Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1839-04-25
PROPOSALS
Fo. REVIyING THE
Southern Review.

that work. which IS aread, III tie possession o
tue pualIc. or TO dwell OH the high estimation III
winch 1t was held both at home and abroad. du'
rrng The period Oi ITS continuance. Suffice II
to say, thai IT'S career, though brief was, Us all
admit, misunderstanding lU the .;OutiI and tU
the wnoIe ..nerirun Union. lis failure Ihe
subject Oi universal regret-Mas owing, il is
well Known. not 10 a icsttulIUn of ta!ent and
public spirit but arose lst, from its limited Cir
clllulIon, which was by no means adequate 10
sustain u work OF such MAJ nitude, and zndly,
from the political differences which agated the
country about the time of its diSconlinuance,
dividing the friends Of Southern Literature in
TO two great parties and preventing thai lar-
mony of opinion aud co.uperatiun in the dis
cussion of icading questions, which is desirable
in work proiessediy devoleu to the cause OF
the South and the whole South.
Il is proper 10 consider first, the utility of
Reviews, regarded as organs ni' the literary spi-
rt and opinions OF the age. and secondly. the
importance and necessity of establishing such
work at the Sou h. at the present time. On
tho first point, it is scarcel" necessary to say
much, III the present adyarred sage of period
ical literature. Ably conducted Reviews are
the offs ring OF nj gi state of civilization. and
are the best evidence, nowadays, that can be
! furnished of intellectual advancement, and the
prevalence Of pure and elevated philosophy.
The last half century has produced few au-
thors of eminence, either in Great Britain or
America, in comparison with the half c. injury
that preceded it, and the reason probably is, not
thai there has been want of genius. talent and
scholarship in this conIcs<edy intellectual age
but simply because distinguished scholars have
found 4 reader and better organ through
| tlo,
views, than through the medium of books-ihe
old, more tedious and more expensive method
| If therefore. il be ASKED what evidence is or
can be- furnished Of the superior intelligence
and progress of the present centurv-a pro-
gress of which we are so apt TO boast the re.
ply is that it is to he found in the high character
Of the ,uar;erly Reviews abroad and at home
If il be affirmed that we have no native lileia-
tllre in this country, AID therefore no materials
to 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 Tor, they are 10 be found in our Re.
views, which therefore should be warmly and
| firmly supported, as an evidence. and fair one
Of our literary pretcnsiors and our national
character. Besides, 10 one cause il NAV be
safely affirmed, has contributed so much to eli.
cit talent, to awaken literary ambition. and to
produce the highest ortler Of fine and powerful
writing, as the establishment of Reviews and
many individuals have been stimulated 10 cy
| traordinary efforts and have been subsequently,
known far and wide to fame. in consequence OF
the opportunities they lIavc enoyed and impro-
ved of contributing successfully to works of so
Influential and highly respectable Il cilaracel-
individuals who, Otherwise. in all probability
would never have been tempted to test their
strength on the literary arena with such compet-
itors as they would be likely TO meet there.
The great aim of Reviews is. to discuss sub
jec,s learnedly thorough proloundy-in such
a manner us to bear upon tile whole social sys
tenn, and produce IL broad. deep aud permanent
impression upon the general characrcr of n poo
pie: In one word. their obert is to difnse
knowledge, not to foster prcjudiccs-tO creale,
direct and control-nut 10 echo opinons-to
produce beneficial changes upon n large scale
TO perpetnatc or even tolerate existing a.
buses. 1t Is obvious, therefore, that while. in
the infancy Of American literature a spirit OF
Indulgence has been felt and extended 10 the
faults of our il ghter periodicals. which are rap
idly issued from the press, and which have
served as vehicles often for The attempts of the
nIere literary dcbutanf, (,narcrly Reviews,
having higher aims 10 accomplish, and intend
ing to represent and emhody, in the most pow
erinl and attractive form, the opinions on OF
the most enlightened mlds should be con.
lucted with scrupuious regard to the purrsi
principles of taste, and 10 the elevation and nd.
vancement of our literury and national char,
actcr.
In respect to 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 our discerning and public spirited
citizens. We mnst have such work. or fall
behind the spirit Of the aye. which is Of n pre-
'mnently inqulsllive and entcrprising charac.
ter, and the South shonld have such work, II,
only from motives of literary pride and emula.
lion, in order TO keep pace with the respectable
advances ufthe other wide. intelligent, aud thr
wing sections Of the American republic. but also
because the South has. al the presel period eS
pccially, certain great and leading interests o
It's own TO promote, which can be most effectu
ally subserved through the inStru,ncntalitv o
such periodical. II is not necessary 10 raise
he war cry against other portions of the Union
who may feel disposed Us hey often do, to dic
Ter from us in their views Of olir agricultural
commercial and political interests. but it is i'm
portant, highly so that we should take ON
southern position firmly in the present attitude
O. our national affairs; that our POSITION shouit
he clearly Known and understood. both at home
and abroad; that we should be ready to deiend
ourselves and our institutions from all covert ul
open assaults; that we should maintain the prin
cipes of the Federal Constitution in its origin
al intention, with firm and unflinching spirit
and promote the cause Of pure and elevated
literature by all the inducements that can he
held ont to stimulate the ambition and pride O
intelligent and chvalric people.
Propositions have hecn frequently 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. Different causes have been assignee
for the failure Of these pro ects but the leading