The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-04-09


been appointed from al the Southern States,
among whom are the names OF some OF the most
distinguished citizens Of our country. The OBJ
jects sought for by the South in these reunions
are not wild or visionary, but reasonable and
practicable, and with proper action might be
accomplished Although nothing has been
effected by the conventions already held, yet
the continuance of them shows that deep feel
ing hiss been aroused, and as a constant drop
ping wears away a stone, so constant action
with any one view promises more or less sue
cess.
Some of the main purposes of this convention
are
TO establish Southern continental depot for
cotton, for It's direct expectation by planters.
TO build up q Southern importing market, in
opposition to New York.
To increase their railroads
To make the Sonthern States attractive to
cmigrants.
To stimulate manufactures and general in
dustry.
To establish Southern institutions Of learning.
To prepare the South to contend for the east
ern terminus Of the great Pacific Railway when
built
Influenced by no bgoted or sectional feelings,
but regarding the South as portion of the re-
public, and as much entitled to the good will of
all as any other portion, we trust we can view
this matter impartially. When we look at the
advance already made in different parts of our
Union in commercial and agricultural affairs,
we find there is good reason why the energies
of the South should be stretched to the utmost
tension, in developing her internal resources
The North, to say the least, has so far COM
pletely distanced her in the race of wealth.
Our States are threaded with railroads, pictur-
ing upon the map SPIDERS web. Immense
canals link the Atlantic with inland seas, rolling
our harvests to foreign shores. The steamboat
whistles along our rivers, and the beatings of
her iron heart sends healthy pulsation through
every artery of our land. New York has been
and is the centre Of all this enterprise, reaping
the greatest bulk of its reward. She. has been
for long time gradually charging the bounda-
ries of Ler influence and extending her do
mnion, State by State, until not only
the entire North, but the Great West have ac-
knowledged peaceful vassalage to her com
mercial supremacy. Not long ago and the abun-
dance of the West and Northwest was poured
down the Mississippi, and the South were con-
tented SO long as they enjoyed this trade. But
IN tee course of events railroads Ensad ST
Louis with New York; the Ohio carried its
treasures up instead of down stream the crops
of Missouri, Illinois and Michigan were direct
ed to New York, and no longer to New Or
leans and soon the boilers of the floating
palaces on the father of waters grew cold for
want of employment
The South meanwhile lay comparatively DOR
mant. Buzzard root had hardly been penetrated
by the husbandman the rich Tennessee valley
was surrounded 10y UNEMPLOYED acres of fertility,
and more and more she was becoming dependent
upon the North. Northern merchants come to
her largest ports set up business, grow wealthy,
and then retire to Northern States to spend the
of their life in the enjoyment of
their gains. AS strange as it may appear, one
half Of the largest merchants and capitalists Of
the Southern cities are Northern men, who are
there to seek their fortunes and
New York drummers ore as thick as flies in the
summer time in Charleston, Savannah, and
New Orleans.
The South might have tolerated this, and
quietly yielded up the palm of sectional pros
perity, had not fanatical and unpatriotic
feeling, calculated to undermine her dearest
taken root at the North, keeping
pace in growth with the increase Of Northern
.l1.~ :: II.
Of the abolition of slavery; having greater
sympathies with the black man than the white.
they wanted to subject the latter to the former
Even the dissolution of the Union came to be
coolly discussed, and the South with horror
found that she was not only dependent upon,
but by class regarded as the enemy of the
North, and as much an alien as the antipodes
This was the state Of things which aroused the
South from her lethargy, and prompted her to
strike for commercial and Industrial indie
pendence,
How far the South will succeed in carrying
out the objects now in view, of course is as yet
and depends upon her energy
and practical common sense. To her conven-
ton she should send only those who act, and
let those who do nothing but talk and froth and
foam, stay at home. There were many of the 1
latter kind at Memphis last year. A Southern
continental depot of cotton is great desidera
tum. The cotton planter is now subjected to
perpleyities that are almo.t disheartening,
placing this staple production under laws which
greatly check its progress. The cargo has to
undergo half n dozen shipments before II mr.
rives at the market, and when the returns of the
sale reach the planter, they are nearly balanced
by costs and fees. There are middle men, mid
die warehouses, middle commissions, middle
assurances to pay, besides freight, depressing,
re-shipping, and other items too numerous to
mention. direct expectation by the planter
from Southern port would not only be
great saving to him, but do away with present
trouble and risk