The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-11-11
.F st1t f From the New Orleans Pcayuns.
Proceedings or the Memphis Convention.
First Day--Eysning Session.

mittee OF organization, TO whom was referred the nomi
nsSn n Maay
ted president Hon g. G.. Clay, Of Alabama, W. T.
Mason Of Mississippi Col ,WliousAsy ,. %am, q
louisiana ex.Govenor 1. s. Drew. Of Arkansas; Hon
Ashbel Smith, Of Texas Ashton Johnson, Of Missouri
Col John T. Irrelevant, Of Virginia; Joseph 4. Thomp-
son, of Pennsylvania; and L. g. Robinson, OF New York,
were appointed vice presidents; and A. Arthnb Of
Mississippi; Richard Walker OF Alabama; +, J. Carroll,
OF Tennessee; E. N. Price, of South Carolina; Alex
Walker, of Louisiana; l. J. Reardon, OF Arkansas E.
w Upshaw, Of Texas; a. Finley, Of Missouri; and H.
j. Eastin, OF Kentucky, as secretaries.
H. G. Smith, OF Tennessee, moved the adoption OF the
report; which was carried unanimously.
Lieut. Maury appearing in the convention, was conduct
ed to the chair This article Of furniture is markable
relic, being the original chair in which John Hancock
sat and presided at the first continental conventional Ga
ascending the platform, Lieut. Maury thus addressed the
delegates: n it@
GENrLEMEs am under obligations which cannot
express for the honor you have done me. am sensi-
Bile that indebted to your kindness than 10 any
you have called me- must beg that You will let your
charity be as broad as your Kindness and with il cover
up all my short comings.
country in its upward and onward progress, has arrived
at that stage from which increased facilities Of commune
cation between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans are re-
CURED for the great purposes OF State Why am |, an
officer OF the navy here present to take part in your de-
Iberaons! II is because the people OF this great valley
without distinction Of party have assembled here IN the
persons of their representatives, to deliberate on meas
pres Of national defence It is well known that the
QUESTION of California was regarded with no favorable
eye by that power, che sound o. whose morning. drum
SETS " and that in case OF war with that should
war unfortunately ever occur her rst EFFORT would be
against ana .ne IL sneb ~
Cyl is by the construction OF railroad from some point
this valley those shores over which troops and ma
erias can be transported with facility
In conseouence al railroads and OF
provemens and inventions OF the age, the whole system
of national defence, hitherto pursued BY this govern
annual navy appropriation bill for the gradual increase OF
the navy and on which many millions OF dollars have been
expended has ceased 10 find place in the navy estimates
because the inventions and improvements to which
have alluded have exploded the plan of increasing the
navy according TO our former notions; For the same
The construction OF railroads along the Atlantic
seaboard has, in great measure put an end 10 the drafts
upon the treasury for lining the coast with forts and
castles In contemplating the changes which the intro
ducton OF steam on the ocean and OF railroads on me
land will make in the system OF warfare, we, as military
men, are almost ready 10 excaim with the Moor, IN the
play Othellos occupation gone" In the first war in
which this c0pn n shall Ss sgsd 70 Put ss nst
fohcaons and the magnetic telegraph the most pow
erul battery that has ever been brought INTO play in mill
5 that country
greatly facilitate the government Of the United States In
on sS e1oi and y
Of stone and mortar, Of which the public can make no
practical until we are oyeraken BY the emergencies
of war And what though this railroad TO the Pacific in
time OF peace shoud be OF great Advantage IN promoting
the welfare of the Union, in subscribing the interests OF
commerce. and in advancing the prosperity OF the people,
should il this account be regarded The less as forh
Gentlemen have assembled here TO consider Of this
with single eye 10 the good oil the country, OF
The whole country, and nothing but the country party
spirit sectional feeling and local prejudice assured,
from the character OF the delegates here present. to
have part in the proceedings Of this convention We
are n OF in possession of information sufficient TO justify
us in saying al present where this railroad shall begin,
what route shall take, whereii shall end We want
10 take The best route TIA. full and complete e1am,ai,
to begin, and we want il TO end, at those points
which shall be found most convenient for the great
national objects and ends Tor which y shall @ construct,
be found that ST. Louis the best point Tor the eastern
terminus let il begin there II Memphis let begin hefe
point north or south Of BOTH in The name Of people the
United States, and in consideration OF their national des-
iinies there let il begin.
cannot support ITSELF Pray. does the navy support tsei
Do our Notifications support themselves and make divi.
depdsl whereis the work connected with the national
deences OF these United States that supports itsef or
makes dividendsl II those who take this view expect
dividends Of cent per cent? wrung from passengers an
merchandise 10 be Transported over ths national woIk
fruits far more valuable than Il is possible for the largest
iiciends ever 10 be- II will be TO the immense region OF
the country between This and the Pacific ocean what the
Mississippi this valley. II will spread Quits branches
to the North and the South, u wench the people and
Increase The capacities OF the country TO sustain po?nla
on and il viii give TO this government the power 10
lar and 10 raise revenue from that wealth. and IRON that
and IFS poserIty forever These are
some of the peaceful fuiisdiDfends VI you piease-o
this great national work OF defence -. !,
Tie articles besides troops and munitions OF war,
which are to be transported over this road are that class
known in railroad tariffs the light and bulky. or the
more valuable article OF merchandise We may expect
branch roads be built by private enterprise from u INTO
northern Mexico. and they viii extend down INTO The
by the iron horse from the North shall NEE, equal
terms with the cargoes brought over the mountains on
the backs OF mules and aspes from the ports ~ hexco
All the Mexicans above this line viii be supplied WIN
foreign merchandise over this railway They wi amount
to several millions OF dollars, and this county wi nave
the monopoly Of that commerce We may ssPec' esen
Mexcan no consume Of the goods OF Lowell and oher
.Yankee noons nj the least two or tnree collars per
head and we shall IN return thereiot the pfoduce
ns tbe Mex;ean mines But there are other articles OF
commerce. such the great agricultural products Of Tins
oat;on from one end OF this road TO The other have
sramned the tariff Of reighs on merchandise as per
6f,v-odd railroads in this country Merchandise - di
vdsd generally by them into three classes The FIRST
class consists Of those heavy articles, such a. coal and
ron which require the fudest open cars for iranpora-
are not liable to loss or injury BY weather or the road
The second class consists Of such ARTICLES gram provs
ns &C., and the third class consists OF ght and bulky
ices, which are charged BY measurement, and not By
weight and which consist OF the more valuable articles
of commerce. such as cloths and manufactured goods
The average raie OF freight charged by these hfiy-odt
roads the first and cheapest class OF these articles
four and halt cents per ton per mile, and the average
rate ON the third and dearest class 10 eight cents per
\ per mle Now, suppose that we take hut one thir