Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1859-04-20
The Southern Convention.

u viii oG observed, IN lDe puUlISned can 10
! the meeting at Vicksburg in May of the con
}vention, adjourned from Montgomery last year
i that it is simply described us the "Southen
5Convenion." Originally it was entitled tn,
aSoulhern "Commercia" Convention. Its OBJ
\ icct was stated to be to aid the development o
/ be commercial and industrial resources Of the
lSouth, by free conference Of men of business
sand capital with view to practical results up
Jon internal communications, improved arts OF
cultivation, and the establishment OF dircc
Exchange Of Southern products in foreign mar
ike;s. In all its migrations--at least in all it:
searly gratlons--from place to place, Ibis
swas assumed as its distinctive character. We
sio not remembers at what period, in its journey.
smgs between Baltimore, Charleston, Mont.
Igomery, New Orleans, Memphis and Knox.
lvile, or whereabouts in this circle of travel, the
lcommercial character of the aSsemblage was
aquetly dropped, and the political character
distinctly assumed. The change was doubt
| less gradual, for the first design had nothing
aavowed of the organizing of the South in po,
tical issues, and some portion of the time Of
I the conventions in session was given to the
/ adiscusson of industrial questions. But these
have gradually given place to topics entirely
1 political, and of the most exciting kind. 1t i
adisposed to take possession of the whole sIu
livery subject, in its relations to the rest Of tht
AUnion and to the federal authorities; ant
athese meetings are presented in the same ligh
as those colonial meetings, which in our ante
revolutionary history prepared the way for
achange of Government. Some subsidiary IN
4 4terest is yet acknowledged in ether questions
i There is admitted to be much that might be
3done, 'beyond the discussion of political ques-
;tons," in behalf of the intellectual, moral
educational and industrial development of the
South; but the grand purpose is to debate the
aslavery questions of the South, and the Black
SRepublicanism of the North.
This is very high function to be assumed
aby a body which has SO slight claim to any
Representative character. In lis constitution il
lis little more than voluntary association.-
Their is no rule for appointment which goes
back to public opinion; and the slight interest
taken in the selection of delegates, made by
1 those who assume to appoint thsm by virtue OF
some accidental public position, leaves the great
body of the people utterly unacquainted with
atbe person who is received as their representa-.
tive, until they hear of something that may
have been said or done in convention in their
name Men of "active" minds and bust
Hing habits control the appointments; and
though we may not question their zeal or their
general ability, 1t must always be remembered
that it is body which seeks to make and to
embody or represent public opinion. "To Gre
ate opinion is TO create things" j, one Of the
sayings of the circular we are speaking. of
and it is a very clear saying among great
many others that are cloudy and mysterious
Not disputing the Importance Of concert ol
|opnion and unity Of action among Southern
people, in their present relations towards the
subject of slavery, and its rights under the con.
that are so openly assailed by our ad'
versaries, we are not unwilling TO see these
voluntary efforts to contribute 10 the creation
of public opinion; but we desire TO gdnrd IA
advance, against having the deductions OF such
gatherings, their plans or their recommended
tions, received as authoritative expos'iioas, or
as ANYTHING more than materials upnn which
ihe public mind may be exercised 10 forming
its owu conclusions thereafter.
We are frank to sar taat or observation a.
such gaibefiars does ao- give us iarorabie
isdgereal Of ther1. as 7isc n couusei or pru-
deBl II IN. ) sct iame aas T-sa..es Il