The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-09-17

Pursuens to adjournment, The Comsercial
convention re-sssembled in the hall ftho House
of Delegates, on Thursday II o'ciock, r. NJ

REPORT FROM tbs BUsIHEsa COMMITTEE.
Mr. BuRwELI, Of Bedford. The committe.
appointed on yesterday, charged with tho dat,
OF preparing report aud resolutions for tn,
consideration Of the convention have performed
that duty and directed me TO submit to the con
vention the result Of their deliberations.
For the information of this body, will read
the report Of the committee. Ii is AS follows
The committee appointed to report to the
convention the most efficient means OF achiev-
ing its important objects, have performed that
duty so far the materials existed for a
proper statistical exposition OF the value OF the
trade of Virginia. well AS the facilities com
pleted, or in progress, for It's transportation t.
the exporting cities of the State.
The commercial prosperity of Virginia il
based upon the employment of the Chesapeake
ports; and no project for acquiring the ma
terials or the means OF expectation, can be sue
cessfu, which does not contemplate their en-
| plovmenf.
The country tributary TO the Chesapeake
possesses advantages not surpassed by any
other on the Atlantic Nature has been so
bounteous, that the difficulty has been, not so
much to discover good site, for city, but
| to discriminate between the numerous excellent
locations presented. Norfolk, Richmond, Pc
tersbnrg, Fredericksburg, and Alexandria, have
all been established to receive and conduct the
trade of Virginia.
| From the individuality of these local interests,
| ithas been heretofore impossible to adopt any
system of improvement calculated to promote
the exclusive advantage of any one Of the cities
referred TO. Apprehensive that the limit
trade legitimate to each might be diverted to
some rival, impediments have been thrown in
the way of great lines vi communication v it'll
the interior of our own and other States, calcu-
lated, perhaps, to vary the local direction OF
some particular trade, but destined, in the end,
To compensate each Of these cities, by its d.
vidend of trade far surprising IN magnitude
aud value, any particular loss. The evils OF
rivalry, will, however, be no longer felt, each
of these cities having received line OF internal
communication, many of which are now con-
verging to common point OF union /; interests
heretofore supposed antagonistc, are now har-
monized in the completion of plan common
to them all, and weapons Enlightened by the
conflict Of generous rivalry, are now welded
in the achievement Oh common triumph. IL 10
thus that the construction OF the South Side
railroad. and of the James River canal, make
the prosecution of the Virginia and Tennessee
railroad, alike important to Lynchburg-to
whose public spirit is so largely due the concep-
ton and execution of that great proect-to
Richmond, and to Petersburg. The extension
| of the great