Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1857-08-29
Proceedings Of the Southern
Commercial Convention.

ton, purely sectional affair, held
Knoxville on the 10Th, 18th and 14th Of
August. There have been held several OF
these sectional Conventions lately. II
should be remembered that nc northern
sectional convention has ever been held
A northern sectional convention would be
denounced everywhere by the democratic
press, while such a southern convention is
approved everywhere by the democracy,
or at least not condemned. It will be seen
that this Southern Convention resolves and
acts and puts on airs to all intonts and pur-
poses like Congress, and that they frame
the measures that are to be the future
democratic principles of the country.
Among the preliminary proceedings we
find the following action upon a resolution
to admit reporters:
Resolved That the members of the en-
tire press of all the States of this Union,
and of any other country, be admitted as
reporters Of the proceedings of this conven-
ton.
Mr.. McRae did not wish to shackle the
press: there was press in the South able
and ready TO defend her interests against
the attacks of northern abolition presses ;
and he was wiling to trust them to
present the truth to the country. The
cause of the South was righteous one,
and bound to triumph. He was as strong
a southern man as any one could be, but
if Greedy himself should come here, he
would be willing to allow him seat here,
from which he could send forth as abusive
editorials as he pleased.
Mr.. Cooke, of Tenn, endorsed the sen
tiInents of the gentlemen from Miss. He
was confident that nothing would be said
or done in this convention, which they need
be ashamed to hear reported in any of the
northern or southern papers. He was
willing to admit all the members Of
the press from Parson Brewnlow down to
Greeley. Laughter aud applause. And
if Greeley or bis reporters should make
any false statements about what was said
and done here, he was willing to trust to
BroWnlow to correct him.
Mr.. Yancy said it grated harshly upon
his ear to hear a delegate of the gallant
State Of Mississippi favor the extension of
ciyilities by the Southern Commercial
Convention to Black Republican editor
No one would invite Greeley, Bennett, or
lovely John Wentworth to psrtake of his
social hospit lities, and he was for apply
inc the same rule here. Southern mem
bers of Congress did not change the socia
bilities of southern life when they went to
Washington; they did not associate with
Black Republican editors and reporters
neither could he extend ciyilities to them
here. Reference has been made to Parson
Brownlow. He had known that gentle
man by reputation for many years, and
knew him to be true to the South and her
interests, and was willing to trust the de-
fence of her institutions to him, lie had
had the pleasure on Sunday last OF seeing
Parson Brownlow for the first time, and OF
hearing from him an unanswerable argu-
ment agaiS any association, political, or
otherwise, with the abolitionsts of the
North. Parson B. said that if he should
meet an abolitionist in Heaven, he would
be certain that be had tempered with the
door keeper, and cheated him in some way.
He was willing to serve under him as his
General. But if a man was not fit to go
to heaven. he considered him unworthy a
seat upon this floor. He was willing to
trust the President of the Convention IN
this matter, as he knew him to be true to
the South. But he did not desire to have
the convention extend this civihty to the
Black Republican papers. He had accept
ed the substitute of the gentleman from
Virginia, (Mr. MARTINI as a mere provision
and hoped it would be adopted.
Mr.. Brownlow, of Tenn, said that hav-
ipp been alluded to in this discussion by
name. he felt it incumbent upon him to
resnond in few words. He had not ey-
pected to say word while this convention
was in session. He was well known in the
community in which he lived to be very
modest and difiident man. Laughter
aud applause In rising to make a few
remarks, he was very sorry to be obliged
to differ in the least degree with any gen
tleman here. Indeed, he would say, that
he concurred with gentlemen upon both
sides of the question. He bad listened "a
the discussion upon the question of admit
ting reporters, with great deal OF inter,
est. He had no doubt that they were all
aiming at the same end, but were seeking
to accomplish it in different ways. He
was sorry to be obliged to say to his friend
from Georgia, (Mr. Yaney) that he was in
favor of the position assumed by the gen
tleman from Florida, (Nir McCalD last
evening, and the gentleman from Miss,
\ (Mr. McRae) this morning, and also by
other gentlemen here. He was in favor OF
admitting any and all reporters. Ii his
satanic majesty were to send q reporter
from the Internal regions, with red and in
famed eyes, and seorched whiskers, and
with the odor of birthstone about him, let
him be admitted. We, of the South,
4 frht -. .x,1 ,onxyars NJ