The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-07-22

sympathy with the United States; and unless We
are much mistaken, there has been among rs Q feel
ing Of sabs,antial goodwill towards most a the |
objects contemplated BY the summoners OF the con-
vcntion. 1t matters little in this view whether |
from Stafford House on the slave question, or any |
welcome to the writer of "Uncle Toms Cabin" was
the immediate cause OF the convention. II is
said 80; and it was sure TO be said so; but there
was sufficient reason for the step, II 1t had been
taken year or two ago; and our interest in 1t is
just the same, whether it had purely American
origin or not The simple case, as represented by
the citizens Of the Southern States is that things
not well with them as they might be; that
they are standing comparatively still in their for
tunes while the rest OF the world is getting on;
and that some peculiar action has become necessary
to repair their peculiar disadvantages. They have
long held political rule at Washington. Their pre-
ponderance has been unquesonabe for long course
Of years. 1t was they who annexed Texas, and con.
quered Mexico, and dictated every critical piece of
legislation and executive vigor since North and
South came fairly into collision. Yet they are in
adversely, and they bestirring themselves, very
properly to see how they are to get out Of it. They
complain that the best education of the country Is to
be found in the North, that the commerce of the
country goes in and out Of New York bay, that the
merchants Of the North grow rich, and the farmers
reap good crops; that markets abound there, and
factories spring up and civilization extends; while
commerce iangnishes in the ports of the South and
the planters are sinking into deeper difficulties and
Of life advance with extreme slowness; and that the
depression of adversely seems to be brooding over
tile whole region Of the South, and part Of the
West. After long consultation. and an under
stood agreement as to the objects to be pro-
posed in convention, the summons was issued;
| and thousand delegates met on the bluff
which overhangs the Mississippi, and lifts
| MP into the hot sunshine the city OF Memphis.
! Planters and merchants from the coasts farmers
from the interior and political leaders from AL the
Southern and Western States, were among the dele
gates; and they met prepared to agree on a number
OF large measures which they believed it required
only union to carry out. The discussion has been
postponed. by sort Of accident, but the proposi-
tons will keep and may, perhaps, fare the better at
last for being well considered and discussed in
more private way for another year. Though the OBJ
jects bad been agreed upon, the order OF their dis
cusson had not; and after much useless controversy
on that point, the convention was adjourned to meet
at Charleston next year. There is no reason to sup
pose that there will be any pause in the interest OF
tie subject or in the activity Of the movers, on ac-
count of this delay
The languor Of their commerce seems to strike
them most. Yet, at Memphis, they must have seen
such commerce floating by as any new country
might be proud of. From the gigantic steamers in
midstream to the fat boats which glide down under
the banks in endless procession there is no sort OF
river craft which may not be seen carrying produce
up or down. To stand on the bluff at Memphis, and
! complain Of anguid commerce, might seem like
Joke ii everybody did not know that this fetching
and carrying was mainly between the Northern
| States and foreign countries. There is cotton
and tobacco going down to New Orleans, but there
is infinitely more grain and other agricultural pro
| duce from the Northwestern States and mineral
| produce and manufactures from PtSburg, and from
| newer towns sprnging up along the free shore OF
the Ohio Cincinnati sends down more merchandise,
Of one sort or another than the whole opposite coast
of Kentucky. The delegates express the strongest
jealousy OF New York, however and resent the inte
| riority of the commerce OF their own ports; and
their first proposition is to establish direct commit
nicaton between their own ports and those OF foreign
countries, dscountenancing the Intervention OF New
| York and Liverpool. They even propose to make
| Havre their cotton depot for Europe, compelling
| Lancashire to send to France for its cotton. We
need hardly explain that we do not think this vii!
ever be done; that if it could, the planters would
themselves be the first to be ruined by the accom-
plishment Of their own scheme. There is no natural
for Havre being madea cotton depot, whereas
Liverpool is in Lancashire. II the change could be
made, the immediate consequence would be such
rise ofprice Understandable the importation OF cot
/ ton from many countries which we are beginning to
perceive to be fit for its production. We going to
improve the condition of India now-very sedulous
ly; and we look confidently for supply Of cotton
at all events, which would be much qulckened and
expanded by any denial Of American cotton. But
there is another and more real aspect OF this first
! proposition, which it would be wise in one portion
of the Memphis Convention to allow US to hold up to
them The port which they propose to sustain
in rivalship Of New York is Charleston. Now,
Charleston chooses to imprison foreign sailors they
felong TO any dark race 1t will not be forgotten
that the case of one two OF imprisoned British
seamen is now before the Supreme Court OF the
United States; but it may not be so well known
that 10 less than twenty OF our fellow subjects
have within no long time, been subject to imprson-
ment in South Carolina, for no other reason than
their dark skin. Charleston can never enjoy pros
porous commerce while she intilcts this treatment
and rival ports do not Louisiana has wisely
changed in time her to the same effect; and un-
less South Caroline hastens to do such commerce
as she now has will go off to New Orleans, or swell
yet more the supremacy OF New York.
Other projects proposed are railways connecting all
the Southern aud Weste States, and TO give sup
port to the great railway to the Pacific. This last
was resolved on when no agreement could be obtained
other matters. The establishment of manuac
lures strongly urged and so is the expansion OF
existing seats Of learning and the institution Of
ones that the youth of the Southern States may not
have to go North for education. If it is feared
that the isolation OF the mind 81 the South, already
greet evil, will be aggravated by such measure as
this last IT should be remembered that railways are
TO run by the new colleges Moreover, the obvious
probability is, that the railways will be formed and
the colleges not or at least that they will not pre-
vent the youth Of the South from still going north
wards for their education. The practice Of the
South is to exprnge from literature, and even from
philosophy every alu,ion to the institution q, Of
slavery. Their text books OF moral and political phi
losophy are expurgated, as well as the literature
with which the rest Of the world s flooded and it is
not probable that the young gentry Of the spirited
South will put up with such defective education
is preparing for them when they have unre-
s,Iieted one by going to New England. The manu-
factories will not be able 10 compete with those Of
the North If they are to he worked by slaves. Let
the experiment be tried however il the Southerner5
think otherwise.
To the remaining demand-that Congress shall
decree great increase of mail accommodation
there can be no objection on any hand. For our part
should like to all these objects attempted, for
this reason that we have no doubt that the true
cause Of the adversely will then be laid open to the
Judgment Of the Southern citizens themselves.
They will then see why their soil deteriorates and
Their social condition languishes. And as they court
isolation in some poets as the only means Of pre-
serving the institution of slavery, their opening Of
railways and factories will, according to their own
doctrine. tend directly to its abolition.
We wish them harmonious and effective meeting
next year, and all the railways, and new mails, and
learned pro essors that they desire, assured that
they will thes be enabled to discover the cause of
their troubles and strengthened to remove it. Every
honest friend of the great republic ought TO desire
that the Convention Of Charleston in 1854 may be
harmonious in council and steadily disposed for ac-
ton in the direction Of social Improvement. Poll.
ticn nrenondeIance has not answered. Let the