Some years back I read an excerpt from what I believe was the Charleston Mercury detailing the massive economic boom that was occurring just after South Carolina declared Independence from the Union.
FLT-Bird, I see that you have articles from various newspapers at the ready, but would you recall this excerpt I mentioned or similar such?
Charleston was booming massively just after secession. All hotels were filled, construction workers were building new warehouses, the docks were being upgraded and additional docks were being built.
Northern craftsmen had moved into Charleston and industries were starting up.
To address heartwoods' point, Charleston was hiring engineers and starting industry.
Getting 60% more of your own money back capitalizes you to invest in your own industries.
Hmmm I have the address of Robert Barnwell Rhett which was attached to South Carolina's Declaration of Causes saying this is what would happen if the Southern states were to secede.
John H Reagan, the US representative from Texas basically said the same thing in the quote I posted earlier. I left out the 2nd paragraph but will include it now.
[to a Northern congressman] "You are not content with the vast millions of tribute we pay you annually under the operation of our revenue laws, our navigation laws, your fishing bounties, and by making your people our manufacturers, our merchants, our shippers. You are not satisfied with the vast tribute we pay you to build up your great cities, your railroads, your canals. You are not satisfied with the millions of tribute we have been paying you on account of the balance of exchange which you hold against us. You are not satisfied that we of the South are almost reduced to the condition of overseers of northern capitalists. You are not satisfied with all this; but you must wage a relentless crusade against our rights and institutions....
"We do not intend that you shall reduce us to such a condition. But I can tell you what your folly and injustice will compel us to do. It will compel us to be free from your domination, and more self-reliant than we have been. It will compel us to assert and maintain our separate independence. It will compel us to manufacture for ourselves, to build up our own commerce, our own great cities, our own railroads and canals; and to use the tribute money we now pay you for these things for the support of a government which will be friendly to all our interests, hostile to none of them."