The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1845-12-17
From the New Orleans Bulletin.
ADDRESS OF MIR. CALHOUN.
On taking The Chair Of The Southeastern Con-
reRtiOn


rentiOn.
MEMPHIS, Nov. IS, 1915.
| thank you gentlemen for the distinguished
honor you have conferred on me in calling me 10
preside over your meeting.
The object of your deliberations, as announced
in the Circular of y0nr Committee calling the
Convention. is the Development of the Resources
of The Western and Southern States. 1t will be
Tor You To determine after full dellberaion what
their resources are? how they can best be devel-
"ped and how far the aid of The General Gov
eminent may be invoked for that purpose? But
trust it will not be deemed out of place for me
10 state my views on those points
The region occupied by the Western and
Southern States is of vast extent 1t may be
divided into three parts The first and greatest
is the magnificent valley in the midst of which we
now stand, and which is drained by the mighty
stream whose current rolls under the bluff on which
your city is located. II extends North and South
nearly through the entire breadth Of the Temper
| ate Zone, and East and West from the Rocky to
the Allegheny Mountains; and occupies in its
Northern extension position, midway between
the Pacific aud Atlantic Oceans. The next is
that portion which stretches East from The mouth
of the Mississippi river alung the Gulf of Mexico
and the AtlanlIc Ocean, as far as cotton, rice and
tobacco cultivated. The other stretches from
the Mississippi westward, along the Gulf of
Mexico TO the Mexican line. say the Mexican
line. for although Texas is not yet annexed the
day is near at hand when she will shine as one of
the brightest stars in our political Constellation
(Applause.)
The vast region comprehendng these three
divisions may be justly called the great Aericul-
tuTal portion of our nation. lis climate is So vari-
Gus; It's extent so vast its soil so fertile that it
is capable Of yielding III the products of that zone
IN the great perfection and abundance. Already
much has been done to deveupe its great re-.
sources. Already all the leading articles of food
and rament are produced in sufficient abundance
not only Tor lis own wants and for those of other
portions OF the Unlled States, but TO require the
demand of the markets of the world to consume
10 addition, il produces the articles of tobacco
lead tar, turpentine and lumber, far beyond the
home consumption and in short time the fertile
valleys and extensive parties of the northern
portions OF this great valley, will add to the list
OF exports the important articles of hemp and
wool, and the Southern plains, when Texas is
annexed, will add that Of sugar.
! approach now, gentlemen the important
question, How shall we, who nhabit this vast re-
gIOn, develop It's great resOutcesR For this Dur.
pose there is one thing needful and only one
and that is, that we shall get fair renumeratinp
price for all that we may produce. If we can
obtain such price, this vast region. under the
active industry Of its intelligent and enterprrsnp
inhabitants, will become the garden ofihe world
How is this to he effectedS There is but ole
mode by which it can be, and that is, TO enlaroe
our market in proportion to the increase of our
| production. This again can be obtained only in
one way--and that is. by free and ready transit
| for persons and merchandise between the various
portions Of this vast region, and between il and
other portions of the Union and the rest Of the
world.
The question then is. How shall we accom-
plisb such a transit? For This purpose Nature
has been emnently propidous to US
begin with this vas. valley drained bv the
Mississippi and IFS tributaries. Nothing more il
necessary 10 secure a cheap, speedy, certain and
safe transit between all its paris, but the i'm
provement oi its navigation and that Of lis various
great tributaries. That done, a free and safe
communication may be had between every por-
ton To sPcnTe like communication between
1t and the Southern Atlantic cities, the first and
| great point is. to adopt such measures as shall
keep open al all times in peace and var, com
nuncsiiOn. through the cUasiing trade, between
| the Gulf Of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. THE
Is the great thoroughafe, ~ hich II lnts,,oniod
| would certainly produce q rsvBl-ioe IN ,bs
commercial system, as re stoppage of one Of tho
great arteries Of the body, would in the human