If one tries to suggest that money or fiscal issues was an issue for secession, keepers of the Myth are very quick to point out that South Carolina’s secession document only talks about slavery as the reason. Saying slavery can mean several things, but for now let’s just accept the notion that the Myth makers are trying to take the higher ground, using morality, to show how bad the South was.
The secession document makes a strong case for calling out slavery, but there is more. Some think that the only thing on the minds of South Carolina is slavery, which is incorrect. I recently did some research at the Historical Society of South Carolina and was looking for information prior to the famous December 20, 1860, date – when South Carolina seceded from the North. I looked at both State House and Senate committee notes on the Federal Committee. This is what I found.
From pages 14 and 15
“1st – The Union brings no pecuniary benefit to the South, but the reverse. No labored argument is necessary to prove this. It seems to be conceded by our enemies, who, of course, are interested to make us believe the contrary. The Government, by unjust Protective Tariffs, was long perverted into an instrument for building up the industry of the Norther Section at the expense of that of the Southern Section. The present fiscal action of the government operates against the interest of the South, and in favor of the North, and much ever continue to do so under any system of duties upon foreign imports. We sustain by far the greatest portion of the foreign commerce of the Country, especially, when our relative population is considered, and it is upon the productions that sustain foreign commerce, or upon what is brought in, in return for them, that these duties are levied.
In 1859, the exports of the Country amounted to about $278,000,000. Of these the Slave holding States furnished $200,000,000, more than two thirds of the whole. We thus pay two thirds of the revenue of the country; and the inequality of the burden is still more increased by the circumstance that most of the resources are disbursed in the North. There is thus a double operation to our disadvantage. The revenue system cuts us as with a two-edged sword. The Union has lain, and still lies like an incubus upon our industry, and our labor and resources have gone to build up the prosperity of the Northern States. And though the duties are now reduced to less exorbitant standard, we have no security whatever that we shall not again be subjected to the burthen (burden) of high Protective Tariffs. Indeed we have every reason to believe that under the dominion of the party which is to get possession of the Government, the manufacturing interest of the North will be fostered and protected to an extent heretofore unknown to our legislation.”
If you have studied the War for Sothern Independence, you are probably aware of this information. What makes the excerpt so powerful is that it was explicitly stated by South Carolina immediately prior to their secession. The original document has the number “1” numeral at the beginning. Figures 1 and 2 show the actual documentation of pages 14 and 15, so you can read the source documentation with your own eyes. If you would like to have a pdf copy of this excerpt just e-mail me at pnluther@yahoo.com and I’ll send you a copy. Next time you hear someone say the war was just about slavery, just provide them with this little factual knowledge.
I’ll be providing the South Carolina House information soon.
