Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1857-08-21

KNOXVILLE CoNvENTIoN.--We have looked care
fully over the proceedings of the three first days
The first was mostly occupied in organizing. On
the second the business committees from the different
States were appointed. The following from North
Carolina A. S. Merryman, T. w. Murrell, D.
Christy.
Some discussion and wranglng were had over
question OF admitting Editors and Reporters; but
finally the Convention decided that all might come
and report if they chose. None would be invited and
none excluded.
Mr.. Merryman of North Carolina, introduced re-.
solutions favcrng the erection of Southern Agri.
cultural, Manufacturing, Commercial and Education.
al Association, TO have branches in all the Southern
States said branches to be incorporated by the Stale
Legislatures employ lecturers, etc. Rather loosely
compaced affair, we fear.
Mr.. Churchwell of Tennessee, introduced reso-
luton providing for committee of five from each
State, TO solicit subscriptions, etc. for the building
line of Steamers on Mr. A. Dudley Mann's plan
Mr. Churchwell made speech in favour OF his reso.
lutions.
Hon. w. w. Boyce of South Carolina, introduced
resolution faVouring free trade and direct taxation
Referred TO committee on business.
is called by some, offered resolutions in favour of
TEL ritoriaI government for Arzona, Southern Paci
fc Railroad, the establishment of Fort the Paci
c, ETC., etc. Much of this appears TO us to be totally
outside of the jurisdiction of Commercial Conven.
ton.
Mr.. Pryor of the Richmond South" introduced
the following resolution.
RESOLVED, That it be recommended to the Legis-
latues of all the slaveholding States 10 exempt from
liability for debt, one or more slaves in the hands
OF each STAKEHOLDER, after the passage OF such act.
This strikes being matter requiring much
consideration. The policy of the saveholdDg States
is evidently TO promote the diffusion of slave proper
ty among the people generally. rather than it's
centration in the hands of few. It requires no
argument to show that the institution is much more
strengthened by twenty slaves owned By ten per-
sons, than by hundred owned by one person; but
the great difficulty is the liability of all such special
exemptions 10 abuse. A might make debt 10 B,
perfectly good, and then change his property into
one or two negroes as the mil ht be, and the
creditor have redress 1t would be hard to frame
a law guard against fra nd, without, at the
time, imposing undue letters upon the change or
transfer of property.
Resolutions in favour of making naval stations at
Mobile, Alabama, Port Royal, South Carolina and
Beaufort North Carolina, were adopted. Also in
favour of the repeal of the laws allowing bountes to
the fishermen on the Northeastern shores.
On the third day, the fore Don cession was r"ainly
occupied with discussion having reference 10 the
revival of the African Stave.trade The sense of the
Convention, appeared from the remarks made, was
evidently opposed to the revival, in the event
of the dissolution of the Union and the formation of
Southern confederacy The same sense was evi.
IDENTIFY in favour of the abrogaton of the treaty of
1912, by which the United States binds herself to
keep squadron of 80 guns the Coast of Africa for
the prevention of that trade.
The question of free trade and direct taxation was
before the Convention at the close of the third day.