The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-05-18

We spread before our readers to day rare
treat in the full reports Of our special reporter
Of several days proceedings Of that remarkable
assemblage Of flre-eaters at Vicksburg known
as the Southern Commercial Convention.
AS we predicted some time ago, the alt
absorbing branch of commerce with these
Southern commercial philosophers has proved
| to be the African slave trade The other most
prominent subjects of commercial character
introduced before the Convention we're a pro-
position to abolish the tariff revenue system of
the federal government and to substitute direct
taxation, and a series of resolutions from Gov
McRae, of Mississippi, proposing, in the event Of
the election Of black republican President ia
1860, first, vigorous revolutionary effort on
the part Of the South to prevent his Inaugural
ton; and secondly, if this effort to save the
South should fail, Southern Convention to
provide the ways and means for the establish
ment Of separate Southern confederacy.
But the question of direct taxation, the ques-
ton of a revolutionary movement to defeat
the Inauguration of black repul IN Pre-
sdent, and even the tremendous question
of an independent Southern confederacy,
were all overshadowed and swallowed up
in the Convention by that paramount
Southern commercial question, the revival of
the African slave trade. And here it will be
seen from the earnest and exciting debates upon
the subject, that these Vicksburg Southern re-
formers may be fifty classed with our impracti
cable, intractable, fanatical and crazy Northern
abolitiOnists, women's rights women. spiritual
conventcles and free'love societies; for, when
reduced to the impartial standard Of the priuci-
pies of common sense, Jack Spratt, of South Ca
rolina Garrison, Of Massachusetts, and our strong
minded women, clamorous for their rights to
wear boards and breeches, must all be placed in
the same basket, with the fire-eaters on the top.
North and South, such are the curious excre-
sences which spring up from the prolific soil of
our popular institutions, from the inquiring aud
restlesssspirit of the age and from the shifts and
crotchets of desperate politicians and selfsacri-
icing fanatics.
But it appears that in General Henry S Foote
these Southern African slave traders at Vicksburg
caught regular Tartar. We have always enter
tanned the impression that Gen. Foote though
retired from public life, would some day make
The welkin ring, and he has done it. In 1850 he
was democratic member of the United States
Senate from Mississippi, and did good service
in behalf Of the great compromise measures of
Henry Clay. He thus incurred the wrath of the
Mississippi fre-eateIs: but, upon the basis of
Union party movement against them, he whipped
them, and was elected Governor of the State.
R1t mi orIit no IF
sippi returned to their old party divisions, and
| the fre-eaters thus getting the control of the
democracy, the Governor was ruled out of the
camp. Then, shaking the dust from his feet, he
moved out to California, became there Il leader
of the American party, came within an inch or
two of being returned to the Senate; but falling
on account of the superior tactics of DR.. Gwin
and Davy Broderick, the General was left high
and dry. California thus becoming too small for
him, he has returned to the broader area Of the
Mississippi valley, and to the independent plat
| form of politician holding no allegiance but
denying all affiliations with any of the existing
parties of the day.
A man Of this temper, of this enlarged expe.
rience, and holding this Independent position as
a Southern statesman, was the very man wanted
at Vicksburg to take the starch out of those
inspiration that brought him into this Conven-
ton. and nerved him to the task Of demolishinc
poor Spratt and his clique Of African slave
trade engineers. Read the speeches of General
Foote, and then, reader, answer u.s. was not
Foote the giant among those pigmies, stridine
about among them and trampling them down.
like an angry CULVER among the Lilliputians?
The programme of Mr.. Spratt comprehended.
it seems report in favor of the revival of the
African slave trade among the Southern States
in defiance Of the laws Of Congress. It further
appears that the Convention was asked to give
sort Of semi official endorsement to this report in
ordering it to be printed, which at once brought
General Foote to the rescue of the constitution
and the laws; and the basting which he admin
istered was terrible. Read our reporters re-
port Spratt had his allies, his confederates on
the ground. They came up to his relief. They
boldly defended his policy Of importing niggers
from Africa without leave or license and at all
hazards and to the last extremity; but they failed
ia save Spratt. Nor did the terrible wrath of
Foote stop with Spratt. All the Spratt clique of
slave traders came in for q roasting, and W. III.
Seward and Barnwell Rhctt, as interruptions
sectional agitators, were skinned alive
The Convention did resolve, Notwithstanding
all this, that the laws of Congress interdicting
the African slave trade ought to be repealed;
but we have every reason to believe that, had not
General Foote stirred up the fire eaters with his
long pole, they would have resolved upon the
revival of the African slave trade as recommend
cd by Spratt, in defiance of law, of the govern.
ment and of public opinion. For the present we
have but little further to say upon the subject
than to express the hope that General Foote's
plain speaking to these Vicksburg commercial
gentry done them good. We consider him enti-
lied La GIll haaripnr opl Ill