Selling out.
A contemporary speaks of an idea said to be entertained by some persons, that it would be a good thing to make proposals to the Governments of
England and
France to sell out the whole Confederate establishment, "lock, stock and barrel," together with its interest in national independence and in the institution of slavery, as the
dernier resort against Federal subjugation.
It is altogether too early in the day to consider such a proposition.
The Confederacy is not yet exactly in the situation of "Japheth in search of a Father." When that time has come, we can have an auctioneer's block raised in the
Capitol Square,--perhaps the
Washington Monument would answer the purpose,--and some gentleman experienced in disposing of "most elegant and desirable property, ancient family mansions, fine orchards, never-failing springs," etc., employed to do the "Going — going — gone." The live stock,
white and
black, to go with the estate.
Specimens of these, including the various public functionaries, civil and military, portly country gentlemen, and members of the
City Councils, men of all estates and all colors, should be congregated about the auctioneer, to enable the bidders to make a personal inspection.
Napoleon,
Palmerston, etc., might thus make a close examination of the property, including the animals, poke their fingers in their ribs, and make sure that there is no cheating.
It would be a picturesque spectacle; and if the day were good, so as to allow of photographing, it would be a picture that every man present might hand down with pride and pleasure as an heirloom to his posterity.
The eager crowd below and the colossal statues above —
Jefferson, with his crotche's of independence;
Mason, with his abstractions about rights;
Patrick Henry, blathering "Give me Liberty, or give me Death!" and
Washington, on his giant steed, towering over all, and marshalling a continent to freedom and glory!
If such an estate and such stock would not sell, the world has become indifferent to "elegant property" and blooded animals.
The breed of Eclipse, Sir.
Henry,
Boston, Red Eye and Planet ought to bring a high price in any market.
The performances of their renowned progeny in this war show that they are worthy of their sires.
Lee,
Johnston,
Beauregard,
Longstreet, and others, have even surpassed the highest names in their pedigree.
Let one of the
European jockeys mount them, and ride them around the
Square, and see if they will suit.
We have no doubt, if either of the
European gentlemen should buy, we could make very good terms.
We should have to give up nothing but
African slavery and our own independence.
As to the first, we may have to give it up any way; as to the last, what is the birthright of freedom, after all, compared to a mess of pottage?
In return, we should get rid of Yankees, and have plenty to eat and drink.
Some of us might have a chance to become
Earls, or even
Dukes — a great consolation to their posterity, who could exhibit patents of nobility almost as old as those of the aristocracy of Hayti.
Poor, forlorn, deserted foundlings that we are, we still might like a choice of masters.
We do not want to belong, if it can be helped, to that fat old gentleman with the broad-brimmed hat, the rosy gills, the double-chin, and the unwieldy periphery.
Having been his property once, and felt compelled, under a sense of duty to our personal comfort, to run away from his premises, we do not like to return to our old master, especially as we suspect him of manœuvring to bring about this very sale, so that he might wallop us well for our fugitive propensities.
He is an excellent old gentleman we admit, but too high tempered and arbitrary to his niggers.
The cavalier, with the snuff-box, rapier, and cock — a doodle doo manner, is much more to our fancy.
We like his eager, fighting physiognomy; and if it were not for dismal thoughts of Revolutions every ten years; of Conscriptions, which takes every lad from his father when he arrives at the age of twenty-one and puts him in the army; of the Reign of Terror, when seven or eight hundred victims were guillotined in a month,--of Robespierre, Couthon and
Saint Just,--we should hope that the Frenchmen would bid us in. All that is past, we known, but there is such a thing as blood, and it goes down the same through ever so many generations.
On the whole, we prefer
Austria.
Give us a good, thorough, out and out despot ism; a master who will give us plenty to eat and drink, and as long as we behave ourselves, will treat us well, and, when we do not, will make us. When a people get to that pass, that they cannot take care of themselves, and need somebody to save them from themselves, the greatest boon they can receive is a sensible, good-tempered, hard-handed proprietor, who will feed them well, work them well, and keep them meek and humble.
Of course, any transfer of soil, chattels, inhabitants and independence, to European Powers, would be preferable to Yankee domination.
That we do not question for one moment.
When that becomes the only alternative, we shall be willing to sell out to the highest bidder.
We would rather go back even to our ancient master, and have taxation with — out representation, especially as we shall have nothing by that time worth taxing, and nobody fit to represent us. But, at present, we see no occasion for a sale.--We have more of our estate unencumbered by Yankee occupancy than a year ago; a large army, and means of doubling it; and spirit enough of 1776 left to cast the
Washington statues into cannon, and fire several parting salutes, before disgracing the memory of the men whom those statues were built to commemorate.
The "stock, lock and barrel" cannot be disposed of till we have had one fire more.
The sale is postponed.
