Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-03-29
WASHINGTON, d. C.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 90, 1854.
SOUTHERN COMMERCIAL CONVENTION = COM
MERCIAL INDEPENDENCE

The Southern Commercial Convention will
meet in Charleston, 5. C., the second Wednes-
day in April The general object il, the de-
velopment of the resources and advancement OF
the interests of the Southern States Accord
ing to the Charleston Courier, the particular
subjects that will probably engage the atten-
ton Of the Convention arc
The increase OF intercourse between the in
terror and scaboard, the diversifcation of slave
holding industry, direct trade between the
South and Europe, and railroad communica-
ton from the Atlantic to the Pacific especially
as affected by the Gadsden Treaty.
The Political Press Of the South seems dis
posed to give the Convention semi-political
character 1t points to the present attitude OF
the North on the Nebraska Question, and its
arrogant assumption that the Southern States
shall be excluded from equal rights in the Ter
ritories Of the Union as full Of warning to the
slave States 1t is high time it says, to pre-
pare for the worst by directing attention to
their own interests, and relying upon their own
They have been tributary to the
North long enough, suffered enough from the
UNEQUAL action Of the Federal Government
nIf we are content to acknowledge our intcri-
ority--it will matter little what course we may
adopt--a certain and disgraceful destiny awaits
us. But if we assert, and under all perils would
maintain, those equal rights and liberties to
which we were born, no better beginning could
be made than by shaking Oft commercial
trammels and converting every product OF
Southern industry to the aggrandizement and
consolidation Of Southern power" Another
paper remarks aThe recent outrages upon
Southern rights in New Bedford and Mil
wauke cannot fail to excite the feelings of
the Southern people, and induce them to look
for and sustain all legal and proper measures
calculated to increase their prosperity and
strength Nothing can 40 efectually protect
our rights and interests against invasion, as
entire commercial Independence Of the States
disposed to insult or injure us"
A Mr. London, of Richmond, Va, in reply
to an invitation to attend the coming Conven-
ton, writes long letter in the Richmond En-
guirer, in which no boldly proposes discrimi-
mating tax in the Southern States on goods of
Northern import or production! Not much
does he hope from the Convention. !" You will
have in your body many men who will tacitly
confess that our vassalage is the result of the
institution Of Slavery, and you will find many
projects submitted for the consideration Of the
Convention you will have report some rcso-
lutions, and a good many very eloquent speech
es; but you will find it end IN nothing praefi-
cal unless the Legislatures Of The Southern States
aetn We have had Conventions no says, at
Richmond, at Baltimore, at Memphis-but cur
bonoa The South is still in vassalage
ave have, since that time, appropriated
millions Of dollars 10 works Of internal i'm
some of us have embarked more
largely in foreign trade; but there are not half
a dozen vessels engaged IN our otrn trade that
are opned in Virginia, and 1 haze been unable
10 find pessei al Liverpool loading for Yir-
ginia pithin three years during The height Of
our busy season. Every foot OF railroad and
every yard Of canal constructed in the South
ern States is only so much added 10 the area Of
the influence Of Netc York, and but binds you
that much more securely 10 her bonds. Instead
of these immense improvements resulting in
m enlargement of your foreign commerce. IL
rs. bat contribution 10 your coastng trade, and
results in establishing the calculation as to
how long it will take your shopkeepers to get
the productions and importdfions of Netc York
info your viiiages; all else but this is not con-
sidered As to any one Of your improvements
10 forward your own importa-
tons, that is not thought Of al all BY your inte-
rior shopkeepers, for, throughout The South, all
haze disappeared, entirely and CON-
pieteiy"
Here is picture drawn by an intelligent
Of the state Of things in the Old
half dozen vessels doing its
trade, owned by its own citizens--not vessel
loading at Liverpool for Richmond or Nor
folk--all its railroads and internal improve
ments the offspring Of Northern money--and
instead Of stimulating trade with Europe,
bringing the sbopkccpers Of Virginia into more
intimate relations with New York
Speeches resolutions, reports, cannot change
this state Of things Tho source of the mis-
chief Mr.. London holds, is the Tariff policy
Of the Federal Government. Why this policy
should divert foreign trade from the South
srn 10 the Northern seaports, why, under
'ystem Of imposts, equal in all the ports Of
he United States, foreign commerce should
cave Savannah, Charleston, Norfolk, and
and flow into New York, Philadel-
phia, and Boston, he does not explain The
Federal Government exacts no higher duties
in the former than in the latter, and yet these
foreign commerccl
Tho truth is, Northern capital is the life
blood Of Southern industry. A country, con-
fining itself to the production Of one or two
staples, and depending for the supply Of it's
mulhfcrm wants, upon the proceeds, must al
ways be tributary to other countries, in which
labor is diversified. and employed in producing
such articles as il must have. The planters in
the British West Indies, under the system of
Slavery, were always in debt Their large cx-