Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-11-09
RICH III . ND, w.
Thursday Morning, November 9. is49.
THE MEMPHIS CONVENTION,

ayune and Delta, iull details Of The proceedings
of this body, which have excited unusual alien.
lion throughout the Union. Lieut.. Maury's adj
dress will be lead with inierest-ihough, in
showing that, on the contemplated railroad TO the
Pacific, il would cost sixty five dollars a ton 10
transport produce from The Pacific 10 the Mi.sis.
spp, and thereby demonstrating the entire i'm.
prac,icability OF The route as medium for the
transactions of commerce, unless The whole ex-
pense OF its construction he borne by The Genera!
Government, he threw damper on The san.
guine anticipalions previously entertained 10y
many. His warm advocacy OF The connection
by The lslhmns OF Panama, and his known skep-
teal. il not unfriendly view of the road across
TehuanIepec, $50 dear TO The people of New
Orlrans,) had excited The opposition OF the iele>
CATION llom that city 10 his election as President
OF the Convention. Indeed, The correspondent OF
the New Orleans Crescen. INDUCES in some
harsh aud Ioub,lfss unioundsd remarks in re.
gard 10 The propIe,y oil his selection. He writes:
The Lieutenant was chosen entirely in con-
sideIa;ion Of the leler he wrote some months
ago, 10 show that Memphis would be best for an
overland railroad from the Mississippi TO the
Pacific. IL was not generally known what bis
present views are; and The majority Of The men,
bers Of The Convention seemed to forget how
much the residents al Washington were, during
the last winter, placed under the influence OF the
New York capitalists, headed by Rowland and
Aspinwall. Even had Lieut. Maury's opinions
been strictly accordanl-as they are nol-wilh
those entertained by majority oil The Convention,
Sfi hl bpPn In
over this large body, gathered from all paris ul
the country. The position Of an officer OF the
Navy, unless he possessed remarkable talents
and requirements, isoates him, TO a greater OF
less degree, from The movements OF society al.
most entirely commercial and agricultural. Nor
did his opening address show that he was so lar
able to divesl himself oil prote. sional prejudices
as 10 loci on the objects oil the Convention from The
same point Of view as that occupied by vast
majority oil the people OF The United States At
Ter thanking the Convention tor the kindness they
had IN lnitested in appointing him 10 preside over
their deliberations, and asking for their inGul-
eence in any judgments they might form on The
manner in which he discharged the dulles I'M
posed on him, he proceeded 10 speak OF The ne
cessily for connecting the waters OF The Atlantic
with those Of The Pacific, descanting on its i'm
puIlance to the military offences Of The coun-
ny.
With singular bad taste he asked why he, e
lieutenant OF The United States Navy, was here
at preseni; and announced that il was because
the great ends 10 be achieved by the Convention
weie almost purely military, ard chiefly Tor The
purposes OF iorlification and defence. The immc-
diale deduction from such a proposition was ha
an overland railroad ought 10 be tuiii, no mater
what il nigh, cost, or how little !, might pay
"For myself" said the lieutenant, 81 hope il The
Government builds The road, that it never will
pay cen, on the .apilal invested; hope such
a road never would pay any dividends wrung
trcm passengers and the transportation oil goods
across the county" Oh course such views were
coldly received by the Convention and this
par. OF The speech was considered a. throwing
cold wafer on all The overland railroad schemes.
Every man in The Convention is sensible enough
10 koow lha, q road which will not pay for its
construction should not aud will not be built
The immediate deduction Oi several oil The delee
cations was that lhe President was unfavorable
~ any overland road; and This was slrens lheoed
by The manner in which be spoke Of the Panama
road.
The whole burden, in fact Of Lieut.. Maury's
speech was a railroad across The Islhmus OF Pana-
ma. Still, knowing The feeling which peryades
the Western people in regard TO England, he en-
deavored 10 excite lheir national prejudiees in
favor OF this scheme Of Rowland and Aspinwall.
lie stated TINT when application was made TO
English capitalists 10 take stock in the Panama
road, that they all refused, well seeing that the
completion Of such work would give American
merchants an advantage Of from thirty TO forty
days in all the markets Of the world Then he
attempted 10 grove that the Panama road would
be Of immense advantage TO the Mississippi Yal'
ley and all The country washed by the waters
flowing into the Gulf OF Mexico. Here he over
shot bis mark for If Panama affords some ad-
vantage, 10 the lands sepding out the products
to The world through the Gulf, how much great
er are The advantages afforded by the road across
Tehuanlepeo.
i, may be we'll, however, for the friends Of the
Tehuan,epec road that Lieut. Maury was cleo
ted President Of the Convention. His speech
certainly paves tho way for The introduction Of
the road to The Convention; and the probability
at present is tina, the New Orleans delegation
will accomplish all that i. proposes.
These comments ale the natural fruits OF
prejudice in favor OF the Tehuanlepec route, and
do Injustice 10 The able aud accomplished Lieu
tenant, who Afterwards, delegate from Aikan.
sas having expressed dissatisfaction, took ccca>
sion 10 define more clearly and satisfactorily bis
views. 10 TACT, another delegate from Louisi
ana the correspondent oi The Della, says that
Lieutenant MS opening address was received
"amid loud applause, especially from The Loui.
,iana delegation and the advocates of The 18th
mus route. The friends OF The Missouri and
the other overland routes conIenled themselves
with a silent but no, less expressive maniesla>
ton OF dissatisfaction with The views OF Lieu.
tenant Msury, and are preparing themselves to
combat them. The speech OF Lieutenant
Msury was an ofi-hand, ersemporanecus one.
aud was we'll delivered. He is quite small
man, slightly lame, With an exceeding amiable.
pleasant and thoughtful expression"
We mus, admit, however, that there is much
force in the Crescent's STRUCTURES ON that portion
of Lieutenant MS address which looks 10 the
Government TO pay entirely Tor road, which
will not pay for ITSELF.
While we should rejoice To see this great work.
come cling the Atlantic AMI Pacific, constructed,
We cannon, with our od.iashoned notions OF
warrant OF power Tor the purpose. Il is in vain
for lis advocates 10 trace il to The military"
clause-lha, would be SO sweeping a construction
as 10 throw down all barriers between the aulho>
ri'y and rights Of The Stale and the Federal Cos
vernmen We apprehend lha, We are in mi
norily, and that the wave OF popular feeling in
favor of The work and The growing strength Of
The great West, will carry The day 10 favor OF the
most Unlimited aci ion OF the Federal Govern
m ,n on this suhiecl-but, il the work is 10 be
d,ne, we are inclined to endorse Col. Campbell
OF Alabama, who submitted series o. resolu-
lions in favor Of amending the Federal Cons,u.
lion, so as 10 give tho General Governmen, cer-
tain powers over internal Improvements, ty an
application OF The public lands, &c. Perilous as
it may be 10 attempt change OF that sacred ills
s,rument, i, might b. beuer 10 amend The Consli
tuition aud confer The power accordingly. thau
grossly 10 violate il in The way proposed. il is
we'll 10 remark heTe, laal though COL Tnavant
anu MIR. ]. E. Leigh, prominent actors in The