The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-12-24
The Movement for Southern Trade.

The proceedings OF the late Commercial
Convention at Baltimore indicate a repetition,
on the part of many of the delegates, of the mis-,
take which has already proved fatal to kindred
movements in other cities. We refer to the
strong disposition to place the movement upon
the basis of southern sentiment, instead Of OBJ
vious commercial advantage. The appeal to
purely sectional feelings, however potent in
periods of political excitement, is powerIess
when applied to the ordinary transactions Of
trade, whose fluctuations and channels depend
solely upon the laws of profit and loss. Every
attempt to check their operations by the devel-
opment of chivalric devotion to particular inter
ests is destined to result in failure. The lesson
needs no. to be demonstrated again The
South has witnessed it more than once. and
that at no remote period; and the wonder is
that gentlemen of character and intelligence
can yet be found to cling to an idea which all
experience has shown to be delusive.
We cannot do bet ter than cite in this CON
nexion the remarks Of the Augusta (Ga.) Chro-
nicie and Sentinel. penned in response to an
appeal by the Baltimore american. Our Au.
gusta contemporary says:
"Southern merchants are like all men engaged
in commerce. they will buy and sell where 1t is to
their advantage. looking directly to the resulting
profits. You may call this principle 'nnrrop,' il
you please; but the idea that any other princi pie
Is entertained by the great mass of mercantile men
10 absurd, and allth talk about repudiating north.
ern markets for the salc of produce and purchase
Of goods, long they the best is the mer
CANNON ever dreamed of in the widest fances Of
an imaginative abst racionst and secessonist. The
very men who talk loudest at the South against
patronizing northern merchants and northern in
situations, in out of ten, are the most
ready to make their purchases and send their pro.
duce there whenever they think they can profit by
1t, and patrouize those institutions when they deem
it their interest They are, however, always prom.
inent actors in getting up commercial conventions
but the last to carry into effect any such project, If
there 10 even danger of prejudice to the pocket
nerve. in short, they are generally the grea test
humbugs Of the nge, always excepting Barnum.
This clustering about southern trade, with them,
is sort Of safety valve to let off their gassy pa
triotsm
eff. therefore, Baltimore hopes to secure any
considerable portion OF southern trade, she must
make II to the interest Of the South to buy there
IL she sets out upon any other principle of action,
she will be disappointed, and sadly disappointed.
All things being equal, southern men will buy and
sell in Baltimore, in preference to the northern
markets, because Of greater identity of interest
and more congeniality Of feeling. But these will
always yield to dollars and cents. Mark that and
profit by it,
The reliance upon mere opinion is the more
u b. regretted in the case Of the convention
just held at Baltimore, because that city possesses
resources of traffic and travel, by land and
water, adequate to warrant confidence in palmer
and more business-like considerations. Her
railroads, completed and in progress, will give
her the command of the trade Of one Of the
richest portions of the Union aud her project
ed lines of steamers, running to southern ports,
may be rendered scarcely less valuable auxil-
iaries to her advancement She has the posi-
ton, and energy and enterprise will enable her
to realize the benefits which her citizens are
properly anxious TO secure. But only energy
and enterprise can help her. Nought else will
enable her TO offer to southern and western
dealers the commercial temptations which arc
required 10 wean them from more northern
markets.
The Bostonians not long since cherished