University of South Carolina Libraries
*.o 1 Dem xtratic 3vurnAl, Ierntev to tIj 9ull An Soutfjern aigytsz,Catcst Neus, Citrrature, i*otality, Enmerance, %griuture & "We will cling to the Pillars Of the Temple of 0 ,erties, and if it must fall, we will Pcrish amidst the Ruing." SMES, DUIRISOE & CO-, Proprletors. . EDGEFIELD, S. '4MAY26, 1858. --A.N * For the Edgefield Advertiser. THE LAST VIgIT. (Suggested by an engraving in an old magazine) DY JENNY WOODBNE. 'Twas eve, and o'er the western hills, The sun had cast his latest ray; The calm, and hush of that still hour Told-plainly of departing day. The mutmur of the evening breeze, Moaned plaintively o'er land and lea, The Bower had closed its tender leaves Hushed was the wild bird's minstrelsy. Upon an oak tree's broken trunk Reclined a maiden and her sire Her eyes beamed with the hopes of youth, His only showed departed fire. Nature seemed joining in their grief, For withered leaves bestrew'd the ground The grashopper had hushed his song And melancholy reigned around. And here, and there, were mounds of earth, Without a stone-without a name; And yet beneath them slept the brave, Unchronicled their deeds of fame. While o'er their graves walked night and day Pale strangers from far distant lands; The hunting grounds they loved so well Ilad passed away to other hands Yes! here the red men slumbered well, Their war song stilled-their war-whoop hushed; ADlA by their graves unconsciously, A river's mighty waters rushed. And he, the last of that proud race, . Sat by those lonely mounds, and wept If Indian chieftain ever weeps For thcre his rude forefathers slept. The darlk-eyed maiden at his side! * Her heartis crushed with untold woe; For there he makes the vow anew, She ae'er shall wed his warrior-foe. Ah! well may sighs escape her breast, And well may shadows veil her face; For he, to whom her heart is given, Has e'er been foe to all her race. Ah! tell me why sweet blossoms fade, And tell m, Poet, why does Love, Unto to the heart that takes it in A bane as well as blessing prove ? Tell me why skies so soon grow .dark; And tell me why 'tis woman's lot, To treasuro up sweet hopes in vain, And love alas! where she shoidd not. That Indian maid! so young !n years, .How dark~and mournful. seemed her fate; For she had learned to love too well The object of her father's hate. Well may her dusky cheek grow pa1., - And shadows steal athwart her brow; As in this dark and solemn place She hears once more that bitter vow. One other heard-a dark-browed chief With, form as stately as the pine Close to these watchers he had crept, Half hidden by a clustering vine. His eyes with deeper malice gleamed, More savage grew his burning hate, And low he muttered-" Die ho must, He-stands between me and my fate." Then stealthily he crept away, And reached again his light canoe Still planning o'er his deep, dark scheme, As gliding down the waters blue. And while the boat with rapid strokes Was'lying o'er the purple waves, The unconscious victim and the maid Still lingered by those lonely graves, One day the old mnar. came alone, To where his brother warriors rest Above his head the bright steel shone, And then twas buried in his breast! No quiver told his dying gasp, He covered o'er his face with pride No shriek betrayed the pain he felt, Warrior he lived, and war'rior died ! Alas ! you need not words to tell, What treacherous hand had dealt the blow, The one, that maiden loved too woelL, Had laid the mighty chieftain low. Too week my verse to tell what men Inspired by love, and hate, can do For from that scene of blood, and death, The savage heart goes forth to woo, And while her cheek is pale with grief, And while she breathes the orphan's wail, She turns an all too willing ear To list Lhe oft, repented tale. The maiden listens, and believes, To her he seems all true and good ; She knows not that the hand she clasps Is stained igith her dead father's blo'od ! She knows not-or her trusting love Would quickly turn to bitter scorn ; At what a price her hand is bought And trustingly she loves him on. Too soon those gentle, downcast eyes Beam once again with wanted fire The bride will nrerer knote that she Had wed the murderer of her sire ! And ha ? where sleeps that warrior brave ? Some kindly hand has formed a grave Deep in the unfrequented wood Where friendly willow branches wave. His resting place is now unknown, His fame-his deeds-ais glory past Tfhat visit to those lonely grates Proud chieftain, was indeed thy last!? AuousTA, Ga. MY GIMDFTIIEK'S SUNDAY SCHOOL, Some twenty years before the commencement of the revolutionary war, my grandfather lived in Charlotte county, Virginia, as he did during jhe whole war. Ha~was deeply and fervently ~ions, and yet his greatest besetting sin, if not his only one, was a most violent and ungovern able temper. This was the one weak point of his character-the one perilous infirmit of his nature. It is not to be wondered at, then, tha& his infirmity of temper foi-med the subject of ...ny a heartfelt prayer. le prayed that it might be blotted out, and never again mar the beauty of his otherwise calm and tranquil life. le prayed deeply, fervently, with what effect the sequil will show. Having a good many Africans, old and young, in his possession, his mind became wonderfully exercised as to his duty, in a Christian point of view, towards them. Poor ignorant creatures that they were, he felt the obligations of relig ion bearing upon him in all their force, to en lighten the darkness of their understandings; and thus feeling, he called the whole family of blaeks up stairs,.in his best room, and regularly -established a Sunday-school. The first effort in that way was a failure-arising from the out bersting of his temper-but on the next Sun day, he determined to govern his temper better, and "to sprinkle cool patience upon his hot and fiery nature. It is of the next Sunday that I wish to speak. My grandfather had a great many sons, and amongst them uncle Sam stood conspicuous