April 6, 1861; The Charleston Mercury
We will assuredly have to wage a war upon our Northern enemies. But it will be a war of political economy and commercial policy. The conflict must be fought out. But duties on imports will be the field of battle, and there will the scale of battle be turned. The Northern Government may send for officers and consult engineers. They may send provisions, and troops, and mortars, and guns, and bombshells and shot to sea. They may sail about extensively, reinforce Fort Pickens, Key West and Tortugas; they may cruise about the Gulf, and examine the British, French and Spanish fleets. But their voyages are vain and ineffective. The result of the struggle between the North and South will be otherwise determined. The South has the commanding position and can achieve an easy victory. The protective MORRILL Tariff of the North, has to meet a Revenue Tariff of the Confederate States. Already have we observed the effect upon European nations, and yet they are as ignorant and nearly as prejudiced against us as the people of the North. Commercial and manufacturing interests have developed the friendly feelings so soon manifested. And when, in addition to the exaction of duties agreeably moderate from all the rest of the world, the Confederate States impose prohibitory duties upon importations from our unfriendly neighbors north of Mason and Dixon’s Line, the same converting influence will establish itself in the minds and hearts of the foreigners near as we have beheld working upon those afar off. Palpable, pressing interest will overcome abstract theories about African privileges; will smooth down ruffled arrogance, and cool even the fiery desire for a war of arms, if it existed. In two years from this time the North, sorry for itself under the disastrous effects of this war of policy, which not only must bring it into sharp competition with the starving labor, abounding capital and great enterprise of European nations, but actually put it at a positive and insuperable disadvantage–the North will be glad to gain the attitude of a friendly power by making terms with the Confederate States. We only fear that some of them will not be content not to embrace us. It will be unnecessary to sack Philadelphia, New York and Boston with Southern troops, and will be much cheaper.