The Duty of Southern Authors [pp. 241-247]

SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER.
A MAGAZINE DEVOTED TO LITERATURE, SCIENCE AND ART.
RICHMOND, OCTOBER, 1856.
THE DUTY OF SOUTHERN AUTHORS.
Through no more appropriate channel
can we convey our thoughts upon the
subject we have selected, than through
the columns of a periodical devoted to
the South, and to the maintenance of her
literature and institutions. And if there
should be found anything of force in what
we shall urge, we could ardently hope
that the seeds thus sown in diffidence and
weakness, might, under the skilful culture
of abler minds, germinate and grow to a
tree bearing useful fruit. If there is
any wish for the accomplishment of which
we could breathe forth our most earnest
prayers, it is for the establishment of a
Southern literature, standing secure and
independent upon its own pedestal, lighting up the threshold of its temple with
the refulgent beams of its self-illumination. If there is any enterprise, towards
the successful achievement of which the
energy of every southern mind ought to
be bent in unrelaxing effort, it is such
an enterprise as will give to the South a
literature that will command the respect
and admiration of the world. If there
is any duty, more than all others incumbent upon the Southern people, the performance of which they cannot neglect
without discredit to themselves and injury
to posterity, it is the duty of rewarding
by their approbation, and stimulating by
their praise, the literary creations of the
genius of their section. It is the literature of a country that gives her people a
position among the nations of the earth,
and to this source must she look for the
place she is destined to fill in the eyes of
VOL. XXIII-16
future generations. He who would refute
error and advance truth, who would
create light and dispel darkness, who
would gain renown and benefit his kind,
who would wield a power greater than
the sword-he, we say, who would do all
this, should devote himself to the task of
elevating the literature of his country.
While it is the imperative duty of the
authors of all nations to let the light
shine that God has given them-to contribute, like so many springs, to swell
the great stream of human knowledge
and happiness, till it overflows its banks
with the waters of truth-to worship
wisdom and learning for their own
sakes-while such motives, and such
promptings as these, should inspire the
heart, and kindle the genius of every
author; yet to the Southern writer, besides all these, there should be other inducements and incentives to literary
labors. Graver and more solemn considerations than a mere thirst for fame
and distinction, should impel him to drive
his pen. He lives in a community in
which African slavery subsists. We, of
the South, recognize it as a great social,
moral and political blessing-beneficial
alike to us and to the slave. We see in
it a great pillar of conservatism, and we
regard it as the best and most enduring
basis for Republican institutions. But
the rest of Christendom stands united
against us, and are almost unanimous in
pronouncing a verdict of condemnation.
Wild crusades have been set on foot
against our institutions, and amid the