for waggery and all manner of mischief. Ie had heard of the blow-up of my grandfather's hob by on the first Sunday, and he resolved to be near enough, though unseen, to hear all that took place on the next Sabbath. Accordingly, he took his position on-the coping of the chim ney, outside of the house, from which it was easy to hear all that took place overhead. The end windows were raised, and then my grand-fath er's usual tone of voice might rival a young clap of thunder, and when roused, it mounted to the majesty of the loudest. By leaning forward a little, he could easily see all over the room, and be himself unseen. From this room the stair way led down into what was called the hall, and at its foot, the stairway was closed by a door, near the grand hall door. Imagine the sable crowd of Africans collected in the best room, up stairs, and all standing round the room, and arrayed in their "best Sunday-go-to-meetings!" My grandfather was very particular in having them all neatly clothed on that day, their hair combed, and fdtMes shining like blacking balls. It was a beautiful study to look upon the countenance of my grandfather, as he walked into' the room on that quiet and holy day. He was just from his beaded knees, and was confident of a signal and glorious victo ry over his tormenter. In deeply solemn tones, he commenced the exercises thus: "Bosen," said my grandfather, to a venerable old negro. "I will begin with you again to-day, as you are the oldest. They all look up to you, and if you say what I say, right, they will catch the words, and all say right. Now, Bosen, don't-don't make me commit sin to-day, as you did last Sunday. Don't-don't, Bosen, for the love of Heaven !" My grandfather, as I have said, had a mortal dread of his temper, and his language assumed the tone of entreaty whilst talking to Bosen. "Here, now," said my grandfather, "I will put down this silver quarter of a dollar on the table, and the one that learns the first com mandment first, shall have it, no matter who it may bi. It is important, my good people, that you should know what they are." "I will proceed at once to learn you the first commandment, apd put it in such:pliin language that-you can't- mistale. itr Wow-eseay after me, word for word-" Thou shalt serve no other God but me."" Bosen-" Thou shalt serve no other God but You, Massa! "Stop! stop! young people," said my grand father. "Bosen has gone wrong. Dont't say after him; you'll get the words all wrong." Then turning to Bosen, he said with a counte nance deeply pained with mortification, " Bosen, I didn't say thau. Try it again, Bosen. I don't mean to get mad to-day, but do try and remem ber that you made me mad last Sunday, at this very place. But I won't get mad to-day. You can't make me mad-:and you needn't try." All this time my father was reining in his temper like a high mettled steed. No man ould have seen the least ruthie on the smooth ea of his face. "Now, Bosen, listen to me," said my grand ather. "Yes, Massa," said Bosen, bowing very low. " None of your bowing to me--to mne-Boseni, you good-for-nothing old scoundrel. Bow to the G.od of Heaven, not to me." A close observer might have seen a little fire flash from the old gentleman's eyes, but it soon went out after this reproof. " Now, Bosen, try it again;,. " Thou shalt serve no other God but me," said my grand father, with emphasis on the word "me." " Thou shalt serve no other God but yo,, Massa," said Bosen, with emphasis on "you, masa" " Take care ! take care !" cried my grand father, his temper only half restrained ; "take care what you are about, Bosen. I see what you are at. You are trying to make me imad again to-day, but I won't get mad. I will show you that I will govern my temper. You know very well that 1 didn't say that, but I will now make it so plain that you can't mistake it. I warn you to take care how you repeat it wrong, for if you do, you will receive as heavy a fist as ever strdck against a negro's head." Notwithstanding the great effort made to keep down his wrath, he was almost boiling over. The veins in his neck began to swell and to get black with anger. They were almost as large as whip-cords. And Bosen too, was nearly frightened out of his wits.- Poor old fellow, he was afraid my grandfather would think he wanted to be sold-and hence his persistence that he did not want to serve any God but "you, mnassa." "iBsen, say after me, word for word," ex claimed may grandfather, in ill-concealed anger : " Thou-thou, shalt-shalt, serve-serve, no other-no other, God-God, but me," said my grandfather, with a grea't flourish against his breast, "but roe, massa," said Bosen, with a great flourish of his hand against his breast. " Pox take the infernal old scoundrel,"' said my grandfather ; and suitinig the action to the word, he struck him in the burr of the ear, and sent him whirling down the stairs, near -the head of which they happened to be. In his course,.he knocked the door off its hinges be low, and fell sprawling at the hall-door. Ile gathered himself up in the twinkling of an eye, and he flew out of the house.. "Clear yourselves," said my grandfather, "pack and baggage, every one of you," and he kickud them every one out of the room. "Here," said he, in a towering passion, "has that infernal old scoundrel made me commit ain, when I was trying to do good. I kept down my temiper as long as I could, but an an gel could not have borne my trial," and he strutted round the room in a whirlwind of rage. Bosen's nose got to bleeding from the fall, and as he-ran towards the kitchen, uncle Sam heard him grumble to himself: "If I got to serve no other God but you, Massa, I radder be to hell!" Mr A gentleman once conversing in the com pany of ladies, and criticising rather severely the want of personal beauty in other ladies of their acquaintance, remarked, " They~ are the ugliest women 1 know ;" and then, with extra ordinary politeness, added, " present company always excepted ?" zg" To SeuAaa; A CIRcLE.