davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-12-11
THE PROPOSED SOUTHERN CONVENTION
NASHVILLE REFUSES TO COME INTO THE
ARRANGEMENTS.

1t is well known to most, if not all of our
readers, that rumors and preparations have been
in progress about holding Southern CONNER.
cial Convention in the city of Savannah, Geor-
gia. This Convention is called commercial, but,
as we believe, is intended to be so only in name.
The real object, as we suppose is to discuss that
time-honored subject, Southern rights and South.
ern grievances. 1t is to be general committee
of ways and means to devise how a new state
of things can be brought about.
Nashville, through her Common Council, has
deliberated upon the matter, and, after full dis.
cussion and examination, has voted the whole
thing hoax, by eleven to six. The journals
give as the reason for so doing, the general be-.
lief that it was to be nothing moro than seces-
sion Convention.
The St. Louis EDening Nescs notices the mat.
ter, and remarks that the recent sectional ex-
element which inAamed the country, the des-
perate efforts of the Secessioniss to prepare the
minds of the people for the awful contingency
of disruption of the Union, the mysterious
meetings and movements of restless politicians
OF the South, the whispers of treason In the very
wind, and the sly hints which certain of the
Secession journals have thrown out, all go to
prove that the subject of disunion will form the
warp and wool of the proceedings of the Savan-
nah Convention.
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-12-11
PROVE OURSELVES ABLE TO GO ALONE.

Prom the South Side (Va) Democrat
The lesson taught by the late contest will, of
course, not be lost on the Convention. The is.
sue of this contest tells story full of admoni.
ton, full of suggestion, brimful of future.
1t teaches that paper guarantees of protection
are, In themselves, poor and inadequate reli-
ance-that the South requires other muniments
to withstand the crusades of maddened and
lustful numbers, than those furnished by treaty
stipulations, and the ordinary obligations Of
honesty and good faith-thst her only safety
from the devouring talons of fanaticism is in
her union, in her resources-i1 herself
Since the States of the South signed the
great Treaty of Confederation, they have not
kept pace with their Northern allies in the growth
of their population. Essentially an agricultu-
raj people, they have chosen to look rather to
development of their destiny in this direction,
and to welordered social civilization, than
to the increase, to the herding and hiving up
of vast numbers, invariably the birth.basket of
lsms and social depravity. Starting on terms
of equality, for this reason the North has great
ly outstripped the South in the race for popula-
ton, and mas grown bloated, arrogant, and pre-
tentious. Tresding under foot the stipulations
of the Great Treaty, she has authoritatively an
nounced her policy to be one Of conquest and
subjugation. This is the English of the claim
she sets up, OF exclusive rghts In the Territories.
Were there no Territories, the pretension would
be developed in another shape. And this was
the practical issue of the campaign out of
which we have just emerged.
The Savannah Convention affords fine op-
portunity for beginning pretty broad founda-
ton in the way of Southern development. We
look to it for a sharp, dashing manifesto, filled
with healthful, practical Recommendations. We
want nothing impalpable, no refined and alb
struse stuff, about the rights of the States and
what not, as heretofore. But we want and ex-
pect bold, impressive, and progressive series
of tangible, living realities, for the Southern
mind to think and feed on. We want action
vital, DEMONSTRATING sction-such as will put the
South fairly on the track of her destiny.
And this is the way to keep the union of the
States together. The union of the South is 6
great practical movement for her growth and
development, for her commercial and manu-.
featuring liberation is the only way to bright
en- and renovate the links of the Confederacy,
now well nigh worn in twain by the corroding
tooth of Yankee aggression. We must have o
regeneration. We must evince our ability to
stand alone and to iodlk alone before we can
secure IMMUNITY from phrenzied fanaticism.
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-12-11
From the Alexandria Sentinel
THE SOUTHERN COMMERCIAL CONVENTION.

