Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1858-05-20
THE COMMERCIAL CONVENTION.

We promised, last week, 10 compile an ACCOUNT
of the proceedings of this body, which has been
holding the annual sessions in Montgomery, Ala
bama. Our columns are too much occupied, how.
ever, for IN extended report; and we do not re-
greet that our readers are spared the i%nfiction.
Instead of endeavoring honestly to carry out the
purposes for which it processes to be holden, the
Convention has been engaged exclusively with
long winded political speeches, on topics which
are directly adverse to the desired end-s union
of Southern sentiment in behalf Of Southern in
terest. 1t seems to have been made the occasion
of congregating an almost uumitigated mass OF
sfre-eaters," who have made the affair hideous by
disgorging fre-brands of discord to divide and
perplex Southern ~counsels. We are well-nigh
disgusted with the Convention and its insane pro-
ceediugs, and dismiss the subject with the fol-
lowing timely extract from the editorial columns
of the Carolinian. In a mild temper which we
would wish to emulate, the editor says:
We are very much afraid that the range which
debates have taken in the Montgomery Convention
will have the opposite effect from that at first
desired. The intelligence we receive from differ
ent sources, lead US to believe that the Convention
has been composed mostly Of men Of Incorporate
impulses, and, as will be the case in such meet
ing, he was thought the most reliable who could
be the most vehement. These Conventions were
instituted for the purpose of hsrmonizing the
South, and developing some scheme for the es-
tablishment of direct European trade, and thus
efecting our commercial independence. Instead,
l.-arn. fba1, houa daooDarofad into n pra p0liti-
cal assemblages. Such impracticable issues as
the african slave trade, and Of extremely doubt
full policy, even if practicable, are made to absorb
their entire attention. The action, too, of our
Southern Representatives are there discussed, and
the whole delegation, with the exception Of Gen.
eral Quitman snd General Bonham, pronounced
unworthy of Southern confidence. We think it
would be wrong to prescribe either Gen. Quitman
or Gen. Bonham. They, without doubt acted hon.
estly. We claim the same for the others Of our
Representatives. They have carefully assigned
their reasons for their vote. Mr.. Hunter, Mr..
Boyce and Mr.. Keitt have each, in speeches
that have never been answered and are unanswer.
able, stated these reasons carefully. What, then,
are we to understand by all this? Are We to in
fer that in this whole Kansas issue the ultraists
are looking solely to revolutioni Aust and hon.
orable settlement they did not want. We can
draw no other conclusion; for when they get this
they are for casting overheard their own Repres.
entatives, because they gave their support to a
measure Of honorable adjustment. Mr.. Scott,
from Alabama, declared in the Convention that
sthe Convention had been turned into a political
debating club" Col. Yancey gets up and arraigus
the whole Southern delegation. He then turns
upon Virginia, and deals that old commonwealth
q blow because she opposes q revival Of the Afri.
can slave trade. For the same reason he may ar
raign South Carolina, and we venture to say his
own State. Whatever may be the interest Of
Texas and the South western Territories in this
matter, it is not to the interest of those older
States to advocate any measure that will reduce
the price of cotton and bring about competition
between them and the fertile slluvial soil of the
West. The Montgomery Confederation, of the
18th, speaking Of these charges against Virginia,
SAYS: ''their elimination has excited recrimina-
ton, and for the last two days the speakers have
entered the open sea of universal political discus
sion. "."Most unfortunate" adds the sam paper,
shas this been to our section. At the time when
all the South might and shouM have united, we
have had the apple Of discord thrown among US,
and the bitter and angry waters OF strife and con-
tention stirred up, w tear, to its lowest depths.
Proud spectacles this for the Abolitionist ~
With such discord, how are we to contend with
the new coalitionf The following, from the Mont
! eomery correspondent, editorial We believe, Of the
Charleston Mercury, bears also upon the point,
| and shows the sad consequences that are likely