-Settle up your wifie's lbill for hoops at the dry goods store or milliner's. ANECDOTE OF WM. C. FRESTN. Savannah is the Southern city from which the same correspondent who sends the follow ing sketch has often dated, but he has never furnished anything more graphic than this capi tal incident in the experience of the accom plished Preston. Those who knew that splen did orator and gentleman can appreciate the scene. Our correspondent says: "M Many of your readers remember the stately presence, the dignified bearing and'imposing manner of Colonel William C. Preston, of South Carolina. It was when all these quali ties were in their prime, and Preston represen ted his State in the Senate of the United States, that business or pleasure called him to the West, and to take passage down the Mississippi river. In those 'flush times' the steamers swarmed with hoosiers, greenhorns and gam blers, the latter politely designated 'sporting gentlemen,' the teen 'gambler' or 'black leg' entailing on the speaker a pistol shot or a wipe from a bowie-knife. " The boat was on the eve of departure, and our Senator, standing on deck and holding a small mahogany box, was observing with great interest and pleasure the busy scene on the wharf, when an individual, luxuriating in a rather ornate style of dress, approached hin, and in subdued tones demanded: " I say, old feller, when are you agoing to commence ?" " Commence what, sir ?" asked the astonished Senator. "Pshaw, none of that gammon with me. The fact is, a few of us boys on board want a little fun, and we won't pile it on too strong fo' you; so come and open at once." " Really, si:," replied Preston, "I am totally at a loss to guess your meaning. Open what ?" "Open what? 'Why, the banlg of course! May-be you think our pile isn't large enough to make it an objqct. But we're not so poor as all that, anyhow !" The Senator meditated gloomily, but all was dark to him; he was plunged in a sea of doubt, and he had never met any problem, not even a political one, so hard to solve. * " Perhaps," broke in his pertinacious friend again, after a considerable pause, "perhaps you will, say directly that you're not a sporting man." "I certainly am nothing of the kind, sir," rejoined Preston, rather angrily; .Nand I can't imagine what put such an idea into, your head." " Not a sporting man ? Whew-w ! I never heard of such a piece of impudence! Well, if you're-not a sporting man, will you please tell me why you carry the tools about with -you ?' and he pointed to the mahogany box which the Colonel still carried. A light broke on Preston's mind. " The ma hogany box !" he cried. " Ah, yes! ha, ha ! Very natural mistake, indeed, my good air; very natural, indeed! Well, I will show you the contents of the box." Ad, laughing hear tily, he opened the box in question, which was in fact his dressing-case, and displayed the-usual parade of brushes, combs,- i-azors, soap; etc., which usually fill that article of travellig com Our Mriend looke iaiM ease; tliaiiif Pres ton ; then at the case, and then at Preston again. Then he heaved a long sigh, and then lie pondered. " Well," he broke out at length, "I did take you for a sporting gentleman-I did;,but now I see you are nothing but a barber, and if I'd known it, hang me if I'd spoke to you!" and so saying. he "vamnosed." Fancy the feelings of our honorable Senator as lie assumed these various characters in the eyes of an anxious stranger.-larper's MAaga Zine. How RE.ILY A Faix'iuxx cxi AnArT HIM1 SELF TO A NEw GovEIYNMEN.-There is a sto ry of Pierri's arrest iii Paris that, if not.'true is very well invented. He was seized only a few minutes before the attempt, and they la'd hardly done searching hiini when the explosiuns were heard, upon which the prisoner exelaimed: " There ! your Emperor has ceased to exist: you neednt trublle yourself about mec." Whereup on one of the sergeants, struck with the idea that in this case Pierri might form part of the -next Provisional Government, addressed him with, "Well, sir, whatever happens remneimber that I treated you like a gentleman." How -rO Coor. Wcram.-I( it is desired to cool water for drinkiug in warm weather, and ic can not be obtaiued for this purpose, let it be kept in an unglazed earthenware pitcher, wrapt around with two or three folds atf course' cotton cloth kept constantly wet. The theory of cooling wa ter in this manner, is the absorption of heat from it, by the evaporation of the moisture in in the cotton cloth-expansion produces cold, compression heat. CusANCET His Mix.--" Madlam'' said a polite traveller to a testy land lady "if I see proper to help myself to this milk, is there any imnproprie ty ini it." "I don't understand you, but one thinig is sure, if you mean to insinuate that there is anything bad in the nmilk, I'll give you to understand that you are at the wrong house. There aint a first hiare in the milk, for as soon as Dorathv Ann told me thme cat was drowned in it, I went" and strained it over." Thme horrified young man declined partaking of the eat-flavored milk. - TRsTIFo TO Pnovrn'ssE.-One of those stif' necked puritanical missionaries, who sometimes wander away " down South" and take sly chan es of endeavoring to enlighten the benighted darkies of that region, was riding along one Sunday morning in the neighborhood of a weal thy planter's negro quarters, when to his horror, ho spied Cudjo hoeing a small potato patch. Stoppiing his horse at the fence, lie addressed him thus; "MNy poor unfortunate colored brother, is it possible that your cruel master compels you* to labor on the Lord's holy day?" "Oh, no, massa stranger ; my massas good man ; lie "ib nigger far chance, gib him gardini for hisselt' Dis all mine!" looking around with importance upon his little property. "Worse and worse I" exclaimed the other rol ling up his eyes. "The ignorance of Egyptian bondage. Has he never taught you the sinful ness of workinig on the Sabbath 7" " Well, you see, massa stranger, I .nebbev know fore 'twas sin fur nigger. tp hoe his own tater-s Sunday," said1. Cudjo, scratching his head." " A great sin, nmy coloured brother ; how can you expect the Lord to bless you,. if you break his coummuandnmnts ?" "Whlat nigger ;gwine to do fur 'tatoes, den 1" asked Cudjo, somewhat puzzled. " Trust to Providence, my unfortunate friend." " Dar I dai f you done made mismke dat time nassa srranger. Dat Providence is the laziest nigger on dis plantation; he don't eber hoe his on tater patch. Yaih I yah I yah I Vrovidence, eh?" The missionary rode off' in disgust, the more promptly, perhaps, as he spied some gentleman, coiig down the road. "I shouldni't care muich about thme bugs," said a thin, pale boarder to his landlady, " but the fact is, ma'am, T haint got tbe blood to s.