The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-05-14

with the anniversary gatherings here In New
York of the radical abolidonists, women's rights
women. and other societies of our Northern ia
natics and reformers there has been in session
at vicksburg, Mississippi, convention Of South
ern fanatics, equally convinced that the world is
wrong side up, and equally resolved to set 1t
right by turnicg it upside down. Of the pro-
ceedings Of this so-called Southern Commercial
Convention we have as yet heard very little;
tut our readers may conjecture that these fire.
eaters at Vicksburg have been revealing in their
fayorite element from this brief telegraphic
item, to witt
After four DAYS exciting debate tho oonyon.loa has
adopted resolution that the laws prohibiting the (r
CAM slave trade ought to be abolished
GA four days exciting debate"--four days
Garrison, Phillips, Lucretia Mott, and all that
shortwinded abolition crew are thus completely
thrown into the shade by these inexhaustible
Southern DISCLAIMERS. And 80, cater four
days exciting debate resolution is passed in
| favor of the repeal of all the laws Of Congress
prohibiting the African slave trade. This ID not
90 bad, after ALL Considering the late
experiments in Georgia and Flori ia in the
| importation Of negroes fresh from Africa
in defiance of the laws, and considering
| the various hindrmces, from Charleston
to Mobile, which have prevented the recap
ture Of the slaves imported, and the pun
ishment of the commercial" parties concerned,
we were prepared for resolution from this
of Congress suppressing the African slave trade
unconstitutional, null and void, and recommend.
ing the Southern people to proceed, accordingly,
to this profitable business Of importing negroes
from Africa, in the same way as if all restrain
ing laws upon the subject had been already re.
pealed.
But, in calling for repeal Of these prohibito
ry laws, their validity is recognized; and as it
would be the height Of foolishness to suppose
that these laws may be repealed by Congress
during the present generation, or the present
century. the question arises, what, then, can be
the object of this vicksburg resolution Aud
we answer, the object is political agitation. The
dreeatcrs and ultra pro slavery politicians of the
South, like the anti-slavery agitators of the
North, are "hard up for political capital. The
settlement Of the Kansas question has thrown
these slavery agitators, North and South, upon
their beam ends Thus, W. II. Seward has been
driven to the desperate proclamation of San ire
pressible conflict" with slavery until all
the States shall have been made free States or
slave States; thus, Governor Wise and other
Southern political spectators have been driven
to the expedient of demanding a code of laws
from Congress for the protection of slavery in
the Territories and thus, we find these eating
Southern ultras at vicksburg planting them
selves upon the platform of the revival of the |
African slave trade by Congress.
OF course they no more believe in the posi-.
bility Of accomplishing this thing than does the
man in the moon. But the trick may serve the |
purposes Of the politicians concerned in the
Southern agitation Of the subject 1t is under
stood that this Southern Commercial Convention
is, iu fact, political convention of desperate
Southern politicians, largely made up of the
notification, secession and flibustering gentry,
outside of any healthy political organization
Their programme comprehends break in the
Southern democratic party, and the organization
Of an intensely proslavery faction throughout
the South, competent, in holding the balance of
power over the democracy, to coerce them into |
terms or to break them up. Thus, we may &C
cept this Vicksburg Convention resolution as q |
political Southern movement for the control of |
the Charleston Convention; and, in the interval
to that Convention, We may expect some add
ional efforts to create new disturbing South
I'm element which will render the reunion of
he democracy at Charleston, as national party,
lpou national platform, an absolute i'm
But these Southern, like our Northern slavery
'gitators. seem to be acting under the delusion
hat the world is standing still, and the existing
divisions Of parties, sections and factions upon
he defanct issues Of the slavery agitation will
DC the same in 1860 as in 1852 But meantime,
While all Europe is trembling upon the crust of
IN active volcano which may change the whole
ace Of European aifairs-while our Southern
'epublican neighbors, from Mexico to the heart
IF South America, are in state of revolutionary
'haos-we too, as was once remarked by Henry
clay, are in the midst Of mighty revolution"
It's influences, not yet recognized, viii soon be
liscernible to the dullest and most incredulous |
IF our plotting politicians
The revulsion Of 1857 has passed away. The |
public Treasury. which if exhausted, is already |
relieved from the general reaction of financial |
and commercial prosperity which has set in upon |
ls. There is prospect for year or two before
Us of such prosperous times to all our business
and industrial pursuits as the country has never
yet experienced At the same time only the
smbers of the late Kansas excitement remain;
md with the minds of the people preoccupied
with more substantial things, they will be very
apt to treat with contempt all efforts, North or
South, to kindle up again the fires Of the slavery
agitation with new combustiblcs. Let us await |
The Developments that are foreshadowed in all |
the signs Of the times. Perhaps within year
re may thus find the administration Of Mr. Rn-