Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1839-05-02
PROPOSALS
Fob REvIvING THE
Southern Review.


Ill tablishmenl Of the Southern Review,
deems il unnecessary to refer TO the history OF
that work, which is already in TIE possession OF
the public. or TO dwell on the high estimation in
which it was held both at home and abroad. du-
ring the period OF ITS continuance. Suffice it
to say, that its career, though brief was, as all
admit brilliant-credtable to the South and to
the whole American Union. Its failure the
subject of universal regret-was owing, il is
well known, not to a destItuton Of tulent ard
public spirit, but arose 1st from its limited cir
cnlation, which was by no means adequate 10
sustain u work of such may nitude, and Endly,
from the political differences which agitated the
| country about the time of its discontinuance,
dividing the friends of Southern Literature in
to two great parties. and preventing that har-
mony of opinion and cooperation in the dis
cussion Of leading questions, which is desirable
in work professedly devoted to the cause Of
the South and the whole South
II is proper 10 consider 6rst the utility of
Reviews, regarded as organs of the literary spi-
rit and opinions Of the age, and secondly, the
importance and necessity Of establishing such
work at the Souh, at the present time. On
the first point, it is scarcelv necessary to say
much, i'll the present adranred Stage Of period
ical literature. Ably conducted Reviews are
the cffsring of a high 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 all-
thors of emincnce. 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 reader and better organ through
which to act directly on the public mind in Re-
views, than through the medium Of books-the
| 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 we are so apt to boast-the re-
ply is that il is to be found in the high character
| Of the Quarterly Reviews abroad and at home.
| If it be affirmed that we have no native Ifera-
ture in this country, and therefore no materials
| to furnish the ground work for Reviews, the an
| swer is. that our Reviews constitute our native
literature, and that if learning and scholarship
| are sought for, 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 pretensons and our national
character. Besides, no 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 10 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 charactei-
individuals, who, otherwise, in all probability,
would never have been tempted to test their
strength on the literary arena with such compel.
itors as they would be likely to NEE, there
The great aim of Reviews is, to discuss SUBJ
jects learnedly. thoroughly, ,profoundly-in such
| manner az to bear upon the whole social sys
tenn. and produce broad deep and permanent
impression upon the general character of peo-
pie: In one word, their object is to difuse
knowledge. not to foster prejudces-to create,
direct and control-not TO echo opinions--to
produce beneficial changes upon large scale
NOT to perpetuate or even tolerate existing a..
buses 1t Is obvious, therefore, that while, in
the infancy Of American literature q 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 cmbody, il, the most pow
erfnl and attractive form, the opinions only of
the most enlightened minds should be con.
Quoted with q 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
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 age, which is of n pre-
cminenty inquisitive and enterprising chnrac-
ter, and the Souh should have such work,no
only from motives of literary pride and emula-
ton, in order to keep pace with the respectable
advances ofthe other wide, intelligent, aud thri-
wing sections Of the American republic, but also
because the South has. al the present period es.
pecially, certain great and leading interests Of
Its own TO promote, which can be most effectu-
ally subserved through the instrumcntnlity of
such periodical. 1t is not necessary to raise
:he war cry agnlnst other portions Of the Union
who may feel disposed, as they often do, to dif:
ier llOn1 US lu tIelr views OF our agflculturaI
commercial and political interests, but it is im.
portant, highly SO. that we should take our
southern position firmly in the present attitude
oI our national affairs that our position should
he clearly known and understood both ut home
and abroad; that we should be ready to defend
ourselves and our institutions from all covert or
open assaults; that we should maintain the prin-
ciples of the Federal Constitution in its origin
nlintcntion, with firm and unfinching spirit,
and promote the cuuse Of pure and elevated
literature by all the inducements that can be
held out to stimulate the ambition and pride Of
intelligent and chivalric people.
Propositions have been 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
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