.
of Alabama.
Jes. Davis, H. S. Foote,
A. G. Brown, W. S. Featherston,
P. W. ThompkinSjJ. Thompson,
of Mississippi.
S. U. Downs, Emile Lesere,
John H. Harmanson, T. E. Morse,
I). It. Atchison, of Missouri.
S. Borland, W. Iv. Sebastian,
It. W. Johnson, of Arkansas.
D. L. Yulee, of Florida.
Timothy Pillshury, of Texas.
MACON, G A .
SATURDAY MORNING, FEB. 3, 1849.
(CPWe are indebted to Senator James D.
\\ estcott, Jr., for valuable public documents.
ICFIn consequence of the length of the Ad
dress adopted at the adjourned meeting of the
Southern Members of Congress, several less im
portaut though interesting articles are crowded
out of to day's paper.
MOVEMENTS IN MACON.
We see public notice is given that there will
be a meeting held in this city to-day, without
distinction of parlies, to take some action upon
the Slavery question, and regret that the hour
appointed for meeting makes it impossible for us
to publish the result in this issue.
There appears to be a sad deficiency of judg
ment among some of the partizan press. We
deprecate all attempts to appropriate the present
peculiar phase of this question to either of the
political parties of the day. In unity alone shall
we find strength—without it, we must submit to
this superior numbers of those who are straining
every nerve to bring the South into submission
to their will, or drive her from tho Union. Then,
how exceedingly dangerous is an attempt of
partizans to insinuate even that this question is
peculiarly their own, and to traduce the motives
of those who, agreeing with them on the main
point, differ in judgment in regard to some of
the details of action.
On the other hand, we as seriously lament the
existence of the fact that some of the other par
ty, yielding to the force of habit, the love of op
posing, or some other influence, have approached
very near an issue upon the question.
When judgment is consulted, the conviction
is forced upon all, that this vital subject is the
peculiar property of none—that it should heuni
tedly ns well as manfully met—and that Ihe
blush of shame should burn the cheek of him
w.'io dares to attempt to create divisions of senti
ment upon it for sectional party purposes.
Such attempts are perfectly suicidal. What if
one party is benefited by this appropriation, will
that crusii the abolition movement, without tho
aid of the other party ? By no means. Then
partizan manouvres and malevolence should be
banished and nothing he thought, spoken or
written, that breathes aught of dissention, sus
picion or passion. If any other course is pur
sued, it will result in divisions among ourselves
and in emboldening the abolitionists. Let all
adopt the noble sentiment of Mr. Berrien—“ On
THI, QUESTION, I KNOW NO PARTY. ”
THE COTTON INTEREST.
“A Cotton Planter,’’ in his second article to
the South Carolinian, from vvnicli we made sev
eral extracts last week, sees but one objeclion
worlhy of remark to his scheme of taxation for
reducing the quantity of Cotton produced and
advancing the price—namely, that “ short time
and entire suspension of work on the part of
manufacturers would defeat the effects of this
curtailment.” This objection he sets at rest in
the answer, that 44 short time and suspension of
labor can only bo carried into effect for a limited
period,” while the reduction of our great staple
is to be made permanent by law.
We agree with the writer on the main point
that there exists a real necessity for a reduction
of the amount of Cotton annually produced in
the ten Cotton growing States; but we must be
permitted to differ with him in regard to the rem
edy that should be applied to effect the desired
cure. That Cotton is as legitimate an object of
taxation as the slave who picks it, the land upon
which it grows, or the fabrics into which it
is man u f actui ed, for the purposes of government
merely, will not be questioned. But in the case
in question the object of taxation is not govern,
mental, save in the contingency that the produ
cer plants more than such a number of acres
fixed by law, to the able bodied field hand
Here, the avowed object of taxation is to force
planters to make less Cotton for their own ben
efit, the tax being designed to act as a penalty
upon those who disregard the Legislative id
monition. Now, although the writer takes the
contrary fur granted, wo think it admits of con
siderable doubt whether our Constitutions grant
the requisite power to curtail the products of
any industrial pursuit, or to enlarge and foster it,
with any other design than to raise moneis
therefrom with which to defray the expenses of
government. But, dismissing the question of
constitutionality, will it be good policy to ask
the interference of General Assemblies in cor
recting the evil of over-production ? We tbiuk
not. I liese bodies have never yet assumed
sucb responsibility; and the reason is obvious.
I hey have rightly supposed that this was a mat
ter to he looked to alone by those most interest
ed. The planter should pause before lie relin
quishes to the Legislature this right, reserved
to him so long by common consent.
