Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1839-09-12
PROPOSALS
Fo GEvIvISG THE
Southern Review.

thai work which is arrad: in the p0>S' SSIOn OF
the public. or to dwell on Ilr high estimation i'll
which il was held bo!h at home and abruad. ,u
rimo The period of lis continuance. Suffice II
to S;lv. that lis career though brief. was. all
admit brilliamt-crcdIiablc To the south and I"
the whole lmerram Union. l's failure the
subject of universal regrct-waS owing. II Is
well known. not to drSiItllinn of talent and
public spirit, bul arOs'' lSt, from its limilc'l cir
culalion, which was bv no means adequate TO
sustain Il work of such magnitude. and 2ndly
from the politica! differences hiclI agiiaiea the
country about c time OF lis diScon'Imuanrc,
dividing the friends Of Southern Literature in
TO two great parties. and preventing that lar-
mony of opinion and ro-upcratlun in The dis
cuSsion of leading questions. which is desirable
in work prOiessedIy devolcd to the cause of
the South and the whole South
II is proper to consider first the utility of
Reviews. regarded us organs of the literary sp
rt and opinions of the age. and SrrOndly, the
Importance and necessity Of establishing such
work At tire South. at the present time. On
the first point. it is scarcely necessary to say
'mucll. i'll the present advanced Stage Of period
ical literature. Ably conducted Reviews are
the offs. ..rimg of lIlg gh state of civilization. and
are the hest evidence. nowadays. tla: can be-
'l
prevalence OF pure and elevated philosophy.
The ,aSt half century has produced few alI-
thorS OF emin. see. either in Great Britain or
imcrica, IN comparison with The iialf C nlnry
that preceded II. and the reason prnI, bv is ot
that there has been WANT of genius. talent and
scholarship in this conicSSedly intellectual age.
hut Simplv because distinguished scholars have
fund reader and hctlrr organ through
which Ia art directly OIL the public mind in Re-
vi''wS than through the medium of books-lhr
old more tedious and more expensive method.
| if therefore. il he asked. what evidence is or
IAN br furnished of the superior intelligence
md progress ni the present ccntnrv-l pro-
| "rcSS Oi winch w' are 80 apI 10 huaSt-Ihr lc-
'lv Is that it Is 10 he inud IL the hah character
nt' the uaTcry i;cv"wS abroad and al hom.
! II II be- affirmed that we navc no native lI'ria
tire in this ruI.Iry ad liIr.cior 10 materials
! TO furnish the round work for Reviews. the nl,-
sw"r is. that on L Iicws cn,I<!Iiul' nIr native
literature. and ll,Ii if learIIn" AID scholarship
are SOn"h Tor they are 10 hc fnild in OrIr Re-
views. which therefore should he warrrv and
| firmly supported. ;,> an evidence and fair one
of nur literary prrt2nSo : anl 0nr natin' ai
| character .icSld' :. no one callSc. il may be
Saiel, affirmed has contributed rnrc!l la eli.
rir i;'rnt. 10 Awaken literary amiii'inn. and 10
| produce the highest order of filr and powerful
wiitng IL the establishment of Reviews: and
many individuals have been stimulated to cx
lraOrdnary cnr'S and lave bees subsequently,
| kr"wml l;r and wide Ia fame. in consequence OF
the opportunities they have enjoyed and impro-
vrd of cumiributll" slIrccsSmIl, To works of Sn
inlluc 'lial and highly respectable cararlci-
! individuals who. otherwise. in all probability
would uev"r have hccI temptr d 10 test tIlrir
strength on The literary arena with such compel.
ilur> Us they would b. likely 10 meet there
The great aim of Reviews is. 10 discuss sub
iccrS lcL"ncdlv thoroughly prolonnd!v-in such
! Il IIaulcra> In bear upon the whole sucial SvS
tenn. and produce broad. deep aud permanent
| impression upon the general character of Il prn.
| Pile: In one word their Object is to dilSc
! knowledge, not to foster PREF ludIccs-iu create.
direct aud comtrol-n0i I" ech" Opimiolls-t"
pruduc" beneficial cllanges upon lar.e scale
-mnt TO pcrpetuate or even tolerate exisliii" a.
hlScs. 1t Is Obvious. therefore, that while. IN
the niancy Of American literature a spirit oi
indulgence has becn fell and rxrIdrd Ia tie
i;iuS of i"ur lighter periodicals. which are rap
ihiv issued from the press. ard which lav
Scivrd H. vehicles often for the attempts of the
mere literary dcbutanr. Quarterly Reviews
having higher aims TO accomplish. and intend
inr to represent and cmhody in the most pow
criil alIdrattracvc form. the opinions ONLY of
the most enlightened minds should BE- c0n-
Quoted with Scrlpuous regard TO the purcSl
principles of taste. and TO the elevation and adj.
vanccment of our literary and national char
actcr.
In respect TO the importance and necessity of
establishing such work at the South at the
present time. there can he little doubt in the
minds of our discerning and public spirited
ci,izens We ml,Si have such 4 work. or fall
behind the spirit OF the age. which Is of Il pre-
"mlncntlv nquIsItivr and cntcrprisin@ clarac-
ter. and the South should have such work, ,lml
only from motives of literary pride and clnuIa-
lion, in order 10 keep pacc with the respectable
advances nfthr thcr wide. intelligent aud tlri-
YIN" seq ions of the American republic. but also
because ;ie South has IA the prese iperiod eS
pccially. cer'ain great and leading interests of
ITS own 10 t'rnm"tc which can be most etectu-
alIv SubScrvcd through the instrument litv u !
such Il periodical. II is not necessary to raise
he war cry against other portion of tie Union
who may feel disposed. Is hey often do TO diff: |
'cr from Us in their views of our agricultural |
commercial and political interests. but it is i'm.
portrait. highly So that we should take our
.ouhrrn position firmly in the present attitude
% "hr nl'ioi aualrS' lil;il our position should
lac clcHrlv knuwn and understood. both IT home
a',d ahroad tiiat we srnud he reatlv 10 ,eirn;
ourselves aud our institutions irm ail covert -!
npc', assaults: that W" should maintain the prin-
cIples of The Federal Constitution in its origin.
nj intention. with firm and un1inclIing spirit.
md promote the cause of Il purc and elevated
literature by all the iuccm"nrs tina, can lu. !
ird ont To stimulate the anbit on and pride of
intelligent and chivaIric peope.
Propositions have bcr frequently made here.
o'orc for hc revival of The Southern Review.
which unfortunately have not heen crowned
with ihc success thai was hoped or an,cialed
I"r'hrm. Diticrcnf causes have been assigned
for the failure Of these pro ects. but the leading
ono mllnuhlcdly is, the neglrclng 10 avail our.
selves Of a very favorable sia:e of the pubic
i"e'ing by following mp well digcstcd plans
with vigornHs and concerted action. We have