Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1839-07-04
PROPOSALS
F0 REVIVlNG THE
Southern Review.

at.Ii. SilpScrlbe, proposing the r'-es-
| tIblls.lleil, OF the Southern Kew w,
,,cc ms II unnecessary 10 reier 10 thu history ol
tiat work. which Is llread! IN tie possrsslon OF
'ie puuIc, or 10 dwell OH The high estimation IN
winch it was held both at home ami abroad ul-
.na lle period OF ITS continuance. onllice II
:, say, lh;lr lis career. though hrlet. was, as all
admit briIliant-crr,lItable to the OIItii and to
tnr " ..Oc merriam Union. lis failure The
>.rbjrct OF UNIV ersal regret-was owing, II IS
well nnuwIl not to a dcstituiIUn of talent and
rubIc spirit, but aros' 1st, from its limited cir
cnl;llior. which was By no means adequate to
sustain Il work OF such ina. ntude and 2ndly,
ON The pulitca, differences " hlrh ag'lated the
cul,mr, about rhr time OF its dlSconinuanre,
.,idng tie friends of Southern literature IN
30 two grca, parties. aud preventing thai hnr-
,nomy oil opinion and cooperation in The dis
cllSsIun OF Iradi. questions. which rs desirable
IN 4 work prolessediy devole TO the rause Of
iue .,ullt.r and HE whole South
Il l.. proper o consider first the utility of
.rviews. regarded as organs ul the literary sp-
rI aul opinions Of tile a=r. and 81. ondiy. The
ln0rla. &C. and ierrssiIy nt establishing such
work al the Son h. at the csrni time. On
:iI. first pQiut, it is scarcel" necessary to say
nucb. III the present advanced Stage Of period
zeal nrrarurr. Ably conducted feviews are
the tis,,rin. of hig gi state Of civilization. ami
are The best evidence. nowadays. thai cai b.
furnished OF intellectual advancement. ami The
prevalence Of purr and e,evaed philosophy.
| 'rh" iast half crntnr, has produced lew an
l!I0rS of emin CO.. either in Great Britain or
nerica M comparison with The half injury
ral I,recrded II. ami the reason probably Is, not
liza; there has been want Of genius, talent and
scholarship in this conlcssedly intellectual age
hut simply because distinguished scholars have
found a reader and heter organ through
which to act directly OH the public mind in Re-
views, than through the medium of books-the
od, more tedious and more expensive method.
| If therefore. it he asked, what evidrmce is ar
ran b. furnished OF the superior lntel'lgenc'
and progress of the present century, pro-
gress of which W are 30 APT to b"ast-the re.
y is that it is to he found III the high character
of the quarterly itevi' ws abroad and ut h0n+
| n il be- affirmed that we have no native eIa-
ulre in this country, and ther eore no materials
to furnish the round work for Reviews. the al
swrr is. t.rat on Reviews constitute, our native
literature. and thai if learning and scholarship
are sought Tor, they are 10 be found in our Re
views, which therefore should be warmly and
firmly supported, as an evidence. and fair one.
| ,l' our literary pretensio;s and our natnra!
character Besides. no one cause. it may be
safely affirmed has contributed Sn much tu eli
| Il, talent. to awaken literary ambition, and to
| produce the highest order Of fine and powerful
writing. is the establishment oil krvl"ws; AM
nanv individuals have been stimulated TO ex
,raordinary efforts, and have been subsequent,
,iown far and wide to fame, in consequence OF
he opportunities they have enjoyed and imrro-
| vrd. vi contributing successfully to works Of s"
i nue ia and highly resprclabea character
il ividuals, who, otherwise. IN all probability
would never nave been tempted TO test their
strength OIL the literary arena with such colnpet
tors as they would be- likely to meet there.
Tic great aim of Reviews is to discuss sub
,ecrs earnedy thoroughly proloundiy-in such
! manner as to bear upon the Whole social sys
.,n. and pro llce broad. deep and permanent
| m,ression ,,pon the general character OF peo-
| lie: In one word. their objert is to dltfllse
knowledge. not to foster prcjudices-to create.
Iirccl and comtrol-nUi 10 echn oplni"ns-t"
murc heneticial changes upon Il large sca"
-nut TO perpetllate or eve tolerale existing a.
'mses. 1t Is obvious. therefore, that while, IN
the infancy Of American literature spirit al
Indulgence has been fell and extended 10 the
i;luts of our lighter periodicals, which are rap
idly issued from the press, and which have
served rs vehicles often for the attempts OF the
mere ry drbutant, tlmar1cr =, $,
having higher aims TO accomplish, and intend'
inc to represent and cmhody, in the most pow
ariul aud attractive form, tie opinions only Of
the most enlightened minds should br con-
!uc'ed with II scrIpn"ls resari to the pI!rtst
n,inrip!rs of taste, and to the elevation and nd
vanrement of our literary and national char
actcr.
In respect to the Importance and NECESSITY of
establishing such d work al tlr South ut the
present time there can be little doubt in the
minds of our discerning and public spirited
citizens. We must have such work. or fall
behind the spirit of the aye. which is of pre-.
cminrntv nGnisitivc and entrprlsln% c4arac
/ ter. and the South should have such work,n"t
| only from motives of Literary pride and emula-
iiun. in order In keep pace with the respectable
advances nfthe ther wide. intelligeril, aud thr-
wing sec ions of tile Ann rican republic. but also
because the South has. IL the presses period es-
| necially. certain great and leading interests of
ITS own to promote which can be most etfectu
alIy subserved through the nstrunentrIity OF
such q periodical. II is not necessar, ID raise
The war crv against other portions OF tile Union
who may feel disposed; rs hey often do, to diff
fer from us in their views Of nr agricultural,
commercial and political interests, but it is i'm
portant, highly so. that we should take our
southern position firmly in the present attitude
Of nur national affairs that our position should
be clearly known and understood, both mt home
and abroad that we s,'nud be ready to defend
ourselves and onr institutions frntn all covert or
open asarilts; that we should maintaii the prin-
ciples of the Federal Constitution in its orgin-
al alinrention, with Il firm aud unfnchng spirit.
and promote the cause of rnre and elevated
literature by all tic Inducements that can be
held ont to stimulate the ambition and pride of
Intelligent and chivalric people.
| Propositions have hernfrequently made here
tofore for the revival of the Southern Review,
which unfortunately have not been crowned
with the success that was hoped or ANTICIPATED
for them. Differrnt causes have been assigned
for the failure of these pro ects, but the leading
one undouhicdy is. the neglecting to avail our
r