Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1853-05-09
MEMPHIS CONVENTION.

MEMPHIS CONVENTION.
We say with deliberatiou that DO political
movement Of the present day is fraught with
consequences so important as that represented by
the commercial convention to be held 1t Mem
phs in June next.
thern progress. 1t proposes to teach respect for
the South and its institutions, by developing
qualitiesin the Southern character, and capaci-
ties in the Southern country, which will excite
the appreciation and admiration of the whole
Union. 1t will teach that the true interest of
the South consists in cutiyatng intimate relations
with the Northern States in attracting their pop
ulation and capital, and above all in maintaining
the Union as magnificent dome to ove arch
and protect all who dwell rnde its shelter.
The call of that convention, and the split
which responds, shows conclusively, that the
'days of chiyalry have passed." and that the
calends of common sense have commenced.
There was a college of statesmen which taught
that agriculture was the only employment wor-
thy ola nation. 1t discouraged cities and mauu-
factories as immoral and turbulent aggregations,
fit hos beds, to nurture the seeds of corruption.
They permitted the great reciprocating interests,
which alone make people independent, TO per-
ish for want of encouragement. They permitted,
without concern, the transfer of those int erests
to a sterile region where nature sterny gives man
notice to shit for himself, and not loaf upon her,
That region uurtured and treasured these outcast
interests For long time this august college
also struggled strenuously against all interior
Improvements, ON the principle that the taxas ion
necessary for their execution must be contributed
by sections which did not need such improves
ments The sterile North employed the system
OF artificial improvement to correct the DEGREES
of nature; it penetrated the distant interior, res
versed the current of the Mississippi covered the
inland seas with canvass, and secured to itself
the element of prosperity which their Southern
brethren used only to despse.
A commercial consequence followed. When
the planter received the proceeds of his crop, he
had first to deduct the shares which New ork,
Massachusetts,, Connecticut and Ohio had res
pecively contributed to it's production, transport
tation. sale. and the supply of those articles OF
consumption which the platter required 1t re-
suited from this operation that the planter re-
ceived less share of his own labor than the
aggregate shared amongst his Northern CO.
partners.
Not satisfied with this apportionment of pros
ceeds, he naturally appealed to political n.trolo-
gers, who advised him that all this was caused by
the oppression of the revenue system. The
revenue system was modified but the conse.
quences continued. IL was then suggested that
the Union protected the enemies OF the South in
their aggression upon its interests. prolong-
ed controversy resulted in the Compromise, aud
the doctors were put to confusion, for the re-
newed prosperity of the South was coetaneous
with the confirmation of the Union. But as tho
Union mad not caused the decline of the South
nOf finn nfSf
There were other causes operating to produce
this result.
new school of political advisers appeared in
the South They repudiated the prejulices of
the past They relied upon railroads rather than
revolutions, and direct trade rather than nom
intercourse. Their remedies were practical "a
.her than political. They desire to make the
South prosperous and powerful: able to maintain
itself, and therefore not so sensitive as to yhat
others may say or do about its institutions.
They know that by artificial communications
with the interior free States they can cause much
of the productions of those States to seek an
outlet through the ports of Norfolk, Baltimore,
Charleston and Savannah and they know that
the cars will bring the brave militia of those
States in battaions to defend their seaports from
aggressioua, ust as they have heretofore repaired
to the aid of New Orleans under similar emei-
gency.
lucy Feau tnOse AfADlan NlSnt discoveries
of Lieutenant Maury, and wonder why these
statesmen did not see the gold of Potosi or the
diamonds of Motto Crosse CLEAN through tho
haze of the tariff; md they wisely determine to
seek in the valley of the Amazon a commerce
richer than that of the Mississippi and much
nearer to them than the Mississippi used to be.
They know chat in the United States num-
bers is the constitutional syncnyme of power,
and they hasten to make their section more att
trac,ive to their fellow citizeps of other States,
and to organize improved means of intercourse
with them, in order that they may thereby be-
come mora powerful.
This Memphis Convention will be, therefore
the antipodes of the convention held some years
since at Nashville, and series of wise and pa
triotic lectures upon the industrial remedies of
the South may be anticipated during its session.
An honorable emulation will be there engendered
between the great sections, as 20 which can do
most for tho employment and improvement of
the American people, and the prize is to be the
patronage of the American people.
Washington Republic.
SCARCITY OF TOBACCO PLaNrs-The planters of North
Carolina complain loudly of the scarcity of tobacco
plants and the Milford Chronicle fears not over half
crop will be planted in region owing tho scar
city of plants.
ALBEMARLE CONGRESSIONAL DIS
TRICF.