Ion," the Washington correspondent of the
Baltimore Sun, under the date of the 18th No
vember, says, sit is quite certain that the South
ern Commercial Convention, which is to be held
at Savannah on the 9th of December, will take
decided measures to sustain Gen. Walker, and
recommend his movement strongly to the sup
port OF the Democratic party and the Buchan.
an Democratic Administration. This Conven-
ton will thus endeaver to embody and enforce
Southern policy, and engraft it upon the policy
of the new Administration"
We have no means of determining the cor.
RICHNESS of the grounds upon which this usually
well-informed correspondent assumes to say
that the above constitutes any part or parcel of
the policy or spirit which will enter into the &C.
ton of the Southern Commercial Convention.
In the discussion of this question by the press
of the South, so far as we are posted, no sug-
gestion has been made which squints at the
identification of this body with the fortunes of
the Walker dynasty in Nicaragua, or which pro-
poses to engraft what is denominated the
" Southern policy" upon the policy of the new
Administration. 1t is not, as we understand it,
and as we believe the whole South, with the
exception of few whose imaginations manufac-
ture disunion out of the movement political
Convention. 1t is Convention which looks to
the commercial prosperity of the South-which.
by the adoption of well-considered, comprehen.
sive, and statesmanlike measures, seeks to de.
liver her from the present condition of CONNER.
csdl vassalage.
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-12-11
FOREIGN IMMIGRATION, DEATH TO sLA.
VERY.

From The Richmond VA Wing, Sept II. 1885,
We extrac! the following suggestive para
graphs from the Raleigh Register, accompa-
MED BY the comments thereon of the Lynck.
burg TIginian:
In the year 1890, and for several years
thereafter, the South had forty-seven members
OF the House Of Representatives, while the
North had only thirty-four. Since that time,
the North has, by means of foreign accession,
been steadily increasing its representation, and
left the South in a minority of more than half
hundred; and this huge majority will increase
continually, and we will become weaker and
weaker, year after year, unless we do some
thing for our safety. Let the fifteen States
that can be made of Nebraska, and the twelve
of Kansas, and the number that can be made
of Utah, Minnesota, Oregon, Washington, &C.,
apply for admission into the Union as States,
which they viii soon do, unless stop is put to
this immense Importation of foreigners, and
see IN what beautiful minority we will be.
Then ought not the South TO do its best to
remedy this great and growing evil? Ger
tainly; and the only way is to vote for Willard
Fillmore, who will carry out American princi-
pies, and, in soma degree, put a stop to immi-
grafton"
I'VE take the foregoing from the Raleiqh
Register. man need only refer to the Gen.
sus tables to satisfy himself of its truth. But
for immigration, the Southern States would not
only have maintained the preponderance in the
Union they held in 1880, but would have added
to IL for those tables show that in native increase
of Population the South has exceeded the North.
SHOULD Mr.. Buchanan be elected President.
it viii be regarded abroad as a declaration
against the Native American policy, and an in
vitstion TO fore gners to come among us and
participate IN our Government, an invitation of
which they will not be slow to avail themselves.
As matter of choice and of principle, they will
settle, nine to one, in the free States and Ter.
ritories. The immense regions lying west and
northwest of Us will ere long divide out into
States, and seek admission into the Union. I'm.
migration and Squstter Sovereignty will have
made them free States. Where will the South
be, when they are thrown into the scale against
her? Texas divided into four or Eve States
will furnish no ceunterpoise. Cuba would add
but another State. Should we acquire the
whole of Mexico, we have TIE highest 3mo-
cratic authority for belle ing that Squstter
Sovereignty would make i all free. Where is
the South to fnd relief and protection? No.
where, but in battling at the threshold and to
the hearth those powerful Democratic agents of
Free Soilism-Immigratio and Squatter Sow
ereignty. Unless they can be stifed and sub
dued, the South is lost, remedilessly and for
ever. Unless we conquer them, they will con-
quer US. Shall we not make one united and
manly effort nopF"
No man can reflect upon the subject thus
discussed, without being fully and completely
convinced that the radical modification, if not
the absolute and unconditional repeal, Of the
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-12-11