-you see that yourself." From the Sout.rlinian. REVIVAL OF THE FRIh SLAVE TRADE. We have remaineesien-upon this question hoping that it wouldpass y without further discussion. The inoppo.rte moment for its Ciscussion, the element of traction which it carried with it, coming lik .bomb-shell in the midst of our united Sout .rn. camp, were con siderations in themselver 'ftiient, we thought, to have stopped agitatiii n this we were mistaken. Another Convention has been held in Montgomery, andagainfe see the same sub ject being agitated. IfH itwere a proposition that would promote the ini retsof South Caro lina, this dissension and thtl4-agitation would in no manner deter gg. We ould boldly advo cate it, and let consequen ctake care of them selves. Or again, if we 'i. y regarded it as a proposition which would to unite the South and bring about a whol 6 pro slavery senti ment, without injuring Carolina, if we could not approve it, we ould, not oppose it. Such is not the conclust we come to upon consideration. When. tb position was first submitted, several years nce, through the columns of the Charleston ndard, we confess that, upon first presenta in, it momentarily captivated us. It came the aspect of a bold, decided measure. - rewas a defiance about it, that prompted an. 'pulse to sustain it. But when its results upo. "uth Carolina were considered, deliberately; 'i t convicted to its oppo-ition. Viewed as a' eat movement for the extension of slavery, itrtainly appeals in some degree for support. :ut in our devotion to the institution generall' o one is justified in over-looking its effects n South Carolina. Judge Butler, when he deel9 that he regarded the Union only through Carolina, mean ing that when any federal re was proposed, lie first regarded its infl ce upon - his. own State, uttered a sentiment t met with a warm approval from every South'. olinian. So, too, in regard to this questi ..'No Carolinian is justified in advocating any; e of policy in ref erence to slavery in genesas hich may weaken slavery in his own State. Athis spirit, then, we approach this propositi for a re-opening of the African slave' trade. naidered in refer ence to South Carolina,. 1 uas see what will probably be the effects of i revival. We take the position . ibly demonstrated by Mr. Fifzhughi, that inv ntary servitude is unavoidable in every- socis . There must ne cessarily be wealth, there ,must be poverty. Between these two extrem there will be a gra dation of classes.. .f the be the same, dis content must exist in the- est class; but if the menials are of an inferi' race, there will be contentment, provided tb uling. or superior race possess the power to ree service and prevent idleness, the pri cause of social discontent. Our menials ig of an inferior race are excluded from' .ballot-box., Our Government thus represe ehighg._racew J class, and must be of a h pi-der. Thee is every inducement, loth y'md politicalj.. for very South. arolmnf ,guard with zeal ous care our institution ry. Its strength and contiduation sho be primarycon. oideratu d Cttgaptens it sioudel ''TO . f strengtlins te institution elsewhere, but it ,ens it in South Carolina, he who would advocate it, with that conviction, would be guilty '.of'high treason to the best interests of his State. Such is our con viction in regard to this' question. We would not question the sincerity or honesty of its ad vocates. Their convictions and ours are diff'r ent-and their reason for zealous advocacy is ours for zealous oppositiou, Slaves like'every kind of property are only valuable for what they produce. A slave who cultivates cotton when it sells at 12c. is worth more than twice as much ai when it commands but Ga. or one when cotton sells at 12c. is worth more than two when. it sells at Gc. Be cause, in the latter case, you would expend dou-' ble the aipount to support labor that would not yield any more gross than in the first instance. When cottoi is at 6c. and a prime negro fellow is selling at $400, if' prices should go up to 12 cents, his value would be more thana $80O0. For if,..with cotton atf6 cents, his gross earnings were $100, and at 12 cents were $200, the cost of supporting him being the same in both instances, say $50O, in the first, he wuoulud realize only $50; in the latter $150. So it will appear that while the price of cotton has only doubled, the value of' the negro has trebled. Reverse it and let cot ton fall in price one-half, and the value of the negro would fall two-thirds. This shows the delicate sensitiveness of negro property. For several years the price of negroes has been high, because the crops were short and cotton com manded a good pi ice. Nor will their pirice ever fall until the price of cottlon is reduced ; until the planter realizes less to the hand than lhe does now. It will thus be seen that under the delusion of making negroes cheaper, we will be doing it at the expense of their value--and they will never become cheaper unless their value be de preciated. Cheapness 'cannot be obtained but by depreciation. Are our planters prepared to. obtain it at this sacrifice ? WAe have shown that one negro, at the present prices, is worth actu ally moure than two at half the price, with the price of cotton reduced one half. There are really