Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1854-04-14
-.1pIc1M0ND ENQUIRER.
cnARLEsToN COMMERCIAL CONVENTION.

CHARLESTON COMMERCIAL CONFENiloN.
The repor, of the FIRST days proceedings OF the Commef-
clal Convention at Charleston, given in another column Of
the ENQUIRER, conveys some idea Of the enthusiasm and the
resoIu,e purpose which per'ade this assembly OF Southern
gentlemen, and which point to the possible achievement. o.
some more substantial result than a platform OF Renerahues
Ordinarily popular conventions, instead OF comolnihs IL
concentrating public sentiment into some posi'i'o, p"p
BILE and rational movement, serve only as saie'y-'si'S ''
Its escape and harmless diffusion. Perhaps u ID premature
10 indulge In any very confident prediction OF Inc fesu'' u
the charles,on Convention, for a mere efferrescence OF en-
thusiasm affords no reliable guaranty Of action. SIM, from
the character of the men In MISUNDERSTANDING whom we see
oome of the first names of the Southland from the prompt
and bueiness-llke manner in which they have get TO work,
we anticipate something better than the abortiVe demtn-
stra,ion at Baltimore, and the silly defamation about a Pa
ciac Railway which made the Convention OF Memphis
worse than ridiculous.
There Is some justice in the imputation against the pol'-
clans of the South, Of a disposition to excessive refinement
and abstract speculation. This spirit may servo is Pur-
pose In checking the tendency to a loose and iicentious
construction of the constitution, but 1t 10 altogether out Of
place In commercial affairs. Our only hope for the success
OF the movement in behalf Of the commercial independence
of the South, is based upon the possibility that the ConVen-
ton at Charleston may be controlled and directed by men OIL
sapacity and practical turn of mind-by men like Maury and
Rufan, who in their separate spheres have illustrated The true
spirit Of the Baconian philosophy, and who by accurate OBJ
BeIvot0n and cautious experiment Ctie W. e"o
splendid than the mere theorist ever conceived. II tneif
counsel could prevail-if the South would turn Its energy
and Its enterprise to the renovation Of it's wasted fields and
the development of it's dormant resources on the one hand,
and on the other to that exhaustless store.house OF wealth.
In tho Southern continent. which the tyranny of Ignorance
and the ignorance Of tyranny have locked up from the en-
joyment of man, then indeed would the commercial redemp'
ton and ascendaucy of the South be something more than
the vagary of an idle enthusiast. The nation that controls
the trade of the tropics must control the commerce OF Inc
world. So 1t has ever been, and 80 will i, always be. The
Southern States of this confederacy, by adding to their own
monopoly 10 the supply of cotton, the command Of the rich
and various productions Of the tropical countries In the
Western Hemisphere, would possess advantages for attain.
Ing a supremacy in the commerce of the world, against
which no other nation could contend. These achievements
too, contemplate such an extension of the basis OF slavery rs
would make the power OF the institution paramount and lr'
%resisible. Whether the Convention al Charleston will d.
rect the energy and the enterprise of the South towards these
results, or will suggest some narrow, stupid, and abortiVe
policy of non.interceurso with the North, depends, we repeats
on the contingency whether the %expedients of the politician
or the wisdom of the philosopher shall determine the action
of the Convention.
But be the action of the Charleston Convention what it
may, 1, will be equally barren OF any good result II mol
promptly and efficiently seconded and supported by the PEG
Die Of the South. Resolutions Of themselves can accomplish
nothing. The object of the Convention is only to suggest
some system OF policy which the people must carry out. III lie
Convention fail 10 commend it's measures to popular appro-
val, or III ii fail to commend them with an emphasis and ef-
feet which shall carry along the South in Jealous co-oPera.
ton, then 10 il not less an abortion and a blunder than It's un'
fortunate predecessors. Public sentiment must eustain and
enforce the suggestions Of the Convention. Every thing de-
pands on The conduct of the merchants OF the South. They
can facilitate or they cau thwart this movement for The com
nercial independence Of The South and in regard TO their
action we must confess 10 no little apprehension. In the
main The merchants of the South are men OF Honorable ptin.
ciples and of enlarged and liberal Ideas. But this is not uni
T0iMJ~ euT CdSo. IrCTor IN
cities, men may be found In the commercial community oil
the mos, sordid interests and Of the meanest and most selfish
aims. From such we can expect no cooperation In any
generous effort to libera,e the South from It's commercial de-
~pendeuce on the North. Slaves of avarice, they recognize
the obligation of no higher principle than that which teaches
TO buy IN the cheapest and sell in the dearest market.
Fueitives from the North. they have no sympathy with
the South and no care for Its interests. But, Ii calleus
to every generous influence, they are senshively alive to
an impression which touches their c~upidity; and they can be
brought to cooperate in the movement for the commercial To-
dependence of The South, only by learning from their ledger
that the South knows it's enemies.