Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-10-24
gouTaRGE CONVENTION AZ SAVANNA"

TO TIE PeOPLE OF TIE sLAVEHOLp DINO - '''
FELLOW. CITIZENS The Southern CohV eI''o oI
which was held in February last at R'cbmoh ~ IN
uurned over by resolution to meet at the e. y -
v.nnah on the second Monday, the OH o' Oeo'
next. ,r,yeutior
was Que nominating committee, to whom a. ,ha
red all the resolutions which had been adopteu " 'rJ
srnse of the body, with instructions to P!ePo'S
publish all address to the people Of the Southern
developing and expressing more fully lis ,,ast.s
inviting general and larger attendance oil -
At the adjourned session. The committee
l. ID b. DeB0w, of Louisiana; Tcnch lilgnina"L. "; y.
Msrvlaud Robert Ould, of the District OF Colu'noa.
James Lyons, K. X. Meade, j. Il. AnderSon, m' o.
Myers, +. Deane. Of Virginia. aud J. H. u'ooon u
North Carolina. a-st n
Naarly quarter OF century s-a II began nrst "
manifest itself to the Southern States thar, ao,h
thew embraced in proportion TO population tue
lest producing region in the world they we're eoh.'
ting directly or indirectly of its proceeds 10 the az
grandizement and commercial opulence na'i,y ~
other sect ions of the Union, notwithstanding eaGa5
confederation Of propriety and patriotism aetin y.
that these elements of wealth should be retainer at
home. -Four ftths ofthe commerce Of the na''ol ORC
| made I'd from the products of Southern il'uusuy
Our commerce with Great Britain alone CONSTITUTES
the half of what has given to her the cOmmerc.a con
| troll Of the world Her great economist, McCunoGu
said long ago: 1.-THE cotton manufacture 'oiris :ne
princpe business carried OH in this country
an advantageous field for the accumulation ana ell
ploymeut of millions and millions of caPltai anu
sands upon thousands Of workmen. 1t gives US
10 susain burdens that would have crushed our atn
era and could not he supported by any other people
| The conventions which were held at Macon ana
Augusta, Georgia, and at Charleston, South Caro,lua
in iX,S-'3g representing several States, aud enpia
ciny among their members the abest most distih-
ruisbed and patriotic OF citizens. constituted tue
| earliest embodiment Of this sentiment ana lhese
conventions have been succeeded by others OF equai
responsibility, and even wider Influence, ad)oulnns
| ,1ann md
from every State of the South, appointed IN prma
| nv assemblies, by municipal government or by
executive authority. The records OF these assemblies
at Memphis in ls45, 1919; Baltimore, 1852 Ne"
Orleans, ISL, 1854 Charleston, 1853; and Rch'
mond, IS5G-have long since been given to the pub
lic and are marked by ability and patriotism seldom
if ever surpassed in this or any other country.
II is impossible to resist the evidence that these
Originating at fret in purely economical
| considerations, however afterwards stimulated and
deriving renewed activity from the insoent and az
gressivo spirit exhibited at times by the free States,
sufficient in other countries to have led to open hos
tilities and which has threatened and only been ar
rested upon the Threshold Of disruption Of the
Federal Union isef-haye contributed largely to
consolidation of Southern sentiment, to better UNI
derstanding of our condition aud necessities, and
have also been felt in that general development now
everywhere manifssting itself at The South, extending
our railroads, enlarging and dlyersltyng our CON-
MERGE aud manufactures and developing our agrcul-
turs inviting and concentrating population, and lead.
ng to new combinations aud TO higher and still higher
hopes.
It WIS declared at Richmond that The objects of the
Convention were ITO secure to the Southern States
the utmost amount Of prosperity rs an integral part of
the Federal Union, or to enable them to maintain
their rights and institutions in any event., aud that
matters all gernHne which related to the devel
Opment of our soil, the enlargement Of our internal
Improvement system, our domestic trade and direct
foreign commerce. mines, manufactures, and tho arts,
the social system and institutions Of the South,
schools, colleges, and the press. 1t will properly be
the duty Of the committee, therefore, ~ make few
brief references to each of these heads.
I. AGRIcuLTuRE.-What are the means Of incrcas.
ing the agricultural wealth OF the South and of bring
ing home to the farmer and the planter from their
fields. the largest results and the greatest prosperity,
and Of promoting the best condition Of their opera
tvesI
H. INTERNAL IapRovEMEsrs.-Ho shall tho lines
of communication among US and between US be
tended as to admit Of the most economical dstribu-
ton of product from section 10 seciion, with the ut
most facility of all irnpor
tant in cementing the bonds OF Southern union and
in making us, Ms indeed ought to be, in inter-
est and in sentiment Thus and ihus only, shall
there be distributed at home those considerable
amounts which annually swell the aggregate Of North
ern travel, for business or for pleasure.