greater inducements at this time, and at present prices, to invest in negro property, than have ever before existed. This is strongly illus trated by the eagerness with which they are bought, and the reluctance with which they are sold. And this state of things is owing to the price which our cotton commands. The high price is evidlence of high value, and high value is the main pillar of strength upon which the institution rests. The basis of that pillar is the price . of cotton. As that falls, the pillar is weakened ; as it rises, so the pillar is strength ened. We hold that, so long as cotton coin mandls a goods price, the institution of slavery In South Carolina is on an impregnable basis. If that be.tr'ue, then any measure calculated to reduce the price of cotton is a deadly blow at the institution in the State--it strikes at the very pIllar of Its support. Of such a character Is this proposition to re-open the African slave tradc, although strangely coining from South Carolina-the very last State from which it should have emanated. We have shown above, the intimat'd connec tion betweenthe price vf negroes and the price of cotton, and that the former can only be af fected through the latter. To affect this, the supply of cotton must be increased. This every one must admit. It is a simple -proposition of supply and demand regulating prices. This, then, is the policy of the advocate for re-open ing the African slave trade. Hie wishes to re duce the price of labor. To. do this, we have shown that he must reduce the price of cotton. We concede the effectiveness of the measure proposed to accomplish th~e endl ,jmed at. lut we contend further, that In effectIng his purpose he will destroy the cotton culture in South Carolina. In demonstrating this, it wvill be no cessary to review the cotton culture generally. It will appear that already the competition in its production has .been so great that it s stopped its culture in some countries, and re tarded it in others ; that its supply hias gained so much upon the demand, that the competition from.the Southern Statess has checked th~e stup n ly from other countrips: In 1791, the entire amount of cotton pro duced in all other parts of the world was 488, 000,000 pounds; Southern States produced 000,000. In 1811, the amount in other contries had.fallen to 475,000,000; in the Southern States it amounted to 80,000,000. In 1831, in all other countries it had tallen to 450,000,000; in the Southern States it had risen to 180,000, 000. In 1834, in all other parts of the world, it had fAllen to 444,000,000. In 1855, the latest comparative statistics we have, all other coun tries imported to England near 146,000,000, the Southern States, 1008,424,000. It will be.seen by these figures that, while the amount in the Southern States has gone on steadily increasing, that produced in other parts of the world has steadily decreased. The competition has been too great for them. Our climate is better adapted to the growth of it. We produce a finer quality and can make it cheaper than else where. By referring to the Report of the Patent Office for 1855, in an article on the climatology of the different cotton-growing countries, it will be seen that our Southern climate is better adapted to the cotton plant than any other. And moreover, that the South-western States and Territories enjoy advantages over the east ern Southern States. This is apparent too from the higher prices which Orleans cotton com-' mands in the market. But in addition to the advantages of climate, the W6st enjoys that of soil also. Give it the labor and it would soon supply the entire demand for cotton. So great are the advantages which it -enjoys that cotton can be grown there three cents less than it can be in the Southeastern States. We see, then, that the supply of cotton has been so great that it has greatly limited its production in other countries. It will also be admitted that the West enjoys advantages over the East both in soil and climate, which would soon decide the contest in favor of the West, should the two sections be brought into competition, and the result would be the abandonment of the cotton cultivation in the Southeastern States. The Southern planter has no reason to fear competi tion from abroad. Iis danger is from over-pro duction at home. We have seen how the production has in creased from the natural increase of our slaves. That increase has not only kept up with the demand, but has frequently exceeded it, and thus put prices down to an unremunerating standard; as for instance, in 1845 to below six cents, and in 1840 to six and a half cenmts. Cot ton has not averaged, in any year, twelve cents since 1839. In 1841 it was at ten cents, but a large crop in 1842 put it down to eight cents; a still larger one in 1843 put it down to six cents. In 1844 a short crop put it up to eight cents. In 1845 a large oiop put it below six cents. So it has continued to vary down to the present time. Two successive large crops would put it down, we have no doubt, to seven or eight cents. For tunately for the planters, unforeseen causes act ing upon the cotton crop- have kept the supply Within demand, and they I-ave re'lized good ptrices. The fi;ures we have above given, show th4.delicate sensitiveness-of the pri.eq of cotton. The exportations of 1839, amounting to 413, 000 sold at a little over fourteen cents, and 1840, aniounting tu743,00,O00 pounds, at eight and a half realized $03,000,000-but two mil lions more than that of the preceding year. The history of the cotton market shows a close struggle between the demand and the consump tion-somnetimnes causing a large crop to roalise less than 4 small crop. This was illustrated by the crops of 1841 and 1842. The crop of 1841, amounting to 530,000,000, realized $54,000,000, while that of 1842, amounting to 584,000,000, realized but $47,000,000. This increase may have been produced by the addition of but 14, 000 slaves to the productive resources of the West. When we remember