lS34j 



F A R iM E R S ' REGISTER 



115 



iully adequate to all the operations of trade. So 

 with regard to the niarket for the foreign goods, 

 which umier this system would be received ut 

 our souiheru sea-pons. ObUiining them, as we 

 ehould be able to do, at less cost than they could 

 possibly be procured through New York, we 

 would unquestionably be abfe to ilispose of them 

 on advanfaireous terms, at least to the extent of 

 bur own demand lor those goods; and this alone 

 would increase our direct importations to five or 

 six times their present amount. If only the con- 

 sumption of the south was supplied through her 

 own ports, this of itself would create a revolution 

 in our trade, which would change the entire liice 

 ol" the country, and pour a flood of wealth and 

 prosperity through every part of our land. But it 

 is one of the most important and interesting liga- 

 tures of our system, that it is inseparably connect- 

 ed with the extension of our intercourse with the 

 interior ol'our country, by means of rail roads, ca- 

 nals, and turnpikes. A connexion between the 

 south and the west by the various schemes now 

 in progress in Virginia, North and South Carolina, 

 Georgia, and Alabama, will furnish an outlet lor 

 all the goods that can be received fioni abroad m 

 exchange tor our productions. And when the 

 great west shall find a market and receive her 

 supplies through the sea-ports of the south, a de- 

 mand will be furnished, the extent and value of 

 which cannot be too largely estimated. Let these 

 various schemes, therelore, lor the extension of 

 our interior connexions, be prosecuted with a zeal 

 and energy worthy of the object. Let no unwor- 

 thy jealousies — no narrow or merely sectional 

 views, disturb/that harmony of feeling and concert 

 of action, which are So essential to success. 



There are some circumstances connected with 

 the present condition of the country, which may 

 serve to animate our zeal, encourage our elForts, 

 and urge us to that prompt action on which our 

 success may depend. 



Our great staple has now become "the common 

 currcnctj of the worW It is the great medium of 

 exchange, regulating and controlling, to a consider- 

 able extent, the commercial operations both of 



able to escape. Even the "Pilot who weathers 

 the eiorm" may be compelled 'to "give up/the 

 ship," when deserted by the crew and left in a 

 condition soutteily hopeless. 



'i"he measures which are deemed by the com- 

 mittee proper to be adopted, in order to carry 

 these views into ell'ect, are embodied in distinct 

 propositions, which are herewith submitted to the 

 convention. Tiiey embrace a strong and empha- 

 tic declaration of the ti:'.elings and opinions of the 

 convention, on the importance of a direct import 

 and export trade, and tlie duty of adopting all pro- 

 per means for the purpose of establishing and pro- 

 moting it. They reconnnend, in the next place, 

 strong, earnest, and reiterated ajjpeals, to the un- 

 derstanding and liieling of all the people interest- 

 ed, with a view to enlist their sympathies, excite 

 their patriotism, and lo call into action an enlight- 

 ened public opinion in furtherance of our views. 

 An adjourned meeting of the convention to be 

 held m this place, on the 3d Monday in October 

 next; an address to the people of the slave-hold- 

 ing states, and the adoption of other suitable 

 measures to secure a fiiU representation, at that 

 convention, from all the states interested, are 

 among the measures recommended. In looking 

 to the essential objects of providing capital and 

 credit, as well as markets tor our imports, and 

 thus laying a sure foundation lor the ultimate suc- 

 cess of our schemes, a series of important practi- 

 cal measures have been recommended, which if 

 carried into lull effect, will, it is confidently believ- 

 ed, go very liir to put our merchants on a footing 

 with those at ihe north. An earnest call is made 

 upon the banks, to which they can hardly iail to 

 respond, to provide the required capital and credit, 

 by arrangements perlt'ctly safe as to themselves, 

 and at the same time well calculated to furnish all 

 the facilities which the direct trade will require. 

 A plan for equalizing our domestic exchanges, and 

 keeping up the credit of our banks during the sus- 

 pension of specie payments, has also been de- 

 vised, which it is most earnestly desired may be 

 carried into effect by them. It is not to be con- 

 cealed, that without the aid and support of the 



Europe and America. During the suspension of I banks, the ditficulties in our way will be gready 

 specie payments, it affords almost the only means I multiplied. It will depend upon them, in a great 



of obtaining those credits abroad, on which north- 

 ern commerce has heretofore mainly relied ibr its 

 support. This great staj)le is our own. 



The revolutions which have recently taken place 

 in the commercial world — the failures and destruc- 

 tion of credit in New York, and the stoppage 

 of the American houses in Great Britain, has 

 brought about a crisis peculiarly fiivoratile to our 

 views. Here is our cotton lying at our very 

 doors; the produce of our own fields, and furnish- 

 ing at this time, the only medium of exchange 

 lor the manufactures of Europe. Why should 



our own merchants not use 



or this purpose 



,,„.,.™? 



The door is now open to us, and we have l)ut to 

 enter and take possession of that which belongs 

 to us. If we improve the opportunity, the victory 

 will be ours. The tide in our affairs is at the 

 flood. Let us launch upon it bravely, and it v/ill 

 assuredly "lead us on to Ibrtune.'" But should 

 this glorious opportunity be lost, our gallant bark, 

 instead of riding the waves in triumph, may be 

 driven among the breakers or dashed upon the 

 rocks, or at best be again involved in those "eddies 

 and shallows" fi-om which we may never more be 



measure, to determine the fate of our great enter- 

 prise. In order to divert cajjvtal and credit from 

 other pursuits into the channels ol' commerce, an 

 appeal is also made to planters, capitalists and 

 oihers, to avail themselves of the provisions of the 

 acts of the legislatures of the several states, pass- 

 ed during the last winter, nmhov'rz'mg limited part- 

 nerships; and it is recommended that the youth of 

 our country should be directed to commercial pur- 

 suits, and prepared by a suitable education to fill 

 the responsible station, and elevate the high cha- 

 racter of the southern merchant. These, and other 

 suggestions embraced in the resolutions, consti- 

 tute the measures recommended to the convention 

 for their adoption. It will be seen, tiiat they em- 

 brace a series of measures of a practical charac- 

 ter, all believed to be well calculated to promote 

 the objects for which they are designed. It is true, 

 ihat we can do no more than to urge the adoption 

 of these measures on the part of the banks, and 

 others interested. But when it is recollected that 

 this convention is composed of near two hundred 

 delegates, representing five states and one territo- 

 ry, and when we consider the weight of charac- 



