The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1857-09-04
The Southern Commercial Convention.

The Southern Commercial Convention.
A late number of the Charleston Courier
contains q we'll considered and timely reply to
certain clnss of Southern journals, who have
been recently amusing themselves by abusing
the Commercial Convention, and indulging in
antlcipations of evil from the late meeting at
Knoxville. The effect Of such conduct, to sav
the least of it, the Courier remarks, is to
afford "nid and comfort" to the enemy by ta.
king part with those who dcride every scheme
for the promotion of Southern interests, and
pour contempt and contumely upon our insti.
tons.
In answer to the objection, that the Conven-
ton has failed to accomplish any of the schemes
which it has laid before the. attention Of the
South, the Courier remarks:
We think that too much has been cxpccted -,
these Conventions, and that, in the extrr .
gance of the anticipation, what is really with.
their power to accomplish is apt to be over
looked. 1t strikes as rather unreasonable
to require few hundred gentlemen at once to
put down the dollars for the realization of the
schemes which they point for the good of the
South-whose accomplishment everybody can
see would be for the good of the South, but
which will require both time and money IN
carry into practical operation. For instance,
one OF The objects which have been looked to
by the Southern Commercial Convention, and
Tor which many schemes Of one kind and an
other have been proposed, is to transfer the:
centre OF commerce from the North to the
South,-from New York to Charleston. or some
other Southern port. Nobody doubts that .hi;
would be very much for Southern prosperitv
ana certain journals seem to talk as though tie
Convention had but to put forth an exerci.e Of
tne VIII; and the transfer would be made at
once. But unfortunately changes in the course
OF the great cha nnels of commerce are not eff.
tected in day, or a month, or wear. It ia
rather work OF centuries. All the Conven.
uoh can DO Is to point out the opportunities and
means as they occurred, whereby the desired
resS't a can be gradually and ultimately attained
from the meetings of this body, is that thew
should bring to the attention Of capitalists such
schemes, Of the progress and prosperity of the
south, as may be practically illustrated a. that
time when patriotism does not demand too
great sacrifce-of interest.
There Is only one consideration, however.
that we just now care to urge. in favor of this
convention. The South 10 not yet emancipated
from foreign thought The North as the centre
Fof commerce is the centre of literature.
It furnishes us the greater part Of wAss
ve read, and to great extent therSf0fS
aattering to our ssifrespeot, bSt It /. neverths.
We accepted from Engiand the institution Of
African sfavery. but with the protest that it
was an injustice and wrong. Mr.. Wilber-
force and the French Revolution said it was an
injustice and wrong Of the most intensified
description; and the doctrines Of Mr.. Wilber-
force and the Fronch Reyolution were those
that were in fashion during the earlier history
Of the country. "The world" said that Africa,,
slavery was so and 80. and the South generally
believed it. Mr.. Jefferson inserted . protest
against it in his draft Of the Declaration OF In.
dependence Washington gave bis slaves their
freedom :" Southern men were Presidsnts Of
colonization societies, and Virginia ives Only
restrained by the reusonstransS and ioSs Of
Professor Dew from the folly and disaster of q
general sunsneipation. When the matssr Assne
% Be disslaeda ahowever, twas seer, that ..sH1
MoTld" wss wrong and the South ,ppsetiS6
right The inst 1tion nj VIM lcated q G. Il
and jusk 90 long q hdnsAnis it humanity III
IN esssatiAi' eoildiae 0gfa liable form Of q
and specially nd 70 the ooissie
g.ystnrisnA This 6yictioa of 49,,
Ins. nsss s..n;ssse "a 3 3 ths rAetisetf