Suppose the interposition of the law-making
power is asked, its action upon snch petition will
stand as a precedent for all time to come. \y e
shall then have endless legislation on the sub
ject. At one session we shall have a scheme
for curtailing over-production to advance prices
and at another, when prices are good, a plan for
encouraging over-production—thus keeping pri.
ces continually fluctuating. And this would
serve as a good procedenf, too, for fixing by law
the quantity of all oilier kinds of produce that
shall be grow n, and for intermeddling w ith eve
ry other pursuit for the purpose of making a gen
eral regulation of prices. We apprehend it
would be rnu;h the better plan, in u choice he.
tween evils, to abide the natural course of events,
than to be thus veered about by the action of
Legislatures. Cotton, especially, should not be
subject to their caprice, it rises and falls with
great rapidity ; and from its sudden depression
many hundreds more are involved iu ruin than
perhaps, from the full of every other kind of
produce. And England, our great market, ever
prepared to seize advantages, could wish no
clearer indication of our plans than the action of
those bodies ; and in one season, at an opportune
moment, she could strike us a blow from theef
lucts of which we might not recover for several
years. Nor can our Legislatures foresee the
causes which will operate to advance or depress
prices, (propitious circumstances or great revul
sions in trade and revolutions), and without this
foresight they will not at ail times be able to
curtail or encourage the annual amount produced
at the proper instant.
Cotton descends, too, with two-fold greater
rapidity than it ascends. While it rises or falls
all other products follow gradually in its train.
But the prices of other things bear a more just
proportion to it when in the ascending than the
descending scale, until all come to a natural level.
Now, such derangement of business—such haid
times—such irremediable bankruptcies—such
overwhelming distresses as we have passed
through, occasioned by rapid fluctuations in the
Cotton market, it is presumed no one desires
to witness again in the world’s history. But
just such evils may he expected, we confidently
believe, if General Assemblies are to be invested
with the power to curtail and increase at will
the annual crops of Cotton with a view to the
regulation of prices.
We have before stated it to be our belief that
prices will be changed for the better, in a few
yeais, by the necessiiy for diversifying our pro
ductions. The evident tendency of the age is
to produce more of those articles necessary for
home consumption and less Cottor.—and herein
is the true source of permanent wealth. And
we are not sure hut that low prices have been of
some advantage to us in this respect. It has
taught planters that they can live within them
selves; and if the argument of “ A Cotton Plan
ter ” is correct, that a short crop more than dou
bles an over-production in price, they have no
thing to fear in diverting a still larger propor
tion of labor to other ob.ccts; but will gain it
the operation, inasmuch as while it prevents
over-production of the great staple it lessens the
outlay of money for provisions, &c. Men who
understand their interests as planters do, arc not
slow to take care of themselves; and they are
not less capable of remedying the evils affecting
them than those whom they select to make their
laws, when such evils can be remedied at all.
We are averse to the application of legislative
force with the view to raise prices, for the rea
sons assigned, and would rather permit them to
take a natural direction. In the course of time,
the demand will he far greater than the supply.
Consumption increases annually more rapidly
than the Cotton crops. 44 The dates to the 29tli
December, says the Charleston -Mercury, 44 sbow
that the imports into Great Britain for the year
are as follows: American, 1,374,000 bales a*
gainst 874,000 bales last year, or an excess of
;>OO,OOO bales. The deliveries of American
were 1,218,000 bales against 826,000 bales, or an
increase of 302,000 bales. The stock remaining
on hand 272,000, against 230,000 last year, l”
would thus appear that, notwithstanding an in
creased import of 500,000 hales of American,
the stock left on hand at the close of the year
shows hut the small excess of 33,000 bales!
I o place these important facts in a stronger
light, let us add to the imports of this vear, sav
1,374,000 hales, the stock on hand at its com
mencement, 232,000 bales, which will given
supply of 1,606,000 bales, and deduct from ibis
slock on band January 1, 1849-, of 272,000, it
shows the consumption in Great Britain, for the
year 1848, to have been 1,334,000 bales, or with•
in 40,000 bales of the entire import.” If we
bad a statement of the stock on band on the Ist
January, 1847, we could shew precisely the rel
ative, increase of importion and consumption;
but even without that element, for the years
1847 and 1848 the difference of importation is
not over ten per cent, greater Ilian the consump
tion, notwithstanding the enormous excess of
500,000 bales in the last year over the former.
And if the stock on hand on the Ist of January,
1847, from the crop of the previous year, were
taken into the account, the relative increase e!
importation and consumption, for the time spe
cified, would approximate nearer to each other.
The old Cotton growing regions yield less ev
ery year, and those now comparatively new will
soon wear out. Here, then, are two facts warrant
ing the belief that soon we will have no reason to
fear the possibility of over-production—the in
creased consumption and the wearing out of the
old lands. Tim number of consumers in the
United States will soon reach the present num
ber in Great Britain. Moreover, in the South,
as is now tho case in the North and even in
some portions of tho old Cotton growing States,
our vast plantations will he divided into farms,
and their tenants will lie compelled to diversify
their labor lor their maintenance.
The resumption of business in those countries
lately distracted by revolutions, and the open
ing of the ports of Mexico and California, will
give permanency to the present upward tendency
of prices; and vve think it safe to pesmrio, fr° m
present indications, that they will rise to the