The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-11-26
q TIE DAILY UNlUN
POLlTICAL.
From the Charleston ratri6l
MEMPHIS CONVENTION.


From the Charleston fatr5L
MEMPHIS CONVENTION.
In the Memphis Appeal OF the 18th, we have the
proceedings Of this body up to Friday night, the
l4th inst. Mr.. Calhoun was, on Thursday, elected
president Of the convention. The following is the
reDcr, Of his remarks:
"Mr. Calhoun expressed a deep sense Of Tie
honor conferred upon him, and warmly returned his
thanks therefor Mr.. c. proceeded to state to the
| convention, at some length, the views he entertain
ed as to their duties He understood that the conven
ton had assembled for the purpose ofpromoting and
fostering the resources and interest of the South and
West. He conured them To avoid all questions
calculated to excite party feelings. He asked,
| what subjects they could properly memorialize Con-
gress OF, and among them, enumerated the improve
menl OF the Mississippi; to do this, Ctngress has
as undoubted right as to protect and provide for the
| safety of our commerce on the ocean. He also was
| in favor, and warmly urged, that Congress should
| commence and perfect system of Gulf defences
lie declared himself also in favor Of relinquish
ment by The federal government of all jurisdiction
over the public lands within the States, relnqushing
the same to the States in which the lands might be
| situated, and comforting the power on the several
States to perfect titles thereto paying to the govern
ment of the United States 665 per centum (or
some certain portion) of the amount of sales. The
| residue would furnish an ample fund for purposes
| SEES improvements.
| He also recommended, in this connection, the
policy Of levying and recIuiming the low lands Of
| the Mississippi valley. The system to be COM
menced cautiously, and to be persevered in, as ex-
perience should demonstrate its utility. The fund
that would be derived from the sale Of public lands
| by the States il (or when) the jurisdiction them
should be relinquished by the federal government,
would be on ample ono for this purpose.
| He also approved oil a connexion OF the valleys
of the Mississippi and the St. Lawrence, by way
Of the lakes. This was clearly within the power
Of the federal government, as chain in its system
OF defenccs, and should be perfected.
He did not wish to press his own peculiar opinions
on the convention; but was opposed to the federal
government being asked fot appropriations for the
construction of railroads from the Mississippi to The
Atlantic seaboard, but warmly urged that work, and
hoped the convention would urge it upon the con-
sideration of the legislatures of the different States
more Immediately interested. He considered this
work as of great importance, both to the North and
South, but more Immediately so to the States
through which the road should pass.
| Mr. c., becoming very hoarse, was compelled to
close his remarks, notwithstanding repeated and
prolonged calls to go OH.
After the inauguration Of officers, the reports
of various committees of the last convention were
called for, and read. Col. Gadsden presented map
of various railroad routes from the Mississippi east
ward.
| On Friday, motion was made to appoint COM
mittee the Cumberland road; which was resisted
by Mr.. c. C. Clay, Of Alabama, and Withdrawn.
| A committee on the warehousing system was ap.
pointed.
The following extracts embrace all the remaining
proceedings Of interest
motion was made for the appointment of a
committee TO consist of one member from the States
of Indiana, Illinois, Missouri and Arkansas, sew
orally, to consider of the propriety of constructing
military road nom tandalia, illinois, 10 the Tex
an frontier; and Of the propriey Of granting altef
nate sections Of land in the districts through which
said road should pass, as means Of efecting this
object. Passed over, informally.
A delegate from Illinois offered the following
Resolved, that this convention will recommend
no subject to the consideration of Congress- not
within It's undispued powers.
| Some little debate sprung up on this resolution
and some diversity of opinion as to the position as
stunned by the president of the convention, in the
opening address. Mr. Calhoun took occasion to
explain He considered the Mississippi as an IN.
of this confedetacy aid, as such, It's Improvement
became as much within the power Of Congress as
that of the Chesapeake bay, or any other of our in
land seas or harbors He considered the terms "na.
tional Interest," Irrational importance" to sign
| fy PROPERLY that for which specific grant of pow.
| er 10 Congress il contained in the constitution
General welfare, !" to mean such provisions may
be made for the good Of the States, under the spe
cifc grants in the constitution. He considered thin
as an assemblnge or confederation of nations.
! The resolution was adopted.
! The organization Of July's committees was now
taken ur; and, after some difficulty and delay il
making selections, was completed; when the conven
ton adj ourned till 3 o'clock p. m.
i FRIpAY EVENING, Nov. IA.
The convention met pursuant to adjournment.
On motion, General Gaines was elected vice-pres
ident on the part of the convention at large, and
committee of three appointed to wait on hin
and appr re him Of his election, who reported tina
he would take his seat in the morning.
The committee the military road through
Arkansas to the western frontier, submitted thel
report which received and read, and referred Il
the committee on military and naval resources ant
defences of the West and South.
Resolved, That the subject Of the continuation
the national road through Ohio, Indiana, Illinois
and Missouri, be referred to the committee OF
military and naval defences and resources Of tn,
| West and South.