that in Texas alone the increase of slaves from 1856 to 1857 was considerably upwards of 12,000, and that the annual average increase in the Gulf States fr the two last decades has been eighteen por cent., we must believe that, with the natural increase of slaves and a uniforinity of seasons, the production of cotton would be so great that its price would be kept down to below eight cents. As it is, for the seventeen' years from 1839 to 1850, the price has not averaged nine cents. It has been too-low from the supply caused by the natural -increase of our slaves. Hence the immense immigration to the more fertile soils of the West. Hence, too, the con stant system of land clearing, which our plan ters have been obliged to resort to, to sustain themselves against Western comytition. It is not that negroes have been highi, but because after deducting plantation expenses the receipts from the crop nrc nearly all consumed. When negroes are high, it is evidence that cotton is commanding a good price and that the receipts are large. We have illustrated this above. With this knowledge of the close struggle be tweeni production and consumption, with the evidences before us that the latter has so ex ceeded the former that it has produced a grad ual decrease in the production in other parts of the world, and that the planter of Carolina has had to stretch every nerve to keep up with the competition, wo are now advised to seal our des tiny by bringinig in a new supply of labor. We are to challenge the West to competition-for it wvill amount to this. Let it not be supposed that, when the supply of cotton hams been in creased, and the price reduced to a point it will no longer pay to cultivate it at in the South eastern States, that the West will then be wil ling to stop the trade. Ihow could it be stopmped? With what grace could we ask for such a thing? The advocates say it is a legitimate trade; let it be free. If we called for its cessation, they would not heed us. They would throw our own arguments in our faces. With all the en ergy and desperate exertions which excited competition generates, they would press for ward in the race of production. They would stimulate war with Mexico for fresh land, and war ini Africa for negroes, The price of his staple reduced below the price of remuneration, the planter of Carolina would seek the more fer tile lauits of the WYest, So far from reclaiming his worn-out land, ho would find his virgin soil uable to give him support. On him it would weigh with fatal disaster. If ne turned his at tention to the grains he would find himself un able ta compete with the Middle and North western farmers. Neither hemp nor tobacco would hold out sufficient inducement.. His alternatives would be, either emigration, which would doubtless be preferred by the great body of planters, or lie might sell his slaves and em bark in manufactures. Which, ever alternative were choien, the result would be a dleadly blow to the institution of slavery in the lilastern slaves States. If, however, the supply be al lowed to grow with the imncreasing demand, piees may neyei'. fallI, as a genmeril thing too low for cultivation here, The history of all compe tionr.sshows that while consumers are benefitted by the reduced prices, " they never derive as much benefit as the competitors suffer." More over, as political economy teaches us and as was the case in 1842, not only in competitions is the surplus a loss, but it serves to depress the entire amount brought in market, and is actually more injurious than a deficient cropg Such are the conseqmqpnces whiph yill ine tably resq1e, ye beliemve, from this efoire at ehapening labO[. We throw -a surplus in the market As soon a that occurs, the mannfa. turer, who is always thoroughly informed, stands aloof. A fall in price of cotton, and then in negroes, would ensue. And as the effects of the surplus would be disastrously multiplied upon the sensitive price of cotton, so the el:ts of the latter would be disastrously multiplied upon the sensitive value of negro property. It will not do to talk lightly of the danger of over-production. There is danger. The plan, ter feels it from the promptness with which he takes advantage of a good market: So does the speculator, from the carefulness with which he weighs every little accident to the crop, and accurately notes the shipment from eaeh port. At any time during the last season, if it had been made known that the last crop would at tain 3,500,000, the market would instantly have been depressed. It has often; been said that the Southern planter is the most independent man in the world. So he is, if the demand for cotton exceeds the supply. But when the sup ply exceeds the demand, he is a slave to the British manufacturer. There is no estimating the loss the South would have sustained in the last monetary crisis, had it occurred with a crop of 3,500,000 bales--which would be the amount of a good crop. Nothing gave them the cour age to withstand it but the security 'they felt from a small crop. Increase the cotton supply, and create a surplus in the market, and you make the planter a mere operative of the Brit ish manufacturer. You rob him of his inde pendence. Who, then, should call for this re-opening of the slave trade? The consumer and the manu facturer of cotton, not the producer. If self interest were consulted, the whole world would be calling for'the re-opening of the slave trade, while the Southern States should be opposing it. Strange to say, the reverse is the case. It is a matter of doubtful policy whether even Texas should call for the re-opening. But whether it be policy for Texas or not, that is not our business. We are to look to ourselves. South Carolina is under no obligation to Texas. If there be any obligation, it is the reverse. South Carolina has given her population and wealth with a bountiful hand. Let Texas repay the debt by opposing a measure which would deal such a blow to her prosperity. To the up-country of the State, in particular