The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1849-04-09
Memphis oonven.iop 4,


Convention is to be held at Memphis on the
4th of July next in order to take into consideration
the plan of Railroad from the Pacific to the Mis-
sssippi We perceive that, in some of the towns of
the South and West, meetings have already been
held and delegates appointed to attend the Conven-
ton. No part Of the country is more interested in
the projected road than New Orleans, and we think
it behooves the citizens of this place to meet at
some early day, in order to select delegates and
the sooner it is done the better, inasmuch as such
proceeding in the metropolis of the South West
will be strong assurance that the people are really
interested in the matters to be discussed by the
Memphis Convention.
Let it not be supposed that the movement for the
construction of Pacific and Mississippi Railroad
is premature, or that the subjects which will en-
gage the attention of the Memphis Convention will
be of the impracticable and visionary sort. At
least, if sensible and well-informed men are sent
to the Convention, much may be effected in the
way of diffusing knowledge and organizing public
opinion in regard to the proposed road. The Con-
vention of lS45 was too vague and indefinite in its
objects to have much influence on the country
though one of the measures discussed at that time
the railroad from Chattanooga to Nashville-is
in fair way towards completion. But the end of
the Convention to be held in July next is single and
well defined. 1t is practical in its nature, and must,
in very short time, engage the thoughts and alb
sorb the attention of the whole country. Care must
be taken, however, to keep the main object of the
Convention steadily before the minds of its men,
beers. If they permit themselves to be led into the
wilderness by such men as those who guided ito
great extent, the Convention of 1915, they may do
little more good than the latter effected and the
principal thing it did to declare the Mississippi
an inland sea-" There may be persons in the
Convention of July who will attempt to lug in ia
vore ideas on subjects altogether foreign to the
scheme of the railroad hence it will be necessary
to have free from passion and practical in their
ideas, if any thing really valuable and important is
to be effected at Memphis.
No matter at what point on the Mississippi the
railroad from the Pacific is to terminate, the sub
ect is one of vast and ncalculabe interest to New
Orleans. The plan of a road, or roads, from San
Francisco to st. Louis was lately brought before
the Senate but the time of Congress was too Short
and public opinion too immature for any thing to
be done at that time. Recent events, however, in
Europe warn us that we should not delay any
efforts we intend making for the Eastern trade
and had not these events happened, everyday ex-
perience teaches us that, in the present age COM
mercal competition is active between nations
as between individuals The fact that so practical
an intellect as Mr. Benton's endorses the plan of
road from the Pacific to the Mississippi is strongly
in favor of its feasibility though there are many
considerations which might lead us to prefer the
Southern road-say from San Diego or Monterey
to Memphis or Neutrality-suspicious. the Northern
route from San Francisco to St. Louis. If the
Memphis Convention is properly conducted il NAV
furnish the next Congress with clue as to what
the will of the West-including by that term all
the States on the Mssissippi-is in regard to the
proposed road, and as to which route will be the
most advantageous for the country at large.