Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1852-1852, 1852-03-30
Direct Trade.

Propositions have been made for holding general
Southern Convention of Farmers Merchants and Plant
ers for the purpose of Fastening the accomplishment
of Direct Trade with foreign countries by the people
of the South.
We acknowledge perfect adherence for all SouA
ern Conventions for the term is only indicative Of hum
bugging since the general caving in Of tho South. We
are ncveth Aless ready to advocate any measure hav
ing the least semblance of feasibility which is likely
to awaken interest upon this important subject. II
such Southern Commercial Convention as is urged
can do any good let it be held and let all classes,
trades and professions be represented therein.
Non-Intercourse with the Northern States would
not be weak measure if unanmity at the South pre-
vailed to any extent Unfortunately there is no con-
cert action and cooperative aid is utopan from be-
ginning to end The patriotism Of Southern, as well
as Northern men, lie in their pockets and to move the
one you must touch the other. schemes can be in
vented by which men may bo convinced that it is to
their interest to support Southern commerce and enter
prise there will be found no difficulty in ccctng all
which may be desired. We have little confidence in
patriotism. AS abstract proposition nowadays it
implies but little, and is Of those things VIC read
Of hear Of but seldom SEQ Where one man is found
who is really willing to pay fraction higher for South
ern productions thousand may be found who regard
such an individual az mad-a fanatic This is patriot
ism, with vengeance!
We subjoin tho following extracts found in our OK
changes, on tho subject of tho proposed Convention
which wo take pleasure in placing before our readers
Such an assclnblage we believe would do more
| towards fastening the accomplishment of this
great purpose than any thing else that could be
conceived Of 1t is scheme too gigantic to be
effected now by few mercantile leagues, or by
the single arm Of either one Of our seaport c-
ties The Northern competition would most
surely crush such an unsupported effort. If
effected at all it must be done through the united
effort Of the entire South.
From the tone of the press and tho general
interest every where manifested on the subject,
we believe that such n combination of strength
can be secured and the Southern States be
brought into the adoption of some definite plan
Of action. BY bringing the producer in half the
bnttr is fought, and closer eclingis established
between these two great classes of community.
The farmer and planter will 90 home with a
more thorough knowledge Of the subject and n
more perfect view Of its Importance, and will
diililse it through his ncighbon, and thus tho
merchant and capitalist will be encouraged and
the people every where committed in truth to
the great question Of direct trade"
Nothing can be clearer than that "thc inter
vcntion ola third party" in carrying between
two nations their respective productions must
operate tax upon the exchanges between them"
How or in what way the means could best be
raised and the efforts of interested parties most
effectively concentrated to bring about an exten-
sivc and lucrative direct trade with other nations
wo do not propose to show. That would be n
part Of the legitimate business of the Convention
should one behold. We may warmly in favor Of
the proposition to hold it believing as We do that
such direct trade would tend vastly to develope
the resources of tho South and accumulate and
retain wealth in our section Of the Union.