The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1858-04-06
TH E DISP ATCH-
TUHsDAY MfRNiNa -.
To the People OF the Southern and
south w estern state.

Y.
state OF Alabama, On the 10th day of sisy next
he object of the address. as We understand it
IS 10 remind you of the approaching session of the
convention, and to urge you to appoint delegates
20 " ana we proceed now to perform that duiy
The motive which prompted the Organization af
southern Commercial Convention, was the desira
10 ascertain the causes of the decline of the FOREIGN
commerce OF the Southern States, and to devise
some plan for its revival aud restoration The
people Of the Southern States saw and felt the
anomalous TACT, that the country which produces
threeffths in value of the exports of the nation
hdd not only lost its commercial supremacy but
haa become. commercially, a dependant upon and
yet tributary to that portion of the country
"hlch produced much the smallest PORTION OF those
exports. This was aot only an unnatural. but an
ekhausting and depressing process, retardipc,
SSecesssarIy' the growth and prosperity of the
south, and it was natural TO desire, as 1t was
necessary to provide, remedy for it, This desire
ana necessity suggested the idea of assemhiipg
once ih every year, the people Of the South, by de-
pttieS, ID Convention for the purpose of gather
ing information, from the most reliable witnesses
US to the causes of the evil, with the hope OF OBJ
tanning from the wisest and most devoted CONS of
the south, the suggestion of plan or system of
measures which should correct it.
we regret to say that, thus far, our hopes have
not been realized, while the predictions of our on.
p"hents have been to some ext tent verified although
huch good has been accomplished. Our dissn-
polntment has not been, however, the fault entire
~ OF the Convention for although we have been
TOO much divided among ourselves as to the RENE.
oies proper to be adopted, and thereby have i'm.
paired our efficiency, still much good has been
uSpe' ana much more would have been accom-.
piished, II We could have carried our sugrestious
INTO execution, without dependence upon the will
OF Congress and the state Legislatures HThe chief
oehent therefore, which has resulted foI the ses.
SONS SONS OF the Convention, has been the increased
AnoWledge OF, and sympathy for each other with
q oe'ter understanding of our wants, resulting
,iom lhese annual assemblies. Southern men have
oteh mace more extensively acquainted with each
other, and through that acquaintance have learn
ed the cheering and delightful fact that however
we may differ about men, about party politics. or
particular remedies among ourselves there is in
tue south but one heart, one mind and ono will for
our traducers and assailants; and that when the
time for blow at them shall arrive it unhapp;ly
e'ef shail, All tue energy patriotism and courage
o united nation will be felt ia that blow bv
those VINO shall unhappily provoke it-tlat how
ever, we may differ among ourselves as TO the
means OF attack or the mode of defence, there is
no uihefehce OF opinion as to the great conclusion
that the South must be defended and all her rights
pro'ected-cost what it may This were cause and
compensation enough for any trouble and expense
III hoiunS our asseiEbiies.S But rapidly occurring
events furnish additional and conclusive incentives
10 tue continuance Of the work which we have
commemorative commercial independence of the
Scuth-by bringing more closely and distinctly TO
our view the probability that We shall at no dis
tant day be compelled TO assert cur political indie
pendence. which cannot be sustained without com.
mercIai Experimentation the means of re-
gnIating and controlling our own commerce: for
without that power, no nation can be free If the
South is wise. then, and would be provi1ent 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
whether she is to be permitted to remain in the
Union-enJoying in honorable peace all the con.
sttutional rights--or is to be compelled. by con-
tinued aud progressive assaults upon her rights
her interests, and her feelings-the most nm
pTecedented and fagitious whicn cupidity and am
btion ever prompted-to assert her right to with
draw from an association which no longer recop-
niZes the original compact as the rule of its gov
eminent, or longer to yield submission to an on.
pressiye and inquitous majority, it is of the high
est Importance 10 her, If not Uf absolute necessi.
ty, that she should seriously and earnestly ad-
dress herself TO the restoration of her foreign com
merce. and 90 the encouragement within her linn
its, by her own means, OF the manufacture of those
articles which are necessary to her comfort.
