The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1858-04-14
From the Richmond South.
To the People ofthe Southern and
South western States.


we're appointed committee to address
'ou, IN anticipation of the Convention
which is'to be held'in Montgomery, in the
state OF Alabama, 'on the 10th day Of
Hay next.
The object of the address, as VIC under.
stand 1t, Is to remind you of the approach
ng session Of the Convention, and to urge
you to appoint delegates to it; and we
proceed now to perform that duty.
The motive which prompted the organ
'xation of a Southern Commercial Con
vention, was the desire to ascertain the
causes Of tho decline of the lereign CON-
merce Of the Southern States, and to de-
wise some plan for its revival and restora.
ton. The people of the Southern States
saw and felt the anomalous fact, that the
country which produces three ,ffths in
value of the exports Of the nation, had
not only lost its COMMERCIAL supremacy,
Bat had become, commercially, a depen-
dent upon and yet a tributary to that por
ton Of the country which produced much
the smallest portion Of those exports
This was not only an unnatural, but an
exhausting and depressing process, retar.
ding. necessarily, the growth and pros
perity Of the South, and it was natural to
desire, rs it was necessary to provide, a
remedy for it. This desire and necessity
suggested the idea Of assembling once in
every year, the people of the South, by
deputies, in a Convention, for the pur-
pose Of gathering information, from the
most reliable witnesses, as to the causes
OF the evil, with the hope Of obtaining
from tho wisest and most devoted sons Of
the South, the suggestion Of plan or sys.
tenn Of measures which SHOULD cerrect it.
We regret to say, that. thus far, our
hopes have not been realized, while the
predictions of our opponents have been to
some extent verified, although much good
has been accomplished. Our disappoin,.
ment has not been, however, the fault en-
tirely Of the Convention for although we
have been too much divided am ong our
selves as to the remedies proper to be
adopted, and thereby havo impaired our
efficiency. still much good has been done
and much more would have been accom-
plished, if we could have carried our sug-
Sestions into execution, without depen-
dence upon the will Of Congress and the
State Legislatures. The chief benefit,
therefore, which has resulted from the
sessions Of the Convention, has been the
increased knowledge Of and sympathy
for each other, with better understand
ing Of our wants, resulting from these an
nual assemblies. Southern men have
been made more extensively acquainted
with each other, aad through that &C.
quaintance have learned the cheering and
delightful TACT, that however We may diff
fer about men, about party politics, or
particular remedies among ourselves, there
is in the South but one heart, one mind
and one will for our traducers and assail-
ants and that when the time for a blow
at them shall arrive, If unhappily it ever
shall, all the energy, patriotism and cour
age OF united nation will be telt in that
blow, by those who sLall unhappily pro.
woke it-that, however we may differ a.
mong ourselves as to the means Of attack
or the mode Of defence, there is no differ
ence OF opinion as 10 the great conclusion
that the South must be defended, and all |
her rights protected-cost what it may.
This were cause and compensation enough |
Tor any trouble and expenee in holding
our assemblies. But rapidly occurring
events furnish additional and conclusive
Incentives to the continuance OF the work
which we have commemorative CONNER
cial independence ofthe South-by bring
ng more closely and distinctly to our
view the probability that we shall, at no
distant day, be compelled to assert our
political independence, which cannot be
sustained without commercial indepen
ience-with the means Of regulating and
our own commerce for, with
put that power, no nation Gao be free. il
he South is wise, then, and would be pro-
Vident, she will lose no time in providing
the best means, and all the means within
her power, to restore her own commerce
TO her own ports and people. For, whe,h-
er she IS to be permitted to remain in
the Dnion-enjoying in honorable peace
all her constitutional rights-or is to be
compelled, by continued and progressive
ASSAULTS upon her rights, her interests, and |
her feelings-tbe most unprecedented and |
aagitious which cupidiiy and ambition
ever prompted. TO assert her right TO with
draw from an association which no lon.
ger recognises the original compact as the
rule OF its government, or longer to yield
submission &c An oppressive and iDiauitous
majority, it is Of the highest importance
10 her, IL not Of absolute necessity, that
she should seriously and earnestly ad-
dress herself to the restoration of her for
eign commerce, and to the encourage
ment within ber limits, by her own means
Of the manufacture Of those articles which
Are necessary 10 her comfort.
The candid lover Of the union of the
States must be satisfied, as it seems to the
undersigned, that il not already abroga-
ted in spirit, by the deliberate violations
OF the compact, to the injury. and for the
injury OF the South. BY many OF The Nor
thern and Eastern States, there 10 not on
iy little ground TO hope for the preserva.
tion Of it, upon the basis and under the
of tha Cansiiiniion oflSa7