Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-11-25
TIE MEMPHIS CONVENTION.

| Dr. Thomas Fearn, in behaii Vi uhe .o'
Ting Committee then reported the following se"'
emen as officers Of the Convention. CD,
I'resdent-Hon. John &. Calhouh oi oou'''
Carolina. ,n...a.
Vie I,residcnts.- DR.. J. Oyerton OF tennessee;
Col. John Hanna, Kentucky, Col. w. Strong
Arkansas; Gen. Roger Barron, Mississippi Capl.
Fl III Shreye Missouri; Hon. 0. I. Morgan
| Louisiana; Major A. Black, South Carolinai
| Gen. L. White, Illinois; DR.. r. Snead, MOTH I'd
roIina: j l.. Hawkins, Ohio; Hon. w. Burch, In
diana; Gen. A. c. Dodge, Iowa. b. 3. Minor
vs. Ssse ,a T. M. holland, Arkansas; J.
George Harris. Tennessee; A; o. Caa''peI n
R De Bow, South Carolina; F. A. Lumsden,
louisiana T. B. Drinker Ohio.
DJayshals.- Gen. J. F. Harrington, Lewis =.
Trezevant, and w. B. Morris.
The thanks OF the Convention having oeen
rendered 10 the Hon. Z. ]. Shields for The able anu
efficient manner in which bis duties as Chaif-
man had been discharged,
Hon. John C.. Calhoun was then conducted ~
the Chair, and addressed the meeting in an APP
propriale and impressive manner Tor about three
quarters OF an hour.
He understood that the Convention had assem-
bled for the purpose of promoting and fostering
the resources and interests OF The SCUM ana !" est
He conjured them 10 avoid all questions calSu
lated 10 excite party feelings. He asked, what
subjects they could properly memorialize Con-
gress on, and, among them, enumerated Inc I'M
provement Of the Mississippi;-to do tins, Con,
sress has as undoubted right, as TO protect ana
provide for the safety Of our commerce on me
ocean. He then proceeded 10 discussion OF
clearing the Mississippi and its tributaries OF an
distractions 10 its navigation. He assmilated
the great river 10 an inland sea, and said that II
came as fully under the superviS on OIL Inc Ma
ional Legislature as the Atlantic coast. ne
| Mississippi and its tributary streams formed a
great artery, and that any stoppage OF il was sure
| to produce commercial convulsion. Proceeding
down the Mississippi, he called attention 10 clear
ing oul the bar in the river below New Orleans,
| and providing for its defence He then spoke OF
the dangers of navigation in the Gulf OF Mexico,
especially on the Florida coast, in the vicinity OF
the Florida KEYS The defence OF the Tortugas
was BY all means TO be desired, and II should be
placed in state which preclnded the possibility
of its being wresled from us. He also was in ia
vor, and warmly urged, that Congress should
| commence and perfect system oil Gull Deien-
ces He declared himself also IN lavor OF re-
linquishment, by The Federal Government, oil all
jurisdiction over the public lands within The
| States, relinqushing the same 10 The States IN
which the lands might be situated, and conlerrns
the power on the several States 10 perfect titles
thereto, paving 10 The Government OF the United
| States Gel per centum Cor some certain portlon)
! of The amount OF sales. The residue would iur-
nish an ample fund for purposes OF Improvements
He also recommended in This connection the
policy OF levying and retaining the low lands
OF The Mississippi Valley; the system TO be com.
menced cautiously, and 10 be persevered in, as
experience should demonstrate its utility. The
fund that would be derived from the sale OF public
| - (0r, -hapN tho tnr,cd safiO
| over them should be relinquished by The Federal
Government, would be an ample one Tor this pur-
pose.
He also approved OF a connection of The Val
lies 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
| It's system of defences, and should be perfected.