does this matter present itself with most solemn significance. The lower country can produce rice and long staple cotton-they are articles of general consumption. and require natural advan tages of a peculiar nature. While the re-open ing of the slave trade would furnish them with cheap labor, it would not greatly increase the supply of their staple products. Far different would it be with the up-country. Let the up country take care, then, that South Carolina, be not committed to a policy that would be so disastrous to her interests. If we were told that an army would pass through our State that it would depopulate the country-that a plague would pass over that would blast it with unproductiveness, the State would be up in arms to meet the invading foe. while prayers would be offered up forthe'averslon of the ter rible calamity 'These -are the donsequences which this measure- will bring upon us. 'We it would result in the inevitable destruction of our agriculture, and with that of course our commercial and mechanical interests. These revolutions in commerce' and agriculture are constantly taking place. Sometimes the causes areinavoidable; sometimes they are brought by recklessness from supposed security or the pursuit of a fatal delusion. It is natural that a people should be alarmed under the prospects of adversity, and that they should try to avert it ; it is n1atural that producers should be alarm ed at the prospects of a glutted marke and low prices; but it has been reserved to our age of wild and visionary schUies, with its restless spirit of agitation, for a people to take alarm 'at remuuerating prices for their produce and to try to build up competition against themselves and depreciate their own property. Veuice once comianded the commerce of the world. Asia and Africa are almost rugged with the re mains of cities that have crumbled to ruin from a departure of commercial influence. Compe tition in agriculture, as in commerce, builds up one empire with the trade of another. If this trade be re-opened our agriculture would-be revolutionalized ; our industrial elements would be transferred to the West ; our cotton culture would be destroyed. .Destroy that and you strike a blow at the very pillar of the institu tion of slavery in South Carolina. With our railroads running into the great grain-growing Middle States to pour upon us the contents of their plethoric granaries, can we hiope to be come great by competing with.them ? Can we hope to grow great competing with Virginia in producing tobacco? If it be said that it will give the South moure pdlitical power--we reply, South Carolina cannot pay so dearly for it. if it be said it will bring more land into cultiva tion-we reply, it will~have the contrary effect to cause more to be thi'own out and abandoned until taken possession of by freesqg. colonies. There is no aspect of the question whichi woyld compen'sate for the injury it would inflict on South Carolina. As a South Carolinian we cannot, therefore, give it our approval. There never existed a people with such ad vantages as we of the Southern States. God has blessed us with a country abounding in re sources, favored with health, and beautified with scenery. It produces rice, sugar, tobacco and the cereals. In addition, we possess the monopoly of the cotton culture. By a wise provision, he adjusted our supply of labor so nicely to the demand for its produce, that they have increased pari passu with the slightest variations. But for this providential adjust ment, we have shown that we would have been strangled in com'petition. It is a staple that will always furnish subslatence to the Southern States, and in addition so amply has it protect ed us, that with the whole world combined in one overwhelming majority against our institu tion, yet this simiple, fibrous staple has been a greater defence than armies and navies could have been. Let u~s remember that so far as power from numbers is concerned, thie South can never have it. She has no cause for fear of numbers opposed to her, so long as she has cot ton for a protection. T he population of the North-west may grow to 100,000,000. That will only strengthen the South by creating next door to us a most consumptive market, If the people of these States would only appreoiate the blessings which as a poplo they possess, they would smile at outside opposition, and enjoy within theseiselves a most perfect reign of peace, prospeity and happiness. Cualous SPRING IN AmLABAA.-The Tallade ga Watohtower, in an interesting review of Professor Tuomey's last report on the Geology of Alabama, states that near the line between Hancock and Lawrence, there is a spring of liquid bitumen or mineral tar, which is said to be somewhat remarkable for ita esive pro perties and is said to b* a Man ure for scro fula, cancerons notes, rbheuram and other dis se in Whigh. ajteratives are required. The water egns uut from a soam or creviee in the lige stone and the tar' of bitumen floats on the surface, a black foam, very cohesive and insolu-, ble in water. The tar can be collected in pa tients visiting the springs frequently take it in the form of pills. DmEcT TRADL-The New Orleans Ceseant' speaking of the subjects prominently before the Convention in session at Montgomery, laughs at the Dudley Mann project and proceedatoremark: "But if the Montgomery Convention wishes to inaugurate anything useful on the subject of direct trade, let the members thereof reconimend the construction of lines of moderately sized propellers, to the Southern people, to sail from the more important Southern ports to proper European ports, and enlist the sympathies and pecuniary aid of our citizens in behalf of, the enterprise, and a great end will be accomplished. Charleston could easily support a line. Socould Savannah. So could Mobile; and New Orlea* could easily support three lines, if matters were arranged in a practical, business like meliner; and more lines would be demandedby thewants of commerce as soon as the lines referred to had demonstrated their usefulness and permanence:; by their success." THE TEXAs FaEs NEGRo Ltw.