The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1859-09-28
For tie AissisagpiGn.
The Nashville Convention Of Southern
Planters.

| ed preparedness Oh powell - ueklt01 AO-A
wealth, numbers, and we may add, inteElect,
farmers have never yet availed themselves Of
the advantages which they possess as class
in controlling the fortunes Of the State, or di-
recting their own peculiar interests. So FAR
Is any concert Of action, or unity Of purpose,
is concerned, they are far behind every other
division of society. Without having seen
any programme Of labor marked out for the
convention, we suppose they will endeavortO
ascertain the true agricultural condition Of
the country, by recommending more strict
and analytical system Of statistics. In this,
we are greatly deficient, and without an ac-
curate knowledge of the true condition Of la
Dor and capital, In all of their multiplied ram
ifications, we are at loss what laws to insti-
tute for their better protection and develop
ment. Statistical enquiries made under the
operation Of State and Agricultural Societies
for the benefit Of agriculture, would do much
to bring out to public view, the actual condi-
ton of our farming interests.
We presume the subject of agricultural ed
l
ton and Recommendation, and q more impor-
tant subject could not well engage their con-
sideahon. Labor in this direction IS strik-
ing at the root Of the evils under which agFi-
culture, everywhere in the South, grUans to
use common, but very strong expression.
We do not mean that farmers are not educa-
ted men, but that they are not educated far
nsers. When the natural resources Of the
country were abundant and fresh, practical
farming exclusively answered well enough
for the time; no'O that they are in great
measure exhausted under the wasteful opera
tons of exclusive practical skill, we must ap-
ply to the lights of science for the principles
Of resuscitation. The worn out lands Of the
country, must be brought back to their prim-
tive productiveness, If nothing more, or the
next generation must prepare for general
exodus to Mexico, South America, or some
other wild region, where the destructive sys-
tenn of our fathers, can lay waste 10 the prim
tive forests and virgin soil. When edu-
cation is becoming a speciality in all the busi-
ness walks of life, we see no reason why its
magic power should be denied only to the
farmer. Educate the farmer for the farm, as
we educate the lawyer for the bar, the doctor
for medicine, the merchant for the counting
room, the preacher for the pulpit, and we viii
have followed the teachings Of common sense,
as well as the tendency Of the age.
How to diversity our labor, and raise our
own pork, beef mules, butter and cheese,
coarse fabrics Of clothing shoes hats, &c, so
as to have our cotton to sell and not exchange
is another subject which viii be before the
convention, and if they can succeed in devising
any plan or measure, which will awaken the
Southern people to this all important matter,
they will have deserved not merely the praise
of the present generation, but the blessings Of
posterity will rest upon them. For all the
evils that affect the South, we have always
been running to political conventions, and the
clap trap Of party machinery, when the true
panacea lies in the soil, wanting only the skill
to extract it. What boots it, that we hurl
our anathemas at the Black Republicans,
when the pen, the paper and the table even,
with and on which we write them, are made
by them? What nonsense to be annuncia-
ting declarations of independence to all free
soildom, when every implement Of husband
ry, every household and table comfort, with
few solitary exceptions, with all the show
and equipage Of pride, remind us Of despi-
cable serfddm. We are not an Indifferent
spectator to the dangers that menace our ma
tional quiet and feel as much determined to
throw the weight of our humble influence
for the protection of our constitutional, State,
and Southern rights, even to the disinteyment
of this once truly glorious Union, should 1t,
or submitting to the reign of Black RPuNi-
canism be an alternative, yet without the in
dependence which arises from our own self
supplied wants and necessities, our own do
mestic and indoor resources we see nothing
to entitle us to that proud air of defiance to
Yankee land and all the rest Of mankind,
which is our custom to hold. Had the South
ten or twenty years ago, adopted the simple
and necessary policy Of converting enough of
the raw material into coarse wearing fabrics
for her own use, and working up the splendid
timbers, which have yearly been fed to the
flames in log heaps, into wagons, carts, names,
AK and broom handles, water buckets, &C.,
raising our own supplies Of meat, -four, hors-
es and mules, what is now the arrogance of
Black Repubhcanism, would have been its hu-
mility seeking employment and trade. The
salvation Of the country is not in political con-
ventions, Presidents, Governors, Congress-
men, nor the African slave trade, each and
all of which are, notwithstanding, indispensa-
BILE, but it is in the ground, to be wrought out
by the hands of agricultural economy and
skill, encouraged and aided by the mechanic
arts and manufacturing to some extent This
convention Of Southern planters is stroke in
the right direction, and If all the Southern
States will but cooperate through legal and
systematic organization with Mississippi and
Tennessee, the day IS not far distant when
the cheering signs of improvement and pro-
gress will be seen on every hand. Farmers
Of all other classes, need q near and face to
face interchange of opinion, and Fairs, if they
have done no other good in all parts Of the
country, have facilitated better acquaintance
among planters, and more thorough knowl-
edge of their views and plans Of farming, and
it is to be hoped that this Nashville Conyen-
ton of Southern Planters is but the beginning
=. II
culture, to be followed yearly by similar
meetings, until our farmers and planters and
mechanics shall understand the true wants of
the country, and work in harmony and con-
cert to meet them.
We are glad to state that we have the assu-
rance Of five representatives from our State
being in attendance, and hope to hear from
others in few days; for as the proposition of
a meeting came from Mississippi, her honor
and pride demand full attendance. Besides
the business there will be attractions without
number to interest any man, if not instruct
him. Tennessee is wide awake upon i'm
of all sorts, and her Bureau with
its auxiliary Society in almost every county,
is doing much for the true interest of her far
mers as well as the true glory Of the State.
]. j. WILLIAMS.
or The Memphis Avalanche Of Monday
last, in very able editorial, nominates Gen.
10. Lane, Of oregon-"The Marion Of the
Mexican war'--ior the Presidency in 1860.
Gen. Lane deserves all that the Avalanche
says in his praise We cordially agree with
- ,~,,,ko,,.v,,v.-x, that HE r.l,fsnoi va,nrl e