Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1860-01-20
southern Literature.


A., t;ms when the people of the South ar
discussing the question of commercial indenend
ann. !, ia .nnropriate for us TO consider also tn,
i;,.rarv y.s.alace to the North under which OBJ
section of the Union has 90 long labored. Mo-
tina, we would dscry the productions Of the North
ern press en- masse, or the very valuable cehtribu
tons to our national literature made by Northern
rens We believe that there should be no sec
tionalism in literature--and We are proud to re
cognse as Aasericda authors such men rs wash
ington Irving Braucroft, Everett and many o'h-
srs that might be named.
But we do insis, that. other things being equal,
II is our duty to encourage our own native talent
in preference to all other The reproach that has
been so often cast upon the South, OF literary in-
feriority. may have been true-we have no doub.
it was-as one time. That il is moi true now Is,
we think, abundantly capable of demonstration
We have before us two works OF exclusively
Southern authorship and imprint One Is pe-
Bows Revicw-the other the Southern Literary
Messenger. We have read both Of these pubea-
tons thoroughly. And we do not hesitate to say
tina. in respect of the quality of their contents
they will compare favorably with any Northern
much matter as some others, nor are they embel-
lishei with illustrations Of the text--bu. this IL
because Of the inadequate support they receive
from their own section. lie, the list OF sub'cr'b-
ers to either Of these publications attain the length
of that to Mrper's, and we will guaranty better
Magazine in every single respect Of literary and
artistic excellence.
-, = hos S.,u thrr "a r! Il r. 80
tribute to N.-tbe-n Magazines SIMPLY because,
making literature II ir.lcsS'on, aud LIVING by IT,
thev sci their ,a,.., ii COURSE IA the market
where -. LIE ~. e.t demand. Ia this why
both : uthern brains AMI Southern ahrY - 10
build ~ and enrich Northern publishers. whi!e
cur bone publishers lansuish over hcssarly list
Of subscribers, aud permit our best authors t, 20
elsewhere viii. their productions. from sheer ina
blty to employ them.
ii we would cease our subscriptions T. Northern
Magazines, aud transfer the Same Ia our home
presses we could soon see marked i'm.
provcment in S.u'hern literature. We say
this in no spirit Of uniricndiuc-s t. Northern
publishers ana FROM impulse Of sectional nul-
mostly We advise tins in the saln" .larlt that
we advise Southern commercial independence
not as a punishment TO ,he North. but because tho
South is un jus to herself in pursuing her present
policy and treating with criminal neglect her own
resources. justice begins home, Ms well as cha
rity and he who provi1oth not for hls a"n house
hold il worse than IN inflel Tie South should
be ashamed 10 permit single ono # her authors
to sell an article 10 II y nth ern Magazine
We had intended brief criticism of the two
productions now before rs, but must defer IT 10
some other occasion With the exception of the
political doctrines Of peB1w with sonc Of which
we do not agree-we know Of DO publication bet
ter worth the money II tho merchant, the Iolti-
clan, and the man Of literary leisure Some Of its
articles are distinguished by extrs)rdnary depth
of thought, and elegance Of expression. Tho
Messenger is Of rather lighter character, but
never trashy nor irothy. 1t is especially South
and q Nirginian Observation-Disclosures by a
Virginian, edited by Nirgnian. aud made up
almost exclusively Of the productions OF natives
and residents Of tho Old Dominion. Its claims
upon the support of Nirginians cannot be contest
cd-and We again appeal to our people, unless
they prefer the wishy -washy dilu.ons, which CON
sttute the contents Of the fash Northern Maya
zine, to the solid mental food set before them ty
our own publications. to rally to the support #
their own literature and thus elevate its stand
ard, at the Same time that they are merely doing
simple act Of justice.