Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1839-08-08
PROPOSALS.
Southern Review.
70 REvIvING THE

81 tablislimelIl OF the Southern ltevl w,
deems il unnecessary to refer 10 the history "i
that work, which is already in tue poSs ssion ol
the public, or 10 dwell on the hi gh estimation i'll
which it was held both at ho!3c and abroad dll-
ring the period oi its continuance. Suhce II
to s.y ,hnt It's career. though brief, was. us all
admit. brillant-crcdtabe to the South ana I"
the whole american Union. It's failure Ihc
subject of universal regret-was owing, II Is
well known. hot to Il dcStlilon of talent and
public spirit but arose lst, from its limited Cir
cuIation, which was BY no mrans adequate to
sustain n work Of such magnitude. and 2ndly.
from thu potica differences which agiacd Tie
| couutrv about lll" time Of its discon'iinance,
dividing the friends of Southern Literature in
to two grca, parties. and preventing that iIar-
mony Of opinion and cooperation IN the dis
cussion Of radi e questions. which is desirable
in work prolessedly devoied to the cause OF
The South and the whole South.
Il is proper TO consider first, the utilit; Of
icviews. regarded rs organs of the literary spi-
rit and opinions of the a@c and secondly, the
Importance and necessity Of establishing such
| work at the Sou h. at the present time. On
the first poiml, it is scarcelV necessary to say
much, in tie present advamed stage Of period
ical literature Ably conducted ;ieviews are
the utls riug Of high state of civilization. and
are the best evidence. nowadays. that cam be
furnished of intellectual advancement, and the
prevalence OF pure and elevated philosophy
| The last half century has produced few au-
thors Of emiur' .cr. either in Great Britain nr
imerica III comparison with the half injury
that preceded it, and the reason prob bly, is, ot
thai there iIas been want of genius. taent and
scholarship in this conlcsscdy intellectual age
hut simply because distinguished scholars have
| found reader and better organ through
which to act directly OH the public mind i'll Re-
vi ws. than through the n,rdium of boohs-lhe
cd more tedious and more expensive method.
| II lilpreiOr il be asked, what evidence is or
ran be furnished Of The superior intelligence
| and progress of thr present century, pr"
gress Of which w. are 81 mp: TO boast-th re-
y * that it is TO be ION, d i the high character
| of the quarterly jievirws abroad and at hOni-.
If it be- affirmed, that we have no native li'eIa
ture ia this country. ard therefore no materials
TO furnish the round work for Reviews. the al
swcr is. that onr Reviews c0tistilut" our native
| literature. and that if learning ard scholarship
| are sought Tor, tcy are TO be found III unr Re
| views, which therefore should be warmly ami
firmly supported, as an evidence. and a fair one,
of our literary pretensio's and our national
character oesdrs. no one cause. 1t may he
safely affirmed, has contributed sn much IN eli.
| III talent, to awaken literary ambition, and Ia
produce the highcs or.!er OF fin" and powerful
| writing Us the establishment of ttrvisws; ana
manv individuals have been stimulated 10 eX
lraordinary efforts. and have been subsequently
known far and wide TO fame, Ia consequence OF
The opportunities they have enjoyed and irlnro-
ved of contributing surcessull, 10 works Of $"
inhne tial and highly respectable character
| individuals. who, Otherwise, in all probability
would never nave bre, tempt TO test tllcii
strength OH the literary arena with such compel
itors as they would br likely 10 meet there.
The great aim Of Reviews is. 10 discuss sub
jecIs learncdly, thoroughly profound;y-in such
II manner Us to bear upon the whole social sy>
tenn. and pro.uce Il broad deep and pernlanent
impression upon the general character of pco
Pile: In one word their object is TO dtfilse
knowledge not to foster prriudces-to crea'e
direct and contrOi-nUi In echo Opmions-t.
| produce beneficial changes upon large scale
mott to perpetnate or even tolerate existing H.
buses. 1t is obvious, therefore. that while" lin
the infancy Of American literature spirit ri
indulgence has been felt and extended 10 tie
faults of our lighter periodicals. which are rap.
idly issued from the press, and which lav'
served as vehicles often for the attempts of tie
merc literary drbutan, uarrrrly Review.
having higher aims 10 accomplish. and intend
ing to represent and embodv, in the most pow
erliil and attractive form, the opinions only nj
the most enlightened minds should be con-
Quoted with a scrtpn!ous regard to the purr-t
principles Of taste, and 10 the elevation aud ad-
vancement of our literary and national char.
actcr.
In respect 10 the importance and necessity Of
establishing such n work at the South at the
present time. there can be little doubt in the
minds of orr discerning and public spirited
| cirizens We mnsl have such work or fall
behind the spirit of the aye. which is ofa pre-.
cminenty nquistivc and ent"rprisin. ci,arac-
ter, and the South should have such Il wo'k 40,
only from motives Of literary pride and emula-
tion, in order TO keep pace with the respectable
advances ofthe tler wide. inelli"eni, aud thri-
wing ser ions Of the American republic, but also
because the South has. a the prese tperiod es.
pccially. certain great and leading interests of
It's own to promote. which can be most effcctu-
allv subserved through the instrument Iitv OF
such periodical. Il is not necessar. to raise
:he war crv against other portion, of the Union
who may feel disposed, as hey often do, to diff:
fer from us in their views Of our 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
our national affairs; tina, our position should
he clearly Known and understood. both at home
and abroad; that we shouid be ready to defend
ourselves aid our institutions from all covert or
open asanlts; that we should maintain the prn-
ciples of The Federal Constitution in its origin
al Intention with II firm and unhinching spirit,
and promote the cause Of pure and elevated
literature by all the inducements that can be
held ont to stimulate the ambition and pride OF
intelligent and chivalric people.
Propositions have hern frequently made herc-
tofore for the revival Of the Southern Review,
which unfortunately have not been crowned
with the success that was hoped or anticipated
for them. Different causes have been assigned
for the failure ofthese pro ects, but the leading
one undoubtedly is, the neglecting to avail our
selves of very favorable state Of the public
feeling by following nm well diuestod nI,ns