The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-12-30
SOUTHERN COMMERCIAL CONVENTION.

SOUTHERN COMMERCIAL CONVENTION.
Southern Commercial Convention met at
Baltimore on the 9Th instant, for the purpose,
If we understand the movement of drawing
away from New York portion of the trade of
the South and West which it is said does not
legitimately belong to her, and concentrating
it specially in Baltimore. The New York pa
pcrs seem disposed to brand the movement as
sectional, and the New York Herald heads it's
report of it thus: " The Southern Commercial
Mopsment-Appeal to the Merchants Of the
South, Southwest, ard West-Manitesto against
the NORTH" &C.
An examination of the report does not JUS
tify such a representation. The Convention in
its composition was sectional, but how could it
be otherwise? 1t met specially to promote
the commercial interests of the South, and en-
courage the movements now in progress by
Baltimore, to secure her share of the Western
and Southern trade But there was nothing
in its spirit or design hostile to the North 1t
is true that its officers generally were extreme
Southern men; and that Mr. Dawson, the
President Mr.. Orr of South Carolina and per-
haps one or two other individuals seemed I'M
able to rid themselves of a partisan section
atty. But in the proceedings of the Conven-
ton, and the speeches generally of members
we can zee nothing to condemn
Resolutions were passed, referring to the COM
pleton of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
an event not far distant-which would connect
Baltimore intimately with the Great West and
it was recommended to the merchants of that
city forthwith to establish lines of steamers to
Liverpool, as a necessary preliminary to secu-
ring fair proportion of the trade of the Mis-
sissippi Valley.
Whether the recommendation of the Con-
vention will be needed, remains to be seen.
We recollect that twenty years ago, while a
citizen of Baltimore, we wrote series of arti-
Giles, at the instance of highly intelligent
mercantile friend there urging the policy of a
direct trade with Europe. The same policy
has been insisted upon from time to time, with
every variety of argument; but it is a fact
that while Baltimore has been rapidly growing
in wealth and population, the revenue from
her mportations has steadily fallen off.
Now, this evil cannot be remedied by Con-
ventions, by complaints of the unreasonable
ness of Southern People, by talking of the
danger of the great concentration of capital
at New York, or by appeals, such as Mr. Daw-
son INDUCED in, about the advantages Balt-
more holds out for the transit of Southern gen.
tlemen and their slaves without molestation.
The capitalists of Baltimore must first make
their city 80 easy of access to the Mississippi
Valley, that it can be reached as soon as safely.
as cheapy, and as comfortably, as New York
and Boston; and then they must show the
West that it can exchange its products there
for foreign goods on as good terms as in any
Northern city. The first object is on the eve
Of accomplishment; the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad, it is said, will be opened to Wheel
ing in few months
But what Of the second objecti How long
before the capital, intelligence, and enterprise
Of Baltimore will command a direct trade with
Europe 1t is for her merchants and capital
lists, not Conventions and politicians, to say
One member Of the Convention, from Vir-
gnia uttered q great many wholesome truths,
which contrasted well with the romancing of
Mr.. Orr, about the great railroad enterprise of
South Carolina as compared with that of Mas
sachusetts, and the superiority of the South over
the North in wealth and comfort We copy
the report of the Virginia members remarks,
from the Nep York Herald.
Mr.. Burwel of Virginia then rose, TO in.
quire whether he having not been spresent
when the resolutions were read, there was any,
thing in them in relation to a railroad from
the Mississippi to the Pacific. On being an.
swered that there were no such resolutions he
expressed, in strong terms his surprise hat
this Convention was not 30 Southern body IA
he expected TO find il, and not 80 Southern IA
be desired it to be. He came there as the rep
rescntatiye of the South, and be was mortified
and surprised to find that the South was 30
poorly represented, there being, he said, scarce
ly coroner's jury present &c proceeded at
great length TO repudiatc the idea that the
rights Of the South were to be preserved and
protected by the means Of capital alone or that |
the South was kept down by the North. The
rights of the South depend upon the diction, or
views, of no man or set Of men, but the ener-
gy, enterprise, and perseverance, of the citi-
zens OF the Southern States. IL the South de- |
sires it's rights protected, it must show itself
possessed Of the will and ability to maintain
them. Cheers The great secret Of North
ern supremacy, he contended, was, that the
great emigration from foreign countries pours
in at their sesports, and that there is, and al
ways has been, more people at the North than
at the South. Population is power, and where
there 10 such power, it will attract an increase
oft. That section Of the Union that will offer
the most inducements for tho reward Of labor,
whether mental or physical, will be sure TO at
tract the settler. He proceeded further to re-