The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-07-09

TsE SOUTHERN CONVENTION We publish else
where the call for the usual Southern Convention
which il To meet in session at Knoxville. Ten
nessee, on the 10th Of August next The call is
signed by five persons, Of whom Mr.. J. ID. b. DE
Bow, the we'll known statistician, Is the head: il
is addressed only TO the people Of the slavehold
ing States The objects Of the Convention, which,
il must be confessed, are only vaguely fore
Swallowed in the call, are to spread far aud
wide, correct enlarged, and faithful views of our
rights and obligations TO unite us together by
sacrcd bonds" and generally, to promote the
advancement and security Of the South"
Well, we hope our Southern friends will have
a good time at Knoxville, and in the virgin
country" which the circular informs us sur
rounds that Toncssoan Paradise. We trust they
viii make pleasant acquaintance, and have en-
joyablc rides, and give a ball or two, and be the
means Of bringing together some lovely girls and
stout well.todo young fellows in want Of wives.
For II their trip TO Knoxville le not followed bya
reward Of this character, we fear Il viii be alto
geiher ffuiilcts and The time and money Of the
'cNcuIsionists will he thrown away.
Conventions, and mere trashy, milk and
waiery affair We do not know where to
find. The speeches are mere froth !; the
schemes utterly unieasible the burden Of
The members song the Fame old nonsense about
the North, Of which every rational Southerner
was long since tick. Never from the first propo-
sal for q Southern Convention 10 the call which
win lie found in another column has any one good
thing come out Of the practice Of holding them
But, We shall be told BY Mr.. DE Bow and his
friends, the South has wants, the South has ne
cesstics; why should shc no; take counsel among
her children about these.
The thing Is this, Mr.. dc Bow: the real needs
Of the South are not the needs which answer for
the use of political conventions, or for which po-
li,icsl conventions can offer q cure. The South
needs industry, agriculture, and rational mercan-
tile aud industrial enterprise: il does not need
speeches, OF buncombe or trash about dsuuion in
or out Of print or fraternh embraces between
political pckpockets. This latter class Of com
moditics arc Of no manner Of use to any Southern
State, though the supply Of them is large in all.
But intelligent and improved systems Of agricul-
ture; sagacious employment Of capital 10 indus
try; prudent and at the came time enterprising
, mercantile Development; arc really much wanted
at the South, and il would be blessing for all
the Southern States if they could be encouraged
and fostcrcd. That, unfortunately, is thing
which political conventions cannot do; while such
gatherings undoubtedly tend to estrange North
and South they have never suggested one single
practical method by which either The industry or
the agriculture or the commerce or the cduca-
tional systems Of the South could be improved.
Nor indeed is il odd that they have not Such
improvements are invariably the work Of indiyi-
dusls, and the growth of time. Combined intel.
lpenccs. in the form Of conventions, are either
mere rcgistres Of the will u IA individual, or
srrsnt hu1dugs.
! ne south. We rink, will do better to compete