He did not wish to press his own peculiar OPT
Mons on the Convention, but was opposed TO the
| Federal Government being asked for apProprla-
| tions Tor the construction OF Rail Roads from the
| Mississippi to the Atlantic Sea Board, but warm
" urged that work, and ;hoped The Convention
would urge il upon the consideration OF The Le-
| oislatures Of the different States more immediate
| II interested He considered this work as Of
| erea, importance, both 10 the North and South,
| but more Immediately so 10 the States through
which The road should pass
This, he said brought him 10 the railroad sys
TEN which he advocated as the BEST and Tor light
er and more expensive articles, The cheapest
mode of Transportation. In connection with this
he alluded 10 The delicate question OF how lar the
aid Of Congress should be extended; and after say
ing that even could Congress, which he denied,
| take subscription in the stock, il was not 10 be
desired. He thought, however, that Congress
might indirectly give its aid by granting each al.
,ernale section Of public lands through which the
railroad might pass, as subscription. lie had
stated that i, was 10 be desired that The Genera
Government should terminate as soon as possible
its proprietorship OF the public domain. Con-
gress could secondly extend its aid by repeal OF
| the duty on railroad Iron which would amount
to 81 900 per mile.
He concluded BY expressing iervent wish
that entire unanimity might prevail, and that
should any question arise in lis deliberations IN
yolvinc difference OF constitutional opinion, II
should be passed over.
Mr.. C. becoming very hoarse, was compelled
to close his remarks, Notwithstanding repeated,
and prolonged calls TO go on.
A long debate here s7rang up on Inc question
OF how the delegates should vote, whether accord
ing 10 the Federal representation Of The States or
otherwise: which was settled by deciding that
each State represented, should be entitled 10 an
equal number OF yoles with the others.
Alter the Inauguration of officers The Reports
of various Committees Of the last Convention
were called for and read Col. Gadsden present.
ed a map OF various Railroad routes from The
Mississippi Eastward.
On Friday, a motion was made 10 appoint
Committee on the Cumberland road which was
resisted by MIR. C. c. Clay, OF Alabama, and
Withdrawn.
annonied ON motion of B. B. Minor, OF Virginia,
| who was made Chairman.
The following extracts embrace all the remain
ing proceedings oil interest.
/ a motion was made for the appointment Oh
| committee. 10 consist OF one memoer from lhe
states OF indiana, Illinois, Missouri and Arkan-
cas- severay TO consider of the propriety oil con-
sirnc,ine military road from Vandalia, Illinois,
10 the Texan frontier and oil the ,pfopTiety OF
granting allernaie Sections oil land 10 Inc as
lricls through which said road should pass, a: a
means OF efecling this object. fassea over, III
formally.
delegate from Illinois offered The following:
R,olred That this convention will recommend
M subect 10 the consideration OF Congress, not
within lis undisputed powers.
Some lule debate sprung up on this Tesolu-
ton, and some diversity OF opinion as 10 !he po-
sirion assumed by The President OF the Conven-
lion. in The opening address. Mr.. Calhoun took
occasion TO explain:-He considered Inc Missis-
spp as an Inland Sea, for purposes Of commerce,
10 the States of this Coniederacy, ano, as such,
its improvement became as much w within me
power of Congress, as that of The Chesapeake
Bav or any other Of our inland seas or harbors
! He considered the terms national interest, Of
national Importance" 10 signify, properly, that
for which a specific grant OF power 10 Congress
/ Is contained in the Constitution. General vel
fare 10 mean such provisions as may be MADE
for The good OF the States, under Inc specinc
grants in the Constitution. He considered ms
as an assemblaee OF confederation OF Nations
| The resolution was adopted.
The organization Of July's Committees was
now taken up, and after some difficulty, and de-
Law in making selections was comple'ea.W
The Convention adjourned ill o'clock, T; M.
FaIpAY EVENING, 18th Nov.
The Convention met pursuant 10 adjournment.
On motion General Gaines was elected vice
President on the part OF the Convention az laIse,