Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-11-28
Tur MEMPHIS CONVENTION

On Saturday morning the committees com
menced reporting on the various subjects assign
ed the m; but il was soon seen that time wouid no.
allow The various reports 10 be read al lenslh Sc
The resolutions accompanying them only were
read When this was done, discussions com
menced on the first propositions presented, anI
this also il was soon seen, would occupy much
more time than the members had allotted Tor theil
sojourn at Memphis II was accordingly propos
ed by Gov. Jones OF Tenn, IN briei ana eio
ouen, address, that select committee be appoint,
ed, to whom all propositions before The Conven-
lion be referred 10 report series OF measures fol
lis consideration This plan was adopted, and il
was agreed that the committee should consist OF
one member from each Stale, to be chosen by It's
delegates. and The following were appointed Gov
Jones of Tenn. James Guthrie of KY, Col Gads-
den of s. C.. Gov. C. G. Clay Of Ala, Judge Cliff
ion of Miss. Mr.. Craighead Of Ark, Ellwood
Fisher of Ohio, Judge Scates Of Illinois, J. II
Lucas OF Mo. ri J. Read of Iowa, B. B. Minor
of Va, T. J. Bisham Of Pa, and Judge Wood
ruff OF La.
The committee reported The following resolu'
lions which were unanimously adopted:
|. Rssolued. Thathe reports The various COM
miltees, and such documents accompaniment them,
as the supervising committee may select, be PRINT
ed with The proceedings of lhis Convention.
il
The Gulf of Mexico and the interior, afforded BY
The navigation OF The Mississippi and Ohio rivers,
and their principal tributaries, is indispensable 10
the defence OF the country in time OF war, and eS-
sental also 10 It's commerce.
g. Resoirsd, That the Improvement and preSer-
walton Of those great rivers are objects as strictly
national as any other preparation for the defence
1.-THE counrry and that such Improvements are
deemedby this Convention impraclicable, by Stale
or individual enterprise, and call for appropria-
tons OF money by the General Government.
T. Resolred, That The deepening Of the mouth OF
the Mississippi SO as TO pass ships of the largest
class, cost what il may, is a work worthy OF the
nation and would greatly promote the general
prosperity.
s. ReVlred, Tha, il the policy Of reinforcing
our Navy with war steamers be adopted, The
Western walters are proper sources OF supply,
abounding as they do in iron, The best material
for the construction Of such vesses-also in cop
per and lead, important materials for munitions
of war. In the same region, also, provisions are
cheap, and the skill required for The construction
and navigation Of steamers ample, as is evinced
in the possession BY these waters OF The largest
steam commercial marine in The world.
6. ResOlred, That The project ofconnec'ing the
Mississippi river with The Lakes OF the North, by
q SHlPCdHdi, dHu mus Will tnc HtIdHtl oCeuut 10
measure worthy of the enlightened considera-
lion Of Congress
Z. Rssolred, That the intercourse between the
Gulf OF Mexico and the Atlantic Coast ought 10
be preserved unimpared and that a mpe military
and naval deiences, and additional light houses
and beacons, should be established along the coast
of the Gulf OF Mexico, al the most eligible
points Tor that purpose.
\. Rcs0ired, That The Gulf and Lake coasts are
greater than The Atlantic seahoard: that the inter-
ess 10 be defended in one quarter are quite as i'm
porant and altogether as national as those in the
other, and that the expenditures will fall far short
Of what has been freely voted for the coast de-
fences on the Atlantic.
o. Rcsolred, That il he recommended to Con-
gress 10 establish National Armory and Foun-
dry al some point on The western waters, al as
early period as practicable.
10. RcsOlred, That The Marine Hospitals on the
western and southwestern waters, whose con-
struction has been commenced or authorized BY
Congress, ought 10 be prosecuted 10 completion
with the least practicable delay
II. Rcsolrcd tina, the mail serving the west and
south, requires great Improvements in speed and
regularity, and particularly on The western waters;
that measures ough, 10 he taken also for the
prompt extension OF the Magnetic Telegraph into
or through the Mississippi valley.
~. RcSolred That millions of acres of the
public domain lying on The Mississippi river
and its tributaries now worthless, for the pur-
pose Of cultivation, might be reclaimed byihrow-
ing up embankmens, so as 10 prevent overflow,
and that The Convention recommend 10 Congress
Ia take such measures as may be deemed expe
dent TO accomplish that ohJect, by grant of said
lands or an appropriation Of money.
l3 Rcsoired That tie connection oilhe South
Atlantic sea board with the Mississippi and Ohio
rivers BY Railroads, is policy urgently demand
ell b. the superior facility affords for the soca
ard commercial intercourse Of The people living
on the shores of those waters, the Railroad being
unrivalled by any ether artificial structure for
speed, certainty and economy OF travel and trans
portation.
H. Rc@lred That the profit afforded BY such
works on investments OF capital, and The great
extent and success 10 which they have been con-
Quoted by private companies, renders Railroads
the favori,es of private enterprise We trust the
several States interested will promptly grant all
the facilities TO private companies required and
this Convention recommends 10 lis members 10
use their influence with the several State Lesisla-
lures in promoting this object
Is. Rcsolred, That as many OF the projected
Rail Roads pass through the public land this
Convention recommends to Congress to grant TO
the respective companies not only The right oil way,
but alternate sections OF public land on The route,
as we believe that the increased value conferred
By these works on The residue OF the public land
would be at least equal TO The value OF such grant.
10 Resolred, Tha, efficient measures should be
taken by the General Government to remove and
prevent the recurrence OF The distractions in the
81. Louis harbor.
II. Resolred, That dry dock and convenient
arrangements for The repairing and rehtling OF
Government vessels should be established al suit
able points on the Gulf OF Mexico.
10. RESOLVED, That two committees OF five per-
sons each be appointed By The chair, to memo
rialize Congress and address the people on the
subject embraced in these resolutions
The report of the Committee was received
and The resolutions adopted BY The Convention, as
also the following:
49, Rcsolred, That il is expedentthal Congress
should make an appropriation Of money Tor The
purpose OF completing the military road from
The west bank Of The Mississippi opposite Mem
phis, through The swamps TO the highlands in Ar
kansas, in The direction OF the military posts on
the Western frontier.
Resolutions Of thanks also were passed for the
able, dignihed and courteous manner IN which
The duties of The Chair were performed by Mr..
Calhoun throughout the greater part OF the SEES
sion, and BY Governor Clay on the last evening;
and The Convention adjourned very late on Satur-
day night
The people Of Kentucky will see with plea
sure that the improvement Of The Ohio and Mis-
sissipp rivers occupies the first place in the re-
commentator OF The Convention. a act for
which Kentucky is much indebted 10 her able
delegation in The Convention. No State has a
greater interest than her in this work, none hav-
ing like her thousand miles oil coast on these
rivers.
Il is also gratifying that the proceedings Of the
Convention were characterised BY such exemp-
ton from party spirit-the principles on which
the measures recommended are based being such
as strict conslrucionist of The Constitution can
approve whilst the measures themselves are all
that could be reasonably demanded of an econo-
mical government. | must lake this occasion 10
say that our Wing friends, and particularly Gov
Jones, acted in very liberal and conciatory spi-
ri It is also due 10 The Wings 10 state, that they
in common with the Democrats, manifested the
utmost cordially towards the illustrions Presi.
dent of The Convention John C. Calhoun who