The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-05-05
Memphis Convention.

Memphis Convention.
We say with deliberation that no political
movement of the present day is fraught with
consequences so important as that represented
by the commercial convention to be held at
Memphis in June next.
1t is the prospectus Of the new school of
Southern progress. 1t proposes to teach re-
spect for the South and its institutions. by de-
veloplpg qualities in the Southern character,
and capacities in the Southern country, which
will excite the appreciation and admiration of
the whole Union. 1t will teach that the true
interests of the South consist in cultivating in
innate relations with the Northern States, in
attracting their population and capital, and
above all in maintaining the Union as mag
nihcent dome to overarch and protect all who
dwell under its shelter.
The call of that convention, and the spirit
which responds, shows conclusively that the
"days of chivalry have passed." and that the
calends of common sense have commenced.
There was college of statesmen which
taught that agriculture was the only employ
ment worthy of nation 1t discouraged cities
and manufactures as immoral and turbulent
aggregations, fit hot-beds to nurture the seeds of
corruption. They permitted the great recipro-
eating interests, which alone make people in
dependent, to perish for want of encouragement.
They permitted, without concern, the transfer
of those interests to a sterile region where ma
ture sternly gives man notice to shift for him
self, and not loaf upon her. That region nur-
tured and treasured these outcast interests.
For long time this august college also strug-
gled strenuously against all interior improve
ments, on the principle that the taxation neces-
sary for their execution must be contributed by
sections which did not need such improvements
The sterile North employed the system of ar
tiheial improvement to correct the DEGREES of
nature; it penetrated the distant interior. re-
versed the current of the Mississippi, covered
the inland seas with canvas, and secured to it
self the elements 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
York, Massachusetts,, Connecticut, and Ohio
had respectively contributed to its production,
transportation, sale, and the supply of those ar
ticles of consumption which the planter re-
quired. 1t resulted from this operation that
the planter received less share Of his own
labor than the aggregate shared amongst his
Northern CO. partners.
Not satisfied with this apportionment of pro-
ceeds, he naturally appealed to political astrol-
ogers, who advised him that all this was caus-
ed by the oppression of the revenue system.
The revenue system was modified, but the
consequences continued. 1t was then suggest
ed shat the Union protected the enemies of the
South in their aggression upon it's interests. A
prolonged controversy resulted in the Compro-
mise, and the doctors were put to confusion, for
the renewed prosperity of the South was CO.
etaneous with the confirmation of the Union
But as the Union had not caused the decline of
the South, so it did not cause restoration of
its prosperity. There were other causes ope-
rating to produce this result.
A new school of political advisers appeared
in the South. They repudiated the prejudices
of the past. They relied upon railroads rather
than revolutions, and direct trade rather than
non intercourse. Their remedies were practi-
cal rather than political. They desire to make
the South prosperous and powerful: able to
maintain itself, and therefore not so sensitive
as to what others may say or do about its in
situations. De "a ;,ilotsi IOWA
They know that BY artificial communications
with the interior free States they can cause
much ofthe 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 battalions to defend their sea
ports from aggressions, just a. they have here
tofbfs repaired to the aid of New Orleans on
der similar emergency. 5g4t-sos 5as ssrsl ~
They read those Arabian Nights discoverie,
of Lieutenant MAuRY, and wonder why thes'
statesmen did not see the gold Of Potosi or tn
diamonds Of Motto Crosse CLEAN throsgh ah
haza Of tbs tariff and they wisely dstsrnia'
to ssek in The valley Of the Amazon : con
meres richer than that Of the mississippi IN
! nafytT EqEkAT s11i.