The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-11-26
From the ,3lbanu (Eeo.) Patriot.


WHAT WILL THE CONVENTION DO I'VE are
now convinced, that the Georgia Convention, will
be composed of men who will avoid all extremes,
and who will take some firm medium course
which will preserve our rights and the Union
The full extent Of the reserved powers of the
several States for self protection, has not yet
entered the mind Of one in ten Of our statesmen,
because the occasion has never yet called them
into action. They seem to look upon the Union
rs our only Government, when in fact, we have
all the necessary powers as States in the Union,
for our protection and defence against aggression,
that independent nations may exercise, short of
war. Indeed, the Union is bound to protect us
against war or invasion, whilst we apply the
powers which we have reserved and which we
may think proper to exercise, for protection or
retaliation. If Georgia was now an independ-
ent nation, out of tie Union, what course would
her citizens pursue under the present demonstrl-
ton Of feeling at the North ! Would she not
adopt measures for direct trade with other ma
tons, and rid herself Of all dependence upon the
trade of the Northern States And if the North
ern States were dependent upon our trade for
their prosperity, would not loss of that trade and
the consequent prostration oftheir interests, res
tore them to their senses and cause them to do
us Justice? No one can doubt it-interest GOV
errs the world Well, the Georgia Convention
can accomplish this very thing without any vio-
aton of our constitutional obligations. Our
first movement should be to provide ourselves
with the means Of communication with other
nations, and next, to encourage at home all the
arts, industry and means necessary to our real
independence.
To accomplish the first, let the Convention di-
rect the Legislature to cause lines of steamships
to be started from Savannah, dreI I to designated
placcs-say one to Liverpool, one to Havrc, and
one to New Orleans via HAVANA and Key West.
This would require say six steamships at n cost
of one hundred thousand dollars each to CON-
mence, and they might be increased in number
and size to meet the demands of the trade.
This might be done by stock loan to a COM
pany. with good security or, if such company
conld not be formed, then, by the State, in whole
or in part. The State might, if necessary, fur
niSh furtheB sum rs an Importing capital
These measures would open the way for our
citizens to other markets. If these advantages,
with the present state of Southern public feel
inc, should not be deemed sufficient to change
the course Of trade, then, bountios upon our
own productions, or discriminating taxation
against the productions or importations Of the
non-slaVehodng States, might be resorted to,
so as to amount to virtual non-intereourse in
uade, ne most simple manner OF, eHccting
this would be to license every merchant and so
amend the oaths prescribed to tax payers as to
incorporate the necessary prohibitions, or tax.
This would dispense with the expense aud in
convenience of special and extraordinary officers,
give harmony to public opinion, and secure the
object with sufficient certainty. Such laws may
be made mild, or severe, as the circumstances
may require, and may be repealed when the
causes shall cease. The first suggestion should
be adopted as matter of sound State policy
under any circumstances; the latter is in our
opinion proper policy to be pursued until the
Northern States shall respect our constitutional
rights, and cease their attacks upon the institu-
ton of slavery in the Southern States
We believe that one or both of these or sim
liar measures, will be adopted by the Conven-
ton, and that they will effect the desired result
the security of our rights, and the preservation
of the Union.