Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-09-15
A LOVER OF NATURE
CORRESPONDENCE.
KNOXVILLE CONTENTION


It is generally supposed that the suggestions, re-
concentrations and resolutions originating with and
endorsed by the Southern Commercial Convention,
will have decided bearing upon the opinions, ac-
lions and welfare of the Southern States: such
result is to be ardeny hoped for by the friends Of
said Convention, but the realization Of this, so much
to be wished for object, cannont and never will be
obtained until revolution Of our social system is
effected Our meetings L" in forma, and the parade
made, with the "gass expended by windy delegates
answers very well for newspaper comments, and
looks well enough in print, but alas the substance
Is not there, and rhergre this question is as easily
answered as asked Oar political men-our religious
men-our PbH1Hhropic men, ever ready to attend to
other peoples affairs and serve their dear coutrv
without te or re,cGr3 do not seem to comprehend
the peculiar aHiEns Of our people. As class they
abhor labor, and look upon zrork as only suited to
the negro, or the poor foregner-lke the Creoes Of
Cuba they consider gsutesL rsgpecrq57v. to consist
in idleness, and often in crime. They are brave,
liberal and generous, but hot headed imperous and
impatient; they are averse to putting their should
ers to the wheel, so long they can get any one to
push for them. They do not care to trouble them
selves with originating improvements so long they
can buy them, ready to be used. They are not de-
fcient in inventive mind but are 10th to exercise
their mental capabilities unless forced to II by cir
cumstances. The fault Of this whole system con-
sists in the manner Of rearing and educating our
sons and daughters-if they happen to have little
property, they fancy themselves somewhat better
shan their poorer neighbors. These people of dol
lars, form a class, which is most APPLY named BY
Brownlow, - the scrU5-arstocrocy;" thus we degrade
labor, by not giving socially to the honest and hard
working mechanic, that position, which he justly
merits. 1t Is my opinion that our entire social svs
TEN is calcuiatedto initiate against the true interests
ofthe South and to crnmp our free and independent
resources. We might use to our own advantage not
only our own capital, but make the larger portion of
the world tributary to US. Now by the great law
Of labor, we are fairly and justly entitled to the
Legitimate importance and influence, that our agri-
culture produces. We want manufactures: we re-
quire steamers and ships to take off directly our
surplus products. The question naturally arises,
and why not have them? There are mechanics.
artisans and engineers of intelligence, energy and
industry TO be found in all quarters of the world
resources, and aid in making US independent Of the
balance Of mankind, but they have to toll with their
own hand, and make their living by the sweat Of their
brow; they have no capital but their intelligence
aud industry, they hH0g and tsel they are worthy
sons of this great republic, and ofentimes more en-
titled to rank position and consideration than the
man in purple and fine linen. We do not sympa-
thize with this class-we do not care to enoble and
elevate labor forgetting that it is humanitys great
law and that it is for the general good. and adds
to the common stock Of the couveniences. comforts
and luxuries Of the human family. Why is not the
man who builds a ship, engine or manufactures any
article of use and convenience, as worthy Of mark
in society, as he who writes q book To promote
our commerce and manufactures we must have these
man, and they never will consent to make their abid-
ing places with us, long as they and their fam-
lies TO be treated as interiors. We should edu-
cate our own children in the industrial and mechani-
cal branches, and put down the present system of
crowdiug the legal and medical professions with an
idle and ignorant class who faint sud poison health
full society with their quackeries and disipatioa-a
burden to their friends anu curse to the commu-
nifty. A.