The Santa Fe weekly gazette. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.T. [i.e. N.M.]) 1851-1854, 1853-08-06
THE MEMPHIS CONVENTION
ITS POLITICAL OBJECTS. -r


This body, after having adopted a Sc
rieS ofresolutions expressive of the great
social and sectional interests which it re-
presented, adjourned to meet again in
Charleston in April next.
We think that an organization SO svs-
tematic in its action and so ,.commenda-
Bile in its purposes will exert an invaIua.
Bile influence, not merely in developing
the capacities of the South, but in tcac-
hing the great truth that the prosperity
and independence ofevery people depend
upon themselves. '..fa. -I
Living under the protection of po-
werfll Confederacy, and deriving l.
beral income from the profitable staples
of a fertile soil, the Southern States for a
long time disregarded those measures of
material development which their breth-
rem of the North had been compelled to
employ for the purpose OF counteracting
the rigor of a climate or the sterility of
their soil. I
The immenseand sudden preponderan-
ce of political power, as well as CONNER
cial control which resulted to the north
ern section in consequence of its wise
and energetic action, accustomed much
discomfort amongst the politicians of the
South, The coincident demonstrations
of a party hostile to the institution OF
slavery, and their obvious design to
check its extension. and even TO sccurpits
extinction, stimulated this discomfort and
resulted in a feeling Of indignation aga
inst the pernicious intermeddlmg of the
Abolitionists. This soon extended to all
who inhabited the same section. The
social and political relations between the
North and South were fast becoming in.
compatible with the form of government
which they had mutually adopted.
The political oppression OF the. North
assumed to be u fixed fact, a Southern
movement was organized for the purpose
of retaliating upon all those who inhabi-
ted the same country with the miscreant
who stole the slave, and stigmatisd the
master. 1t was proposed to forbid the
introduction of goods manufactured in
the Northern States, or imported by the
Northern cities, and a direct trade with
European States was recommended to
relieve the Southern planter from any
intercourse with, or dependence upon,
his fellow citizen of the North ia
A system involving so much selr,de-
NAL and expense could only be sustained
by a high degree of popular excitcmento
Resolutions and speeches ottha most in.
hammatory character filled the Southern
States with hostility against the Union
and the North A convention was called
to assemble at Nashville. It's purpose
was understood to be tn organizing Of
Southern independence upon the basis Of
non-intercourse, retaliation. and q direct
communication with European nations.
understood to be more iavorahlv disH0-
sed towards. or perhaps more dependent
upon the Southern States than the Nor.
them States Of the Union. With vew
great effort upon the part of patriots who
happily regarded the country more than
party or section, a compromise ofthe i'm.
mediate causes of dispute was effected.
The public apprehension Of the probable
results Of precipitatc or extreme action,
had rendered the Nashville Convention
unpopular, and the returning calm | II
the Southern people indispose1to carry
out the system rcccmmnnlel By It's "a
irons. g la -
The physical relations hpv,yN b
tween III. North aud tn South ou!nu. /
The oue grew with RAP Y. An uneS.
anplrd prosperity drew an imm3sc po.
pulaton and capital to is cities. A
staIy stream of foreign immigrants pou-
red along its highways spread through
the cheap and fertile lands OF the contg
uous wilderness, and sent the products
OF thorlabor, as these gave the wight Of
their political influence, to the mother
States, TO whose libe al enterprise tbF
owed all their blessings, More than this.
Having tasted the fruits Of an interior
trade, the Nolthem cities boldly conten-
ded for that trade, which had been the
sole aliment Of their Southern rivals The
trade current of the Ohio and Mississippi
was arrested. The lakes, covered with
an immense shipping interest, conduc-
ted the trade to the various outlets OF
canal and railroad, and then dtlivlred
upon the wharves Of New Yo'k Boston,
and Philadelphia those prolnets winch
Al