Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-05-28
THE SOUTH" AND THE MERCURY" On
THE MONTGOMERY CONVENTION.

terday, publishes most just and correct view Of the
late Montgomery Convention. If the views Of "'rhe
South" be correct it represented no interest," it spoke
no sentiment, entertained by the Southern States it
was an irresponsible conclave of "unproftable ser.
wants" who "have done that which they ought not to
have done, and left uudons that which they ought to
have DONE" If "The South" be correct, it is mat.
ter of no Importance whether that Convention were
for or against the Kansas adjustment or any other
question Of public policy the reports and resolutions
of such body as that described by our neighbor Of
"1he South" are entitled to no consideration and at
the hands of an intelligent people they will receive
the contempt such body merits.
1.-THE South" gays: "The restless politician the
briefess barriser the doctor without patients, edi
tors in quest of subscribers, and individuals astride
Of hobbies-these were the sort of persons who d-
rected the deliberations Of the recent Southern Com.
mercsl Convention
A Convention whose deliberations were "direct-
ed" by such tstterdemaou eet, is no fit body to
represent the great Southern communities upon any
question whatever. A great field was open before
that Conventions the regulation Of the commercial in
terest OF the greatest people the globe, had been
assumed by this rapscalion crew. and the public is dis
gusted alike with the Convention and lis work.
The charleston Mercury" we think mistakes the
results OF these Conventions, when says zone great
end already obtained by these Conuentions is kaOm-
ledge of the fact that nothing be done in The present
Union 10 alter or change course of Commerce" a"
We think the facts show that the Mercury ought to
have substituted for the words "R the present Union"
the words "by such Conventions" Much can and
will be done "in the present Union to alter the
Of commerce"-but nothing will ever be done By
Conventions discussing subjects that tend to ALLEVIATE
one portion Of the South from another, and distract
and divide ts councils.
The Mercury" in speaking of these Conventions,
entertans different, but we think not 90 just q
view, Of these assemblages as the South The
Mercury says: "AbLe men are brought together
to consider and discuss the disabllie. under which
the Southern people lie, and the best Instrumental
ties for removing them" THE South" while I'D
mitng there were present "msny gentlemen Of aolid
reputation and weight of character" considered the
"dehJerations" of the Convention ss not "direced"
by the "psnter" and merchant" and "successful
lawyer" but "that the majority Of delegates in the
Convention at Montgomery were, not the sort OF men
whom the people Of the South would have selected
to deternnne the policy of revivug the slave trade
or to pronounce upon the e1pediency Of immediate
dissolution of the Union.''
The editorials of the Mercury" ahoud change
their "sombre character: it has looked long upon
the dark eide Of tho picture Of Southern aGars, that
none brt sad and lugubrious descriptions are ever
given by our Charleston contemporary of Southern
enterprise and Southern happiness. Let him reverse
the picture for while let him 20 out among happy
and contented people, enjoying the thousand blessings
showered upon tbeE. by the Kind Ruler Of human af
fairs and ask them whether, for all the negroes the
King Of Dahomey could send them, they would des
troy our great and glorious Union, the handy work
Of the Great Original. voice Of indignant refuss
would sstonish all advocates Of the "Slsve Trade
or dsunon. With all this froth and fustian, there
is wide spread and deep devotion to the
American Union, in the hearts Of the people, in every
section This devotion can never be destroyed TO
foster the "Slave Trade"-a destruction of materia
rights, denial of Institutional equality some overt
act of sectional tyranny the part of the Northern peo
ple can alone destroy the devotion to the Unionaught
at the mothers knee, and fostered and encouraged
and increased by the experience Of each succeeding
year to manhood and old age.