naturalization laws, is demanded by the best
ana highest interests of the South. Strange
indeed that men should wilfully shut their eyes
TO the patent and pressing fact that the South
ern section of the Union is fast becoming a
newer OF wood and drawer of water for the
North, IN consequence of the immense and con-
stantly increasing immigration which annually
flows to our shores from the effete and Anti.
Republican Governments of the old world. 1t
is a well-known and undisputed fact that, ninety
nine out of every hundred emigrants from Eu-
rope take up their residence in the Northern
States, become permanent citizens, and thus
add immeasurably to the political power of that
portion of the Union. Scarcely single State
In the great Northwest, but has been settled
and built up almost exclusively by smigrants
from abroad. For several consecutive years,
the number of foreigners annually reaching
this country amounted to FIVE hundred thou.
Sandwich is equivalent to an addition of
.foe members of Congress per year to the
North, and an addition of fifty members in the
continues to be flooded at this rate with a
foreign population, how is it to be expected
that the South can compete with the North in
the race for political power? As remarked in
one of the quotations above, "but for immigra-
ton, the Southern States would not only have
maintained the preponderance in the Union
they held in 1890, but would have added to it;
for the census tables show that in natipe in
crease of population the South has exceeded the
North" From being far in advance of the
North in political weight and importance, We
have, by means of immigration alone, dwindled
down and down, until we are now completely
at the mercy of our Northern enemies. And
yet men here at the South, pretending to love
Of the South and pretending to sagacity and
craftsmanship, resist any and all attempts to
remedy the vast and growing evil, which is
daily shearing Us of our strength, and eating
into our very vitals.
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-12-11
THE NATIONAL ERA: WASHINGTON D. C, DECEMBER H. 1856

All we can say on the subject is this: The
Convention has never yet lent its influence to
the furtherance of schemes of disunion, but has
uniformly frowned down every movement that
looked to such a result as its object. Secondly,
the views and purposes of the approaching meet
ing are fully set forth in the address of the
committee, and, aside from the known character
and sentiments of the men who compose that
committee, the document does not contain one
sentence that can possibly be distorted into
such Interpretation. Its objects, as therein set
forth, are purely industrial, seeking for the
South-as every wise man would seek in his
own private afairs-an independence, not DO
htical, but that which results from the ability
to supply her wants out of her own created en-
ergies, and without dependence upon others.
This is the true principle of economy, both in
dividual and political.
If the Convention about to assemble in this
city has any views different from those we have
stated, the fact has not yet come to our knowl-
edge, nor have we any reason to suspect that it
has. We trust no man will come to Savannah
with such an intention in his heart. This is
not the ground on which plots can be matured
for the overthrow of the Union. We shall at
tend the meetings of the Convention, and, should
such purpose be developed on the part of one
of its members, for one, we shall not hesitate
to hold up both the traitor and his treason to
the public Reproduction.
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-12-11
OBIT q AR Y.

DIED, on the evening of the 18th ult, at the
residence of her father, in Lewisberry, York
county, Penn, CARoLNE E., daughter of DR..
Robert and Elizabeth Nebinger, aged l9 years
and III months.
On the morning of the 18th ult., our beloved
friend was attacked by a violent fever, which
lasted during the day and part of the night; but,
on the following morning, she was able to sit up
and walk about while. After doing so, her
father induced her to lie down to rest and, on
being visited shortly afterwards, she was found
suffering from a serious relapse, accompanied
by delirium. She continued in this state until 8
o'clock on Thursday morning, when she re-
turned to consciousness, and addressed few
words to her mother. She spoke no more after
this time, but remained perfectly sensible
showing by signs that she understood all that
was addressed to her until o'clock in the
evening, when "the silver cord was loosened,"
and the freed spirit departed. Her end was
calm and peaceful as the setting of the sun on
q cloudless summer eve.
A few bright summers have glided away
since she came among US, winning all by her
innocence, gentleness, unaffected goodness, and
rare purity of character; but the more perfect
light and love of happier existence were
be bursting in such beauty here, and the Angel
of Death hath borne it thither.
Hers was the high and holy aim "to fulfil
her duty" and nobly has she done it. Every
act of her life was living melody, in harmony
with the grand anthem which all Nature sends
up to its Author. To her parents and family
she was full of love and devotion-sympathi-
zing with and seeking to tighten every burden
and sorrow, and contributing in all things to
their comfort and happiness; while to her
friends-and among all who knew her, there
were none other-she was endesred by her sweet
and engaging disposition, deep and unsel6sh
affection, truth, and fidelity. Her virtues and
intelligence rendered her treasure as we'll as
an ornament to society; and while there is a
chord in the hearts of those who have known
her, that responds in reverence for the good,
pure, and beautiful, Memory will not fail to
bring tribute to the worth of the soul which
has thus passed to rest Il.
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-12-11
REPORT OF THE POSTMASTER GENERA

