The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-07-07


participated in the Convention at Baltimore
IA Southern Trade Convention, held 18th Dec
1887 il may be proper to say that we were
prompted by no feelings of hostility to any
section of the Union But we had seen foi
years that the land of our birth, that the peo-
pie of the South, trers suffering for the wdnt q
proper developments Of her natural resources
and hence was active and earnest in my ad'
vocacy Of immediate action" "Fellow
citizens, we stand to-day on the banks OF the
great Father of Waters, perhaps on the spot
which may become one of the great crossing
points of this magnificent river for that mag
nificent railroad which shall unite the waters
of the Pacific and the Atlantic, and which will
harmonic and fraternize the people of this
mighty Confederacy by iron bars from ocean
to ocean
"Our agriculture first demands our most se-
rious attention. How shall we develop its re-
sourcesl What facilities have we for the
transportation Of our surplus products2 1t is
our duty to examine into our national high
ways-to investigate what artificial improve
ments the necessities Of our agriculture and
commerce demand.
"Our commercial interests-the policy of
direct trade relieved of New York and Liver
pool Intermediates lis properly before us; it
was the main object of the Baltimore Conven-
ton. Would it not be wise TO encourage our
commercial men to export our productions and
import our foreign supplies directly from and
to our own ports! think 80 and sure am
it will be done, for it seems to me the laws of
trade will go regulate it, so soon as zoe shall
improve our facilities Of transportation to our
otOn ports, and cause those ports and harbors TO
be improved, and for this purpose our attention
should be directed to the propriety of claiming
of the General Government such appropriations
as may be necessary to remove all distractions
at the mouth Of the Mississippi, the straight
outlet of the West and Southwe and in the
other ports on the atlantic and the Gulf To
encourage commerce, mail facilities and emi-
grafton lines of steamers should be established
beween our chief ports South America, and
Europe; and for this purpose the South and
West should ask from the General Government
the same aid which has been granted to certain
companies in our northern ports.
"The important subject of encouraging man
ufdctories is legitimately before US, and the
proposition will no doubt be considered what
means shall be adopted as best calculated to
stimulate our people to make investments in
this great source of natural prosperity, and
thereby produce a division of labor ,chich acii
encourage agriculture and increase our popula-
ton, and remove much of our dependence upon
other States and nations. Can we not, gentle
men, increase our wealth and independence by
judicious organizations of the means which a
kind Providence has placed in our possession
Shall we slumber longer? Certainly not. Let
us develop our beautiful and unequalled in
heritance, devote our energies to the expansion
of our agriculture, our commerce, and our
manufactures; promote industry, and encour-
age our people to the education of their child
rem at home. The wealth we expend abroad
let US retain. Erect school-houses, academies,
colleges, and churches, at home suitable to all
our necessities Let us establish presses to
sustain our interests and our policy our great
Confederacy, and the constitutional rights OF
the States; and let US unite harmoniously to
secure commercial and industrial independence
ct home And, gentlemen, let us proceed pa
hiotically in constructing the great work of
the age and the world, the Pacific and Allan
tic Railroad, with such branches from New
Orleans TO the highest navigable point as COM
merce andsgriculture may demand"
The resolutions which we have given and
the charman's speech deserve very thoughtful
and earnest attention. They embody the creed
of the new school of Southern politics and po-
litical economy. The strength of numbers, the
strength of talent, in south, are pledged
to these views and the ed ire method and
movement of that hitherto refi ctory region is
in process of thorough revolutiorA Inc system
of internal improvement by the 3auonai re-
sources is fairly accepted; the Mayv,,ie veto
of General Jackson is voted obsolete fnec'ua'-
ly strict construction and the resolufon' vi
1913, '9s are abandoned river and harbSr I'M
provements adopted and demanded; appsoPr.
atoms to facilitate foreign commerce and eth'.
grafton called for; and the whole spirit .oi
progress in the matter of highways and unio0
corroboratives put on and proclaimed
The determination to disburden themselves
Of the losses and impostions of the present
circutous commerce with Europe may not
Immediately avail for the intention, but it
indicates better apprehension of the system,
and will bear such immediate and ultimate
fruit as it is capable Of in their condition.
Best of all, it shifts the complaint of the South
from the tariff to the true hindrance of their
prosperity IL Acknowledges, that not Federal
legislation, but Encouragement and bad
home system are the evils that rest upon them.
The chairman hit it in the statement that they
are suffering for the want of proper develop
ments of their natural resources and he per-
ceives that the Northern doctrine and policy
with respect to governmental patronage OF
national interests must not only be no longer
resisted, but extended, to bring the South up
abreast of American progress. In word,
Calhoun is dead, and the "noise and confu-
sion" which prevented Gen. Cass from an
swering the ,catechism on river and harbor
improvements is fairly hushed. The day is
dawning and Rip Van Wrinkle begins to open
his eyes. The owls are listening to the song
of the birds that have been serenading the
roost and unable tn rest are turning out into