The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1855-02-02
THE NEW ORLEANS CONVENTION.

THE NEW ORLEANS CONVENTION.
The New York Herald has a real "slashe::"
on the late Commercial Humbug, called
through courtesy a Convention, at New Or
leans. We quote portiOn-the better por-
tion-of this article. After comparing the
assembly at the Crescent city to the old wo-
mems conventions held in the North, the
Herald continues:
Southern abstraction conventions and
speeches, and resolutions, will no more alter
the laws and channels of trade, nor build Pa
clhc railroads, nor secure the Island of Cuba,
nor re-establish the slave trade, than will our
women's rights and old granny reforming
conventions and coteries of the North abolish
the existing laws Of society. Action, enter
prise, capital, and well directed industry are
the instruments for developing the resources
and wealth Of the South. If they would
have direct trade with Europe, they must put
their ships upon the sea; if they would have
manufactures, they must erect them. They
have the water power, the climate, the raw
materials-all the required natural advanta-
ges for successful competition with the North.
If they would have railroads, they must look
to other sources than the federal treasury;
and if they would have Pacific railroad by
the Southern route, ten good lobby men, well
armed with the sinews OF war, ut Washington,
will avail more than a Southern convention Of
ten thousand men at New Orleans.
1t is gratifying to know that of late years,
in Virginia, Tennessee, the CarOlinas, Geor
Tio az Sf.to he hoy
been going to work factories, foundries,
railroads, and other practical enterprises, in
the right way. Let the work be followed up
after this fashion, and no Southern abstrac-
ton convention will be needed to develope
the latent riches and vast resources of the
South. Mr. Wise, of Virginia, in his stump
speeches, is disclosing the true business poll
cy of the Southern States Let us hope that
the day for the exhausting experiments of
intangible Southern distractions has passed
away.
1t is somewhat remarkable that this South
ern Convention at New Orleans appears to
have closed its ewes to the "fxed fact" that a
great and mysterious revolution is at work all
over this country Il moral and political revO-
luton, which is rapidly casting overheard all
Northern philosophers and Southern reform
ers, together with all the rubbish and clap
trap of old political fogies, old party huck-
sterS, and all the rusty and rotten machinery
of old party juntas and Baltimore conventions.
Strange, too, that this New Orleans COnycn-
ton, in this connections have not discovered
the folly Of resolving hat we must have Gu
ba, whatever obstacles may nterpose.
We say that great revolution is ut work.
mysteriously but potently working out new
order of things in this country. 1t was com
menced under an eccentric and eQuivocal
designation, as most great revolutions do be-
gin; but it is developing a strength which is
irresistible, and an onward tendency which
cannot be arrested. II must snpercede for
the time, all purely sectional schemes, poiti-
cal or commercial; all the old party issues of
the country; all whig and democratic arrange
ments, local or general; all Cabinet plots and
intrignes for the succession-for this new
revolution must 90 on till its work is accom-
pIished. Recognizing it, too, as Il great
spontaneous uprising of the people, politicians
and reformcrs must submit to be carried with
the current or TO be driven ashore.
1t is n great conservative revolutionary
movement, comprehensive in its scope, and
beneficent in its tendencies, in the extirpation
of the rottenness and corruptiOns which have
caused the old parties of the day to stink in
the nostris of the nation; and bene6cent, in
restoring, upon the basis OF the constitution,
the ancient haimonies Of all sections of the
Union. To this end the New Orleans con.
vention may be too fast upon the Cuba ques-
finn Mr. r,lbnup'S '1no Of e,o
uonal balance of power somewhere in the
government, is as nearly attained rs can be in
the Senate, without dangerous disturbance
Of the existing general equilibrium. The nc.
QUESTION of Cuba as slave State, without
some equivalent concession to the North, in
this view, it will now be difficult to achieve;
and the British provinces to the north of US
are not yet ripe for annexation.
The truth is, that, Judging from this great
national conservative movement of the Know
Nothings, which discountcnances the revival
of the anti-slavery agitation, which aims to
restore harmony between the North and the
South, which holds to the exact doctrine of
non.interventiOn in the domestic affairs of the
several States, which appreciates the hazards
OF attempting yet for season, the further
"'i""l'o'' vi ioIc'Su tcIlIlOIIcS- JuuSlHSs VIC
say, from these aspects of this conservative
movement, we doubt whether, for some years
yet to come, we shall annex Cuba, or Mexico,
or the Sandwich Islands, or any other out
side country whatever.
Here, then, is our position. While the old
women Of both the Old World and the New
are holding their political, social, religious
and commercial conventions, and while the
old party hucks'ers of the day, in and out Of
the Cabinet, North and South, are LAYING their
pipe and shaping their plans for the next
swndiing national council at Baltimore, we
are endeavoring TO open the eyes of all con-
cerned to the vanity of their labors, in view
OF the great revolution undertaken, and under
way, by the spontaneous action of the Ameri-
can people. Clear the track
PoLITENEss-A great and good man once
speaking of polineness, said /: make it a
point of morality never TO find fault with an
other for his manners; they may be awkward
or graceful, or polite, polished, or rustic. ]
care not what they are if a man means well