The Postmaster Generals report shows the
number of post Offices, June Both, 1856, to
have been 1865, being an increase of A 664
in four years. =
On the 30th of June, there were in opera ion
nearly 5000 mail routes, the length of Whit b is
estimated at z39, 642 miles, costing $6,35O. TIA.
divided as follows 20,323 miles Of rair ,ad.
1881 steamboat, 0,453 canal lines, and hear.
ly 1884, 900 miles Of inferior grades. Th, in
crease during the last fiscal year was nc .rly
10000 miles Of railroad, 1872 miles of at, am.
boat, l,25O miles of canal lines, and 300 rifles
OF inferior grades. In Nebraska and Kai sas,
2,239 miles were added to the length Of ROY 3tes
Between the first of July, 1852, and JULY l.
1856, the railroad service was increased lGlYf
miles, exhibiting the fact, that within that me.
this description of service was more han
doubled. On the LIST of December, 1856, the
length of railroad routes had increased to 81 3IO
miles, and the total cost for this service at That
date amounted to S2,403,747. The whole cost
OF the nland'service, on the LIST of July, sw.s
$6,526,O2S.
The Secretary alludes to the Panama >ssail.
road Company seizing on the occasion OF the
withdrawal of the steamers via Nicaragua to
force the Department to pay what he cons ders
an exorbitant price across the IsthSus and
he recommends the making of a regular CON
tract, not exceeding $4,000 per annum, with
that company, and a contract not excet ding
100000 per annum via Nicaragua or l'ehu-
antepec, so as to give weekly mail bet seen
the Atlantic ports and California.
The expenditures for the year 1856 we're
$40, l05, 286; and the gross revenue, inol, ding
annual appropriations for free mail m tier,
$500, 82l, showing deficiency of 81, 1s1 900.
He recommends the abolition of the frarking
privilege, and the compulsory pre-payme it of
all transient printed matter. Also, the rspeal
of the act of l845, which gives the Postm hster
General discretionary authority to make new
contracts for ocean steamship service
He alludes to the fact that, embraoinl,. the
branch from New Orleans to Havana, here
are now four ocean steamship lines running
out of New York. at an expense to the Gov.
eminent of 81 ,498, 900 per annum. No rvSsoa
is perceived why one part of the country ,ould
b. P-~E---~1y o A. ~--l: - c IL -
other points, it is stated that negotiation are
in progress with a view to the reduction If the
British transit charge on United States losed
mails, and of the rate of postage betwee the
United States and Great Britain to IL c, ats a
single letter or more.
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-12-11
ANOTHER PR0JECT-NAvAL MILITIA-H0w
TO GET UP STEAM LINES IN THE SOUTH.

From the South Side Wal Democrat buchanan paper)
That Congress has the power to increase
the navy to an indefinite extent, no one will
deny; and that there is an urgent necessity for
providing some effective naval reliance, in case
of war, will also be as readily admitted. Then,
what is more proper and constitutional than
for Congress to construct some thirty or fifty
steam frigates, with the double capacity of sub
serving both the purposes of commerce and
war, to be divided equally between the North
and the South, and loaned out to those States
from the ports of which it shall be deemed ex-
pedient for them to sail? Let these vessels be
constructed by authority of Congress, and paid
for exclusively out of the Federal Treasury,
their title and ownership vesting as exclusively
in tho Federal Government Let the ports,
North and South, from which they are to sail,
be designated in the bill authorizing their con-
struction. Let them be loaned to the States in
which those ports are situated, condition an
nexed to the loan requiring their prompt de-
livery whenever any national exigency might
call for it. Let the States assume their excu-
sive management, and officer and man them.
Let the profits resulting from their traffic, after
he discharge of all their running expenses, be
paid into the Federal Treasury. Let them be
built by contract under superintendence of
Government officers, and the condition of their
acceptance be their capacity for immediate
into war purposes.
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-12-11
From the Richmond (Va) Enquirer.
THE SOUTH RISING IN ITS NATURAL COM
MERCIAL IMPORTANCE.

The pamphlet "letter" of Col. A. Dudley
Mann to the "Citizens of the Slaveholding
States" dated London, August II, 1856, in re-
lation to Leviathan Iron Steamship Ferry
Line OF vessels Of $4,000 tons, is attracting
more and more attention on both sides of the
Atlantic. Col. Mann passed through here last
Friday, on his way to Knoxville and Savannah.
snd we had heightened conversation with
him upon the subject of his gigantic enterprise.
1t is a remarkable fact, that the only waters
of Western Europe and the United States, which
are perfectly land-locked, and which will admit
of the entrance Of vessels drawing thirty feet
water, are Milford Haven and the Chesapeake
Bay. Those ports are separated by q space of
3, $50 miles. line of steamers running di.
rectly between them would encounter no coast,
no icebergs, no fogs, (none such, at least, as
are frequent upon the American Northern
coast and the coast of Ireland and Wales.)
The size of the proposed steamers precludes
the possibility of selecting other terminal points
than those designated. They are to measure
thirty thousand tons be, probably, fire.
proof and sea-proof-to be from seven hundred
to a thousand feet in length, from eighty to one
hundred feet wide, from sixty to sixty-fve feet
deep-to carry thirty thousand bales of cotton,
with four thousand psssengers-snd with suf-
hcient capacity to cross the Atlantic in seven
days or less.
The primary object contemplated by Colonel
Mann is, to effect complete revolution in the
trade of the world. He is confident in the be-
lief that the traffic of Europe with the far East
is, through such agency as he is engaged in
establishing, to cross over this continent, and
to thus make all the railroads in the Southern
States earn dividends, and develop resources in
their various connections, which never entered
into the imagination Of any of their projectors.
The enterprise of Col. Mann is exclusively
american, and he is anxious to enlist every
Southern citizen in its support, so that each
may have an interest in its eminent success,
and enjoy pleasure in the little less than mar
wells which it is to accomplish. 1t is not i'm
possible that by such communication the travel
between Melbourne and London will be per.
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-12-11

purpose. These were increased from time 10
time until they reached the sum of $50 o.
when they remained nearly stationary for SCI e.
raj years. :
" In 1854 the appropriation was increas I'd
to S35, 900, and made payable out of the q, n.
eral treasury, and the appropriation for the
present year has been swelled to the sum of
$lO5,000. The objects embraced in this Sp.
preparation are declared to be 'the collectioIof
agricultural statistics, Investigations for rso.
noting agriculture and rural economy, and II he
procurement and distribution of cuttings snd
seeds
I'm pursuance of the design of Conprt Is.
measures have been taken to procure cuttiI rs
and seeds from every quarter of the VIC I'D
where any new product can be found which is
likely to prove useful in any portion of sae
United States. Many new productions of or lat
probable utility have thus been already in.
troduced, and other ones being sought Tor
wherever there is any prospect of succtss.
Among other things, vessel has Just been s.snt
to South America to procure fresh supply. of
cuttings OF the sugar cane, to furnish our So,.th-
ern planters with fresh stock to supply he
place of that which is supposed to have bece ne
deteriorated by being transferred to . so ,e-
what incongenial climate.
The benefits resulting from the apron ia.
tons already made have doubtless been far
more than to justify the expenditures incur sd.
Unless there be some objections of polit cal
character, the system is believed to be foun led
in wisdom. If the appropriations can be i d.
clously applied, and restrained within pre Der
limits, they will prove eminently beneficial, md
their continuance will be clearly expedi ut,
unless there are counterbslancing reas ms,
resulting from doubts as to the prophet, of
such undertaking by the Federal Governme it,"
The regular annual report of the Commiss on,
81 OF PATENTS will be made up to the 3ls of
December, according to the regulations of hat
important branch of the public service.