The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-05-05
Meeting of the Secession Convention In
Charleston, =. C.-The North and the

South.
Two important conventions are about to assemble
in ,his country, the ayowed object Of which is to
dissolve the union Of this great and powerful con
fsderacy. We refer to the States Rights Conven-
sior in Charleston, South Carolina, which com
Aenoes to day aal the Abolition Convention in
Syracuse, New York, which viii begin on the 7th
inst. Strange it may seem, these conventions,
although they originated in principles diametri-
sally opposed TO each other, unite in one common
sbieet-the disruption Of the American republic.
The deliberations Of both viii be Of the 8 eatest
weight and importance, and cannot fail, We think,
10 widen the breach which now exists between the
North and the South.
Heannot be supposed for moment that the
jerity Of the people Of South Carolina are not in
earnest in what they are doing. lie who thinks dif
serenity deceyes himself. They have counted the
consequences in every point Of view, and have
rived at the deliberate conclusion to secede from the
Union, on the ground not only that it i their in
tsret to DO 20, but that honor demands it, in eonse
suence OF the North having violated the constitu-
tion and the terms and conditions on which the
eonfederacy was formed In a speech recently de-
Evered by one Of the most prominent men Of south
Carora-the Hon. X. H. Rhett-the speaker went
into close calculations respecting the value Of the
Union, in dollars and cents, and pictured the bene
fts rhi b would Cow from secession. lie urged the
people with all the eloquence Of which he i master
~ seccde from tie Union at once and attempted
~ prove that by forming treaties with foreign
powers, who would be glad to Be connected with
that state on account of her commerce, theirweath
and prosperity would BE enhanced. We suppose
he alluded TO England. There i no doubt that
that nation would very willingly enter into such
treaty with south Carolina, q any other southern
State andwould favor secession and dissolution, for
the purpose of forming such connection
There is, then, agitation for the dissolution o.
the Union going at botA the North and The
South. The press Of each tanning the fame.
In the North, the Ereabg Post, the 1rib'oto, the
Courier AID Enquirer, the Albany Ercliag JJ1aH,
the Boston fGs, and other journals, are preparing
the public mind for the repeal Of the Fugitive slave
Law Of the last session Of Congress The Union
msy be said to hasg upon that measure; and the
repeal Of that measure its agitation Will be t1e
beginning Of the repeal Of the Union. The fact j.
the whole subject Of slavery has sunk . deeply in
the public min that nothing but foreign war
could divert the thoughts Of the people from It, Il
is the great question Of the day North and south.
Agitation is continued at the North, although il i
injurious TO commerce and pecuniary interests
The Southern trade IF Boston has been diminished
20 an extent Of probably one-tenth; and nov that
Mr.. Sumner has been elected 70 represent Mas
sachasetts in the Senate az Washington, we
would not be surprised to sec another diminu-
tion Of twenty-five per cent before another year
shall have ELAPSED. The Prize Current Of that
city, sets down the present average deprecia-
tion at twenty five per cent all factory
stocks. If this should continue, the consequence
will be- that real estate in that city will DC.
crease in value, manufacturing stock il Lowell will
fau further in price, and the shipping Of Boston,
New Bedford and other towns, will suger il pro-
portion. ~ a dissolution * the Union, All these
interests would b utterly protratcl AM the very
means of Northern and Eastern prosperity would
be transferred e. Engand, our great and only rival,
81 any magnitude, IL the world. From the tone of
public opinion II certain portions &c thc southern
States, the inaietion e such punishment the
North would meet With appreciation. i would -
considered just AMI well mcrited rctribatiJn l0r
our interference with what ought not e. u,
and over which We cannot exercise any coastitu-
tionsl control 1.-THE North viii continue invading
the sancti'y Of Tie Southern hearth, AMI steal.
ing from ne south their property, thc sYuth
sould rc,aliate ~ ics.roying the trade AMI con-.
Il The North, by giving both e Great Britain.
Secession would effect DIE. AL &C mdlnT ~ rith
M. Rhdt roccnly pix, udnce, e, @ suppose tiH
orofpycs hare air.dy Jscd suafr - same secret * 4
Of Groai Brrata p to,m toay mt, aay hriog
State, AID hei ha' tId t7s 2 grcr deilt5 II rfite
,noroacu ao,r il operation Ia S5aat Cr,.n1. Il 7
dcmonstrablc that. il The american Union we're q
continue in force and this concderacy g. continue
intact, the commercial supremacy ofEaglaud would
&c destroyed IN the next twenty-five years. With
a gigantic national debt pressing the energies 5f
The people, and costly ans>oxtrayagant govern
Eent to support, they could not. in The nature *
things compete with the United states, a. nov &c.
CANNED We have already had evidence 81 this
With the repeal Of the navigation laws, We zee
portion # the carrying trade, which for centuries
has been monopOlizcd by Great Britain. pass into
the hands Of American merchants. This i only
the beginning of the decline Of England a. COM
rnercia power, and the commencement Of the sapre
macy VI the United states.
But, even IN a sectional point Of view, what would
the North be without the commerce Of the south !
Let IL be taken away from u, and vothirds Of our
shipping would rot at the wharves. Give Il 70 Great
Britain and that power would defy the world, and
we would become, in fact, nothing but dependencies
apon her. Nothing but foreign war, the uproot-
ing Of abolition, and The return Of the people a The
North to reason, can prevent this catastrophe
Rome attained her imperial power ~ foreign war.
put for Carthage she never would have become the
mistress Of the world. We, however, cansot r. {,
var with any great foreign power for the best ofal
easons-that all are much dependent upon ~ that
70 could not force any ofthem into war with us.
n .imcs pass, England has been our Carthage IN
be Punie wars but the day is gone By whom she
-suld engage in hostility with us She would, how