Page:The World's Famous Orations Volume 9.djvu/19

 HAYNE It is a popular error to suppose that in any possible state of things the people of a country could ever be called out en masse, or that a half, or a third, or even a fifth part of the physical force of any country could ever be hrought into the field. The difiiculty is not to procure men, but to provide the means of main- taining them; and in this vi6w of the subject it may be asked whether the Southern States are not a source of strength and power and not of weakness to the country — whether they have not contributed, and are not now contributing largely to the wealth and prosperity of every State in this Union. From a statement which I hold in my hand it appears that in ten years — from 1818 to 1827, inclusive — the whole amaunt of the domestic exports of the United States was $521,811,045. Of this, three articles (the product of slave labor) — viz., cotton, rice, and tobacco — amounted to $339,203,232, equal to about two-thirds of the whole. It is not true, as has been supposed, that the advan- tages of this labor are confined almost exclusive- ly to the Southern States. Sir, I am thorough- ly convinced that at this time the States north of the Potomac actually derive greater profits from the labor of our slaves than we do our- selves. It appears from our public documents that in seven years, from 1821 to 1827 inclu- sive, the six Southern States exported $190,- 337,281, and imported only $55,646,301. Now the difference between these two sums (near 9