The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-04-04
CHARLESTON COMMERCIAL con-
yENTIOy.

We are most happy in the prospect that the
approaching Commercial Convention at
Charleston win be theiargest which has yet
been held in the South. All the important
towns of the Southern States are appointing
delegates. The right spirit Is aroused among
the people. and if that spirit takes the right
action, the day of Southern independence is
at hand.
This is no spasmodic or evanescent move
ment. The annual meeting of the Southern
Commercial Convention, and the steadily In
creasing interest which each meeting devel.
opes, provethst the South is atlast thoroughly
aroused to the value and even necessity of
commercial independence. She is beginning
at last to realize that it is vain for her to
look to the federal councils for any measure
which has in view her prosperity, or in which
she can obtain eventhe vindication other equal
rights. She sees that the only hope even for
the preservation of her domestic institutions
within their present limits, is in the develop
ment Of physical power enough on her part
to protect them. She must look henceforth,
not to Congress,-which only knows her as
the goose which lays the golden egg of pub
lie revenue, and which may be cut open at
any moment that abolition madness may sug-
gest,-but to her own energy and exertions.
She has within herself the resources of an
empire; she has agricultural and mineral
treasures with which the North can1.ot COM
pare; she has every advantage and variety of
climate as well as production; she has har-
bors which could float the fleets of world,
and illimitable water power; she has labor
in abundance and yet, she is behind the
North in power and population, and occupies
in that confederacy of which she was once
the brightest ornament, an inferior and
provincial position.
What is it that she needs? The answer is
given in two words-Comnercc- fac-
lures. For these she has every facility, and
to these she must lend all her energies 1t
is these which have enabled the people ofthe
North, dwelling in rugged and barren land,
to build up magnificent cities ON articles OF
Southern production. Hitherto the South has
neglected them. Living in land of plenty,
and supplying with ease every necessity from
generous soil, she has not felt that sti-
mulus to exertion which spurs the jewellers in
less favored regions to activity and enter
prise. But the time has come, when the peo-
pie of the South can no longer afford to in
dulge their ancient contempt of commerce
and manufactures. The time has come when
their prosperity, nay, when selfpreservation
demands that they diversity their industry;
build factories, and make for themselves eve
ry article which they need; connect them
selves with each other, and with the Missis-
sippi valley by railroads and canals, and es-
tablish direct tradewith Europe. Allthese
objects may not be at once accomplished, but
the periodical interchange of opinions and
views at the regular recurrence of CONNER
eial Conventions, and the warmth and light
which will radiate thence to every corner of
the South, will the glorious hour when
the South will be prosperous, and powerful
and independent.
Our only wonder is, that she has so long
been willing to remain ''hewer of wood and
drawer of water" for those who repay her
only with wrong and insult. We scarcely
take up a paper in which we do not see &C
counts of large numbers of slaves enticed
away from their masters. If an effort is made
to recover them, the constitution, the laws,
and the officers of the law, are all set at def
anee. In Congress, a bill recognizing the
equality of the South in the Union, is suffo-
Gated in Committee of the Whole, while the
mere prospect of its passage so enraged the
North, that even clergymen preached sedi-
ton from the pulpit, and professors of col
leges threatened dissolution and civil war
Can the South forget these things? If she
can forget and forgive them; if, after such
insults and outrages, she can resign com.
merce and manufactures wholly to Northern
hands, she has spirit more servile than that
of the humblest mental, and richly deserves
the ignominious vassalage which viii be her
lot