The candid lover OF the union of the States must
be satisfied as it seems TO the undersigned that if
not already abrogated in spirit, by the deliberate
violations OF the compact, TO the injury and for
the injury OF the South, by many of the Northern
aud Eastern States. there is not only little ground
to hope for the preservation Of it, upon the basis
and under the guarantees of the Constitution OF
1877, but there is the most imminent danger of
its entire destruction before many years shall have
rolled by. For Il number OF years, not only the
most offensive dsnuuciatons have been poured out
upon the South, but the most wanton aggression
upon her Constitutional rights have been commit.
ted-cOmmenciDg with that most absurd and un-
founded claim of right to convert the Halls of
The National Council into an arena upon which to
discuss the tenure by which We hold our slaves.
under the pretence of petitionng for a redress of
grievances.
Not only has our right to reclaim onr slaves
(when they escape into a Northern State) been de
MED, but the Law passed by Congress- for our pro
lection, has been resisted by people who claim still
to be in the Union. And recently the State of
massachusetts has perpetrated an act such as was
never committed before by any Constitutional
GOyernment-to wit: the removal of n judge
ULoring) without impeachment for any crime. sim
ybecause he has honestly and faithfully enforced
that law.
If the Southern States to pass laws pro-
bibiting any citizen of Massachusetts from Tecoy-
ering any debt or other property within their
limits; or without such Law should remove from
once every Judge who should render judgmeptina
suit in favor of citizen of Massachusetts. Ma.ss
chusetts could not complain but the Upiop with
massachusetts, would be dissolved. Is il NOT dis
solved already, if the Southern States chose so IN
regard IT. But this is not all though this enouCh
to expose the danger, and the true question IS
shall the South wait nnti the danger Oyertakes
her, unprepared then to meet it fully and ward OF
it's evils. Again:
You are painfully sensible Of the protracted ana
excited struggle which has, for several years. been
in progress, in relation to the settlement and o.,
yerpmeut of the territory of Kansas Finally the
struggle seemed to have been terminated, by the
adoption of Constitution for the territory to
constitute it State as soon as admitted into the
Union. With tue details of that controversy we
do not propose to deal. We shall speak only of
results. When that Constitution was adopted, il
was Transmitted to the President and, with a no
bic patriotism, coming as he does from the North.
and with faithful adherence to the constitution
al opinions of the States Rights party, he submit
ted il to Congress, with the recommendation that
t should be received by and the State of Kansas
left TO correct the err9r5, il any committed,
Or redress the wrongs, il any were perpetrated of
rhn rIf nt
tation of slavery from Congress to whom il In no
wise belongs, 10 deal with the question of slavery
in any form, and who can medde with il only Tor
misehevors purposes, and i'll violation of its con-
s.ltutional duty.
The consequence of this act has been the re-
opening not only OF all the sluices of abuse and
detraction of the South, from more than one quar-
ter, and especially from the representatives OF the
great State OF New York. in the Senate. by whom
1t has been proclaimed, without rebuke from any
Northern Senators, that we, the slave-owners Of
the South, are TO be pursued from Maryland to
Mexico, and, If need De. n order 10 strip us of
home aud shelter, across tho Gulf of Mexico into
the Island of Cuba, by the nsatiate appetite, and
voracious demands of free labor; and the Supreme
Judiciary Is to be corrupted and degraded because
the present illustrous bench has been true to its
oath and the Constitution; thus to make our bon
dsge sure by securing az infamous approval of vi
eious and unconstitutional laws by corrupt and
plant Judiciary.
X If those things shall continue, and be persisted
1h, every hah must perceive thai the alternatives
presented TO the South will be ruin, disgrace and
bondage, on the one hand, or Independence of her
prosecutors and oppressors on the other. She will
be compelled TO assert her inaleDable right, and
refuse longer submission 10 the laws of perverted
Union. pretended TO be passed under Constitu-
iiou which has been not only desecrated but des-
troyed. Whether the spirit which is indicated by
these events. will finally prevail, and its purposes
he eonsummated, as far as Congress can eonsum-
mate them, We viii not, because we cannot, predict
We would humbly pray TO God that they may not,
for We would, live could, perpetuate the Union
of the States, under the Constitution, as Its i'm
mortal founders made it. We would prefer to die
as we have lived, under one flag, with one name;
with the Constitution, which our forefafhers con-
quered, and consecrated with their blood, like the
rainbow spanning our Beloved country, still 1.-The
land Of the free aud the home OF the brave
But it cannot be disguised and must not, il il
could that the Free States, as they are called,
constitute now the majority, and upon their will,