The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-03-11
.o1TrHERN coMMERclAL coNvENTIoN

Charleston. We are not the less convinced
of the importance of that Convention that
our late appeal to Richmond upon the sub.
;ect has drawn forth column OF character
;st;c denunciation from the New York Ira
b.ae. The approach of these annual Con-
yentions uniformly stirs up the bile of these
rree.soiI prints. They heap all manner of
reproachful epithets upon those assemblages,
and their projectors and the South generally.
They pronounce us all blockheads, fools,
asses. to imagine that the South can ever
build up commerce Of her own or, that If
she could, commerce is of advantage to
any country, except the North and Great Bri-
tain. We need no better stimulus to action
than the sensitiveness displayed by the Nor
thern press whenever the South seeks to es-
tablish direct trade with Europe. Let us
learn from our enemies. We ought to know
enough of them by this time to know that
they will never find fault with us for pursu-
ing course which will be injurious to our
own interests. The more chimerical and sui
cidal our policy, the better they will like US,
and if they do not praise US, which they find
it hard to do under any circumstances, they
will at least keep silent. Be sure we are on
the right track for ourselves, when they be-
gin to berate and slur and ridicule US. This
is their unfailing habit at the recurrence of
every Southern Commercial Convention and
should rouse, with trumpet-tones the whole
South, to the most vigorous and indomitable
perseverance in its efforts for commercial in
dependence.
There is ne earthly hope for the prosperity,
nay, for the very existence of the Southern
States, with their present institutions, except
in their commercial and manufacturing indie
pendenee, If the grass grows in the streets
of our Cities as the New York Tribune says
Ian illusion which only exists in the green
imagination of the editor it is because we
have employed in our commerce the expen-
sive intermediate agencies of Northern mer-
chants, have purchased of Northern manu-
facturers articles which we could make our
selves, have educated our children at Nor
thern schools, and even spent our money for
amusements at Northern watering places.
Will the South continue to to do this, when
she bleeds at every pore, and when she is
tainted by the organ of the parties for whom
she is bled, with being an awkward pumpkin,
bled for the benefit of the polished Northern
masters? A great deal has been said of the
proud spirit of the South but she most be
humber than the most mean-spirited slave
if, after expanding her substance to build up
Nnr%hary,
spit upon by those whom her wealth has pam
pered, she can consent to pay tribute to the
commerce of the North one moment longer
than she is able to build up commerce of
her own.
Therefore, we say God speed to the State
Commercial Convention, and may the hour
soon come, when Southern men will not only
have a commerce of their own, but go as far
in denying themselves articles of Northern
production, as the Bostonians W. nt in abstain
ing from tea at the breaking out of the Rev
olution. Let us make everything we can for
ourselves, and that which we cannot make
let us do without. Let us complete our rail
roads, and place ourselves at once in COM
munication with Europe. As we have before
said, not only our prosperity, but the securi
ty of our institutions, demands this course
What faith can we put in Con gress for the
protection of Southern Rights? In both
branches of Congress there is Northern
majority. The majority, sooner or later, will
be the decided exponent of Northern senti-
ment, and that sentiment is every day be-
coming more inimical to slave institutions.
1t has triumphed over one provision of the
American Constitution, and 1t will ultimate
ly triumph over all, which stand in the way
of its aggressive instincts. The evil day has
not yet come when the North is prepared to
demand the abolition of slavery in the States
but its coming is as sure as sunrise The
South is becoming relatively weaker and
weaker, by her commercial dependence on
the Northern States; the North stronger and
stronger both in material wealth and in ia
naticism. That m oment that the North pos
sessses the might, the doom of the South is
inevitable. Even then, politicians, who now
assiduously court her votes, will let her
60, and gigantic despot of numbers, more
cruel and unrelenting than any tyrant that
ever sat on the throne Of Russia, will issue
and execute the death warrant of Southern
Institutions.
In the mean time, the South has breathing
spell; chance to prepare herself for the
conflict; nay, an opportunity altogether to es-
cape the gloomy fate, whose dark shadow is
continually lowering over herpath Let her
look no longer to Congress, but to herself
Let it be recognized principle of patriot
lsm' at least, as sacred as that which bind
Us to the federal union, to build up the DOW
Or and strength of the Southern States, and
thus to give them that MIGHT, which is their
only reliable defence against Northern ag-
gression In our own keeping, is our future
destiny.
We trust that Virginia will be fully repre-
scented in the Charleston Convention. and in
aid of that purpose, let Richmond lead off
with spirit and numbers, becoming the occa.
sion.