Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1839-06-20
PROPOSALS
Fob REVIvISG THE
Southern Review.
Feb Z, lS3.

FHNl1C OuUsCfluei. III Pi"p"''"S "S
tublisllment OF the Southern Kew W,
deems i, unnecessary TO reier 10 the h'Sscry al
that work, which is already IN tue poSS' ssion OF
the public or 10 dwell on the high estimation iii
which it was held both at home and abroad. dl-
ring the period Of It's continuance. Suffice II
to say, that ITS career, though hre, was, us all
admit, briliant-crGditabie to The :ouf!i anu I"
the whole American Union. lis TAI lure- The
subject Of universal regret-was owing, II Is
well known not to 4 dcstltu,on of talent and
public spirit but arose lst from It's limited Cir
cuIation, which was by no means adequate to
sustain work of such magnitude, and 2ndly,
from the political differences which agIlated the
country about the time OF its disconlnuance,
dividing the friends of Southern Literature IN
to two great parties. and preventing thai har-
mony Of opinion and cooperation IN The dis
cussion of leading questions, which is desirable
in work prolessedly devoted to the cause Of
the South and the whole South.
II is proper 10 consider first, the utility of
Reviews regarded as organs of the literary sp-
rt and opinions of the age. and secondly, the
importance and necessity of establishing such
work at the Soulh at the prscnt time. On
the first point, it is scarcely necessary TO say
much. in the present advanced stage of period
ical literature. Ably conducted reviews are
the ohSlring Of al high state of civilizations. ami
arc the best evidence nowadays. that can be
furnished of intellectual advancement, and the
prevalence OF a pure and elevated philosophy.
The inst half century has produced few an-
thors of emncuce. either in Great Britain or
America. IN comparison with the half century
that preceded it, and the reason probably is. not
that there has been want Of genius. talent and
scholarship in this confesSedly intellectual age
but simply because distinguished scholars have
found n reader and 4 better organ through
which to act directly on the public mind in Re-
views. than through the medium of books-thc
old, more tedious and more expensive method.
IF therefore, it be asked, what evidence is or
can be furnished of the superior intelligence
and progress of the present century--a pro-
greSs of which wc are so apt to h"aSt-the re-
ply is that it is to he found in the high character
of the Quarterly Reviews abroad and at home.
II it be affirmed, that we have no native hera-
ture in this country, and therefore no materials
20 furnish the "round work for Reviews, the an
swcr is, that our Reviews constitute our native
literature, and that if learning and scholarship
are sought for, they are to be found in our Re-
views, which therefore should he warmly and
firmly supported, as an evidence. and fair one.
of our literary pretensiOiis and our national
character. Besides, 10 one cauSe. it may be
safely affirmed, has contributed so much to eli.
cit talent, to awaken literary ambition. and to
produce the highest order OF fine and powerful
writing, as the establishment Of Reviews; and
many individuals have been stimulated to ex-
traordinary efforts, and have been subsequently
known far and wide to fame, in consequence OF
the opportunities they have enjoyed and impro-
we'd, of contributing successfully to works OF SO
influential and highly respectable character
would never have been tempted to test their
strength on the literary arena with such compet-
;tors as they would be likely to meet there
The great aim of Reviews is, to discuss sub.
iects learnedly thoroughly profoundly such
a manner as to bear upon the whole social sys
tenn. and produce broad, deep and permanent
impression upon the generalr haracter of peo-
ple: In one word, their object is to ditfnse
knowledge. MOTTO foster prejudices-to create,
direct and control-not to echo opinons-to
produce beneficial changes upon large scale
mot to perpetuate or even tolerate existing a.
buses. 1t IS obvious, therefore, that WHILE in
the infancy Of American literature n spirit of
indulgence has been felt and extended to the
faults of our lighter periodicals, which are rap
idly issued from the press, and which have
served as vehicles often for the attempts of the
mere literary debutant, Quarterly Reviews,
having higher aims to accomplish, and intend
ing to represent and embody, i'll the most pow
erf,l and attractive form. the opinions only Of
,he most enlightened minds should he con-
Quoted with a scrupulous regard to the purest
principles of taste, and 10 the elevation and nd
vancement of our literary and national char
acter.
In respect to the importance and necessity of
establishing such work at the South at the
nrcscnt time, there can he little doubt in the
minds of orr discerning and public spirited
c;izens. We must have such work. or fall
behind the spirit Of the age. which is Of pre-.
cmincntly nquisitive and entcrprising cIarac-
for. and the South should have such work, mot
onIy from motives oflitcrary pride and emula-
tion. in order to keep pace with the respectable