Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1856-12-17
southern Commercial convention.

Mr.. ThaXton, of Petersburg, Va, was appoinle
I temporary secretary. A committee OF one froi
each State was appointed to report officers an
rules for the permanent organization OF the cor
tvention. A recess was then taken till six L. N
] About GOO delegates are nt,representlng lie
Southern States-Arkansas, Mississippi, Missouri
and Delaware were not represented.
On le-assembling, James Lyons. Esq. of Rich
mond. Va was appointed permanent President
The usual number of Vice Presidents and Secre
taries were also appointed, and the rules OF tn
House of Representatives were adopted-eacl
State voting according to the vote OF Its Elector
al College. Mr.. Lyons, on taking the Chair
made long speech, asserting that it is the wsl
of the South to maintain the Constitution ant
the Union, but expressing the determination tt
be prepared for all future contingencies.
a committee was appointed to prepare ousl
ness A Dudley Mann, Esq, was admitted as
delegate. and added to the committee on busl
ness The Convention then adjourned till to
morrow.
SECOND DAY.
The President announced the names OF mem
hers of the business committee. Various resolu
tions were offered, and mostly referred, includ
ing some by Mr.. Swami, of Tennessee, that al
bonds and notes issued by the Southern States
cities or counties, be made payable in said States
Mr.. Peoples, of Georgia, moved that each mem
Der subscribe one hundred dollars towards the
establishment of direct line of steamers to Eu-
rope. The motion was adopted, but was after
wards reconsidered and referred Mr.. Bethune,
of Georgia, made long speech in favor of abo-
fishing the tariff and raising funds for the sup
port Of eovernmet by direct taxation.
Mr.. Kean, of Virginia, offered resolutions de-
precating the education of Southern youth ut the
North, and advocating the encouragement OF
Southern books, newspapers and manufactures.
Mr.. lGaulding, of Georgia, offered resolutions in
struNing Southern Congressman to use their eff
forts to repeal the tariff, to repeal the law inter
dieting the slave trade, and to procure treaty
for the rendition of slaves from Canada. The
resolutions were laid on the table by nearly q
unanimous vote Judge Moore, of Alabama, Of
fered a resolution in favor of a railroad TO the
Pacific along the 32d parallel. The Convention
then adjourned.
THIRD DAY.
The Convention re-assembled at 10 a. n.
Mr.. Jones, of Georgia, moved to take from the
table Mr. Gaulding's resolution relative to re-
opening the slave trade.
Mr.. Spratt, editor of the Charleston Standard
hoped the motion would prevail he thought the
question of slavery most appropriate to occupy
the attention of the Convention He advocated
q renewal of the slave trade. He desired to hear
the objection stated by those who resisted con-
sideration of the subject The Convention should
not recognize the right of Congress to impose
restrictions upon the slave trade, and should
meet the question at once.
Mr.. Hunter of Virginia, thought the Oonyen-
ton was not competent to consider the subject.
L. Iro1 punetipn on1 tho Spufb
should ponder long before defying the opinion of
the whole Christian world. The recent message
of the Governor of South Carolina had astonish-
prepared to endorse his views. The subject was
one involving tremendous consequences, and time
for reflection was necessary,
Mr.. Richardson, of Maryland, said he was not
prepared to advocate commerce in slaves, and
he hoped the frebrand would not be consider
ed.
Mr.. Gholson, of Virginia, was opposed to tax
ing the subject up, unless we now discuss, with
the world, the morality of the question. If the
South preferred revival of the slave trade, we
would drive away many who wero now with us,
and he regarded it as a direct attack upon the
Union.
Mr.. Gauldng of Georgia, made fiery speech,
defending revival of the slave trade He be-
lieved the institution of slavery to be from God,
and he was ready to defend it in all its bearings
1t conferred equal blessings on both races. 1t
was no greater crime to tear husband from his
wife in Virginia, to work in the cotton fields of
the South, than to purchase negro in Africa to
Christianize and civilize him. Now was the
time to decide the question and assert our rights
before the whole world.
Messrs. Chopper and Green, of Virginia, en-
dorsed Mr.. Gauding's views. Mr.. Mcleod, of
Texas, pledged his State to the EXTREMIST views
urged to-day. Mexico was falling to pieces by
our side, and we must introduce there our pecu-
liar institution, and counteract European intrl-
cues. Negro labor was necessary for the devel-
opment of that region.
The motion to take up the resolutions was lost
ayes ls, noes 6S, South Carolina, Texas and
part of Tennessee only voting in the affirmative.
Mr. Oochrane, of Alabama, chairman of the
committee ON business, reported resolutions re-
lative to Pacific Railroad. The first resolution
declares that the General Government has no
power to construct; that the Railroad should be
made along the line of the 32d parallel, by aid
from the States, individuals and Territories and
by grants of land from the Federal Government
and contracts for carrying mails, military stores,
&C.; also recommending that the Southern States
aid by every means in the construction of the
road.
The first resolution was adopted.
The second elected long debate.
Delegates from Virginia opposed at length the
asking of grants of lands by Congress, as likely
to lead to corruption and an abuse of the Con-
stitution.
The resolutions were recommitted.
FOURTH DAY
Mr. Debow, of Louisiana, from the committee
on business offered series of resolutions, ap-
pointing the next meeting of the Convention at
Knoxville, Tenn, on the 9Th August next; en-
dorsing Dudley Mann's scheme for line of steam
ferry boats of 5000 tons from Chesapeake Bay
to Milford Haven; favoring the introduction of
Southern text books into Southern schools and
colleges, and the appointment of committee of
distinguished Southern professors to prepare
such works and recommending the Southern
legislatures to order their use in said schools !;
favoring the encouragement of Southern books,
periodicals and journals, in place of those pub
shed at the North recommending the encour-
agement of the mining and manufacturing inter-
ests of the South.
All the resolutions were adopted.
Mr.. Semmes reported favorably upon the in
teroceanic communication via the Isthnus of
Tehuantepec, recommending Congress to make
contract with the Sloo Company for the trans
portaton of mails between New Orleans and
San Francisco by that route.
The report was adopted.
The resolution in favor of the Pacific Rail
road, reported yesterday, was taken up and a.
dopted without amendment.
Many other resolutions were offered and re-
ferred.
favor of absolute free trade and direct taxation
One thousand copies were ordered to be print
ed.
After much desutory debate in favor of the
re-opening of the slave trade and the exclusion
of everything Northern from the South the Con-