-:-The last-Leg islature of Texas having passed an act allowing free persons of color in that State, of their own free will, to select masters and become slates, some of the free blacks are availing themselves of its beneficent provisions. A Bastrop co-es pondent of the New Orleans Delta reports the case of "William, a free man of African deseet,' who filed his petition, and was, on the 'th idat. allowed to choose his master. The- applicant was an intelligent man, who had been North and seen the true condition of the free negroes of that region; his age is about thirty years, and he has a good character for honesty and industry. The presiding Judgye was careful to institute a searching examination to ascertain- whether any, undue influence had beeb used to induce the pe titioner to make his application, and finding that it was his voluntary and deliberate act, bound him over for life to a good master. In the lan guage of the Delta's; correspondent, William "preferred a Southern entleman for a master to a Northern Abolitionist for a companion." "THE Cay is STILL THEY Come 1"-$65,000 Daiwx.-But afew days since we mentioned. the large prizes sold ii S. Swan &Co.'s Lottery, to persons in Charleston and Savannah. We now have to chronicle another of Sixty-five Thou sand Dollars, sold-by them on a whole ticket, Nos. 4, 20, 39, in..ir Three Number Lottery, Class 393 drawn utday, April 24th. The for. tunate holder is a wealthy merchant of Philadel. phia, and though we ar" not at liberty to men tion his name, we knoiw who he is, and his place of business. For ridschemes, honoribly deal ing, and prompt payment of prizes, Swini& Co.'s Georgia Lottery takes the lead in this country; and their immense lkusiness is the result of close application and upright conduct in the manage ment of it.-Augusta (Ga) Consttutional' it. How iT wAs DoxE.-Mr. Garnett and others who voted for' the Conferejiee eort on the' Kansas Bill, did not o so unU', tley. lh 'sm rance that the Bill would ,s th' made's pneral la for- - ,they should:no..e entitd until,' Air, a 'Alu 1W ths h ti Mu. Boyu.-Our Abpresentatice lb. coipli meuted in the following mann'er by a Waaising ton correspondent of the. Samtr Wakhaana. Mr. Boyce is a sound-thinker; and not the least of his efforts is that which we published the oth er day, in defence of the Conference' bill: " dur immediate Representative, Col. Boyce, occupies a high and enviable position here, re Ilecting honor on his State, and, ably represen ting a constituency which so warmly supports and zealously cherishes him. He is regarded as one of the most practical and sound men in the House, and his project of direct taxation, a vital principle of $uuthera polities, will gailt for him a wide-spread reputation if it passes,' and none are more able to carry it through than Col. Boyce. Old Sumpter should, as she ever has, warmly endorse him." Ol Sn.s is SE'LrTOPol, BwwII 1UP.T A correspondent writing from Sebastopol says: " The bomnbshells strewn about the city' du ring the siege are still doing the work of death.. No less than eight deaths, I think, have been caused by explosions of these missiles since my arrival, hardly a year since. Only a few days ago, two seambn belonging to the English steam er Beyrout, came on shore near our ship-yard, and for a few moments were conversing with Mr. Gowen. They then started for a walk to the Redan, quite near our residlence, and on reaching the breastwork, one of them picked up an unexplored detonating shell, intending to keep~it as a relic, but finding it rather heavy, threw it down, when it instantly explorded, and killed him, ahnost'severing the head from the body, and completely cutting of his right leg. The remains were brought to the yard, whence they were buried. His companion escaped with a slight scratch upon the lip. On the following. day two Russians were killed in a similar man ner, while picking out the stopper of a shell" SMA.:. Besna.-For making three gallons of* beer, or one pailful; take one quart of West India molasses, one ounce essence of spruce, one ounce essence of winter-green, half an ounce essence~ of sassairas; fill the pail witki hot water, mix it well, let it stand till'it has be come blood warm then add one pint of yeast; let it remain ten or twelve hours, bottle, and in three hours it will be fit for use, and first rate. A man, tobe wise and healthy, should always carry two good digestbrs,' a good brain and a good stomch-the first to digest his knowl~dge, the second his victuals. Ax American ship captain, recently from the coast of Africa, says that while lying at an'ehor in a small bay on the Guinea coast, his vessel was visited by many of the natives. Among others, a fine-looking, intelligent chief flrom the interior, with his wife and mother, one day came on board. On returning to the land, their canoe was upset, and the chief; finding that he could not save both of his companions, rescued' his mother. Afterwards, on being asked why h~ did not save his wife instead, he replied: "Me can get another wife, but me could never get another mother." There is an old gentleman living in the town of Munroe, Conn., who voted for Wash' nto both tinm he was a candidate for the ' ui e ey, and for every President since-having, strangely enough, happened to vote the-se ful ticket at every presidential election inude-the formation of the United States Government. A N UPaKGHT JUo.--" I do'think," -says a late English writer on law, " that there ik not in nature a more glorious, heavenly sgtthan ain upright, patient, knowing judge stini judgment. If God ever made man af~ is own image, I think he must h'ave maderhm in. that character." UTwo centuries ago not on. Ia a han d ee * stockings. Pifty years ago, not earn boy Ia& theuiad was allowed to run at large -night Er d. cilft years ago not ens girl In atlwsnd dsl'isdSS watt on her as a lired sertant. -WiM~uneW ats. - '