The Cotton Interest

VV. IIahdin, in the recent debate on slavery in the Kentucky Lcgislature,remarked as follows : " While on thia branch of the subject, I will make one other statement, rather in offset than reply. The wholo export of cotton from this country averages, it is saidjfrom forty to fifty million9 yearly; and yet. Mr. Webster, on the floorof the Senate, when the distinguished Senator rom South Carolina was indulging in a ilce strain of eulogy upon the South ín con rast with the North, showed from documentary evidence that the vulue of all the articles manufactured in the single State of Massachusetts, for one year, was near eight millions of dollars. I speak from ree ollection- asum exceeding twice as much he exporta of the whole South. Yet Mas achusetts, from her abundance, had that o dispose of - ruising wiihin herself all the necessaries of eubsistence - whereas the Souih produces nothing except her cotton and from the proceeds of its sale, is comelled to purchase whatever is used for mine consumption. We know, sir, that he wealth of the South is bloated and unubstantial - as empty and full of ftaugbt s the dreams of Caliban - able to benr no jreatfinancial crisis; at present hore'cssly' nsolvent - while Massachusetts ís sound o the core, and maintaining specie ptynent. The amount of southern exportis arge, becauso she is cornpelleu to send a miad her staples. She cannot manufacure. Slaves are fitonl)' fur the grosser )arts of labor. The higher and more reined arts of human life and national weallh can be practieed only by the white race. This same cotton is purchased by the facones of England and returned upon the South in the form of wrought fabrics, at a mfit of Fome hundred per cent - convering the South into one great plantation, and hercitizensintolaborors in the fiild, 'or the manufacturers of other lands. The elavc8 of that región may well teil their masters, "we serve you and you are the servants of oihcrs. You are one grade ïigher in thescale of eervitude than ourselves, but no more."