Ill. Domestic AND FOREIGN TRADE.-Shall a
portion of the results dervRble from these be shared
at home, or be- left as they now generously are TO be
enjoyed wholly by others! Is not the Southern trader
thngs being equal or nearly 80, To preference over
his Northern competorl Ia it too late 10 learn the
lesson that commerce is az honorable "a agriculture,
and that is dishonorabe to purchase the wares
and commodities Of al abolitionst knowing him 10 be
SUCH as it would be to give aid aud countenance TO
the enemy during the pressure of actual war; In
Intercourse with the North it at least becomes 80 tn
systematze traffic that it shall be with those only
who not in open and acknowledged hostility to
rights and institutions. Can there not be profit
all M rgtH trud frum herr %
continent OF Europe, and Are not the timer rife Tor
-uch movement May not the shipping interests Of
the South be augmented, aud that contamination be
early reached which all OF Us have much AT heart
and now believe to be practicabls-a line Of steam
ships from our ports to Europel
| ". MINES, MAHUFACruREs AsD THE ARrs-The
mineral resources and manufacturing facilities of the
| South stand without rival The manufacturer must
bs in constant communication with the Agricultural
perish in The oicompetition. Side by sdo they
wax stronger and mutually add to each othera deve.
| opmept. In quarter of century has been seen to
grow up the colossal manufacturing system of the
North. 1t was thought earlier than this that com.
merce and commercial empire wers alone the destiny
| al that Furnishing section. In another quarter Of Il
century, if the South but do her Duty like error
shall be corrected by her in manner no less striking
| and remarkable.
| " SOCIAL System AND INSTITUTIONS THE
SoUTH.-Is it our purpose that these shall remain IN
tact amid the disorganzations which threaten other
society This system and these institutions nave
ever been and those Of ancestors, including
| the very founders of the Republic. .'y have given
US all OF opuence that is enjoyed They have raised
us TO ten millions of freemen and enabled us to oring
under Christian influences four millions OF hsppy,
well protected and conented laborers, descendants OF
barbarans, thrown upon our shores by the hahda Oh
| Providence, making use Instruments OF Northern
ships and Northern cupidity. Have they taken away
from our capacities legislators in peace or our va
or and patriotism in war Is the principle OF hoor'
of integrity Of manly courage the instinct which im-
IL. 81 IS
or the chastisement of nsoencs Are the social ana
domestic virtues and Christian charities to be found
existing hers in unhappy contrast with the System
aud institutions of those who claim the privilege oil
reforming our manners and of making US altogether
as they are themselves Domestic quiet and rep"se
are invited to give way to agrsrlanlsm socialism, sp
ri:ualism, and all of the other infinitely dVerSneG
isns which aglate and keep in continued turlnoIl
what is called, by abuse OF terms, Tree society
Reforms there may be-improrements; time ana eA'
perienco develop these in the machinery OF all socie
ties. Should such at any time be necessary al 'he
South it is ours and Ours only, in assemblies ana con
venuns, to discuss and pronounce upon Them ind'g
nany repelling the impudent lnterferences OF ou
neghbors
vi. EDUcArIoS.-With institutions Of learning
like those that have been long established and nov
flourish in the States of Maryland, Virginia Nortf
and South Carolina, Georgia. Alabama and mlsssslp
pi, must the youth of the South be longer doomed
exile in uncougenial cmes, whore the most sacret
associations OF their homes denounced us those
the savage and the barbarian, the heritage OF gull
and CT inc, and where grave and reverend professor
and clergymen leave the pulpit and the desk to sgl
and circulate incendary political addresses, substltu
ting rifles for Euclid or the Bible, and finding III Kan
sas fields more classic and consecrated than were eve
before furnished to them by Attica or Palestine J.
, Shall not our State Legislatures, acting in concert
provide for an increased number Of home institution
extending at the time the sphere of those alren
+ dy existing With larger proportion OF thorough
educated men than is 10 be found beyond our Limits
, will we build up and encourage home literature an
foster and encourage home publication houses Tn
time for action is nop. 1t will be well, at least, I
look to our school-books Can the making OF the'
be entrusted exclusively TO those who by ln.tin
an occasional heresy, dangerous TO our rtpose, INT
CINE that they at the same time God and Man
! | mon-their cOnsciences and their pockets !! Ih