The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-07-08


The LATE SOUTHERN CONVENTION DOMESTIC
POLICY OF THE SouTH.-The acts of the great
Commercial Convention which met at Memphis
in June last, are before the world, and it is now
| pertinent and important question-what will
the South do? From what do these grand
councils of her statesmen spring? Are they
the offspring Of few distempered brains, who
war against fancied wrongs! Or are they the
silent workings of calm determined delibera-
tons?
We are not OF those WHO see dangers in
shadows, nor do we belong to those Of the other
extreme. who sleep in feigned security, hugging
the delusive phantom of hope while omnous
and portentous workings are going on around
US. These acts on the part of the South mean
something or nothing. and it is a matter of ma
tional Importance to know and understand
them The Southern States wish to render
themselves, commercially. financially, and So
cially independent. This is their language,
and how voluminous with meaning are the
words socially independent" Have we as a
nation go soon arrived at that point, when it is
found necessary for one portion of the Union to
render itself socially Independent of the other
Is it already debated, how shall the bond of
brotherhood most effectually be severed? Facts
are obstinate.
1t is not difficult to comprehend the causes
which have led to this desired social (the
first step towards the politicaD severance of
our Union. As uncontrovertable as the plainest
truth in nature, is the fact that the Southern
movement can he traced directly to Northern
freesoilism and aboltionism. IT'S true, that
during the entire session Of the convention,
not harsh word was uttered against these
northern isms, but this fact does not at all
lessen the truth of the above statement. but, on
the contrary renders it more clear. Those
who met at Memphis, went there not to parade
their grievances before the world in idle words
and empty wrath, but their every act was
stamped with cool. calm determination; and
every decision of the convention was the result
Of surprising unanimity. AS an instance Of
this determined spirit, we state the fact that
the Maryland delegation to the convention, pro-
ceeding as far as Louisville. Kentucky, there
heard that the Louisiana delegates had charged
them with elfshness-intimating that the con-
vention had its origin in Baltimore only with
the view of advancing the interests Of the
Monumental City. Immediately the Maryland
delegation resolved to and did return home,
and thereby sacrificed their interests in the con-
vention rather than give rise to any jealousy
or sectional feeling.
|. And can the Northern man, whose ideas are
not contracted by any false theory, but who
remembers that the South is o portion Of
the American republic, and that the blood of
cur forefathers flowed as freely at Eutau Springs
as at Saratoga, say that our Southern brethren
act without causes They are only working for
their own protection and in self-defence. They
have been slandered, villifed and abused by
Northern fanatics Their very houses have
been invaded. and their private property rem
dered insecure by the foul doctrines preached
by the anti-slavery party of the North;
and the signs Of the times are not Indicative
that these dangerous doctrines can DO crushed,
| except by their own strong arms raised in their
own behalf Our Southern brethren ask US if
treesoiism is dead! In reply we point to W. II.
| Seward, John p. Hale. and a host of others in
high positions, whose whole energies are devoted
to war upon Southern interests. They ask us if
our general voice is to put down and condemn
every thing that tends to ruin their social insti-
buttons? In answer, they are told that we i'm
mortalize Harriet Beechor Stowe, and Uncle
Tom. They ask us if we will enforce the
compromise measures; and if they may consider
these measures as the finale of slavery agitation?
In reply we say we delegate the duty of carry
| ing out those measures to men who are known
| to be wholly hostile to their enforcement.
They ask us if they may visit us as citizens of
the same great commonwealth, free from annoy
ance as to their social relation to their servants!
We tell them if they dare to tread on Northern
soil they do at the risk OF personal insult and
loss Of property.
1t is these indications on the part of the North
then, which have aroused, justly aroused the
| Southern States to the development oftheir own
powers, that they may render themselves so
cially independent. 1t requires no prophetic
powers to foresee the ultimate results of their
deliberations. Our Southern friends are too
wise and too powerful to be thwarted in their
designs. If they fail to accomplish their end by
one method they will try another. Their aim
is to crush the hydra-headed monster, known as
freesoilism, and send it to oblivion They desire
union but the iron bands linking ndissolubly to-
gether the republic they say must be forged over
the graves Of the Northern vandals. The first
mode adopted by the South to effect this object, is
to develope the powers of her people and her soil
by her railroads to extend the facilities of in
accommodation and let observation give the
lie and the death-blow to these Northern propa-
gandists. She knows that abolitionists and
freesoilers must sink into the grave of political
infamy when facts confront their fiction
The South will stretch every nerve to build
the great Pacific Railroad, she will arouse her
sons to industry and the pursuit of wealth, and
then she will appeal directly to the North to
assist her in crushing her enemy fed upon its