New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-09-23
LITERATURE AT THE SOUTH.


A writer in The National Inteiligeneer isSes the
literature Of the North to task for its ooitical
character, addressing himself particular, 10 tue
publishers Of PHtnams Magazine, who have ven
tured TO issue an article now and then which
strikes at higher game than the perpetrators of
Door books or the offenders against syntsx and
prosody. We will leave those gentlemen to de-
fend themselves, if they should see it as we sup.
pose they will not, however, but in the meantime
we have an oar or two to put ia on independent
principles.
This writer processes to ground his objections
against the magazine in question on the recent ar
ticle called Our Parties aud Politics" because
il is political whereas his real objection TO it is,
that it touches the question of Slavery. II bis
objection had been simply political, he would
have made it known long since, for there has
scarcely been number of that able periodical
Issued which did not contain discussion more
or less directly political in its bearings. The
very first article indeed, of the first number was
a discussion of the Cuba question; and this has
been followed from time to time By articles on
the Japan question, On the Pacific Railroad, on
Annexation on cur Foreign Policy, on the late
Census. on Pierce's Administration, on American
Statesmen, with none of which have we entirely
agreed in sentiment, but all Of which we were glad
to read, because they were written with dignity
talent and csndOr No objection Wal anywhere
made to them on the score that they were polit
cal except in the case of the article on Pierce,
against which the Office holders raised feeble
howl But as soon as Slavery is alluded TO,
dozen Or more thin-skinned gentlemen of the
South spring up to protest, with due yehemence,
against the political character of the Northern
magazines.
What is remarkably curious, too, 10 these pro-
tests is, that the authors all labor under the
extraordinary delusion that the literary patronage
Of the South is matter of great moment. " Har-
"per," cries one. 81 has been nourished into pros
"perity by the golden fsyors of the South"
"PutDam's project" says the writer in The In
teiHgencer, "receivedr perhaps, no where so warm
"a welcome as in the South. Literary beneyo-
.'leDce and pec1niary mun.feenee had never be-
fore shOne more conspicuOusly "-with much
else to the same purpose, showing conceit on
the part of our friends that is actually amazing.
Let US inform them, however, if they are penetrs
bic to the logic of facts that this boosted south
ern patronage by which they hope TO control the
literature of the North, is in itself incOnslder
able as to be hardly worthy of thought. 1t may
form, perhaps, about the tenth part of the pat
ronage of the entire country. Indeed we have
been told by publishers of popular books that
single agency in Boston or New-York is worth
more than any whole State at the South, and that
the State of New-York or Ohio often surpasses in
rs pecuniary returns all the southern States put
together. Yet, these southern writers talk as if
their subscriptions to magazine were absolutely
essential TO its existence. We mention this, 30.
to show that the reading public of any quarter is
to be wholly disregarded, but to expose the Ar
rogance and pretension OF the windy fellows who
buster about stopping their subscriptions TO this
or that periodical. When they shall have sue
ceeded in giving an efficient support to single
magazine of their own, it will be time enough for
them TO brsg of their Literary benevolen,e and
"pecuniary magnifcence-"
1t is also curious TO note, in reference TO these
complaints against the political character Of our
magazines for their occasional indulgence in an
independent criticism, that while the northern
periodicals generally have strictly avoided every
partisan and so-called sectional bias, carrying
their reticence in fact TO degree which often be-
came cowsrdice and meanness,) there never has
been a review or magazine of any pretenson
started at the South, which Was not an Out-and-
outrank and even yirulent pro-Slsvery and se,-
tional organ. The Southern Reriesc of Charleston,
De Botr's Reriete of Ne Orleans, and The Southern
Literary Messenger, the only periodicals that have
attained even precarious existence at the South,
TEEN from beginning to end with defenses, apollo
gies, eulogies and apotheoses of Slavery The
changes are rung without cessation upon its
divinity its morality, its prosperity, and its
great and glorious benefits, in every aspect.
Yet if northern magazine, bred in different
school of divinity. morality and philosophy, ven.
lures to ipsinuate in moderate and respectful
terms, doubt as to the justice Of these L" 10
"P,ans," it is strsightw,y denounced as Abo-
litionist, and the South is summoned 10 strsngIe
the monster in embryo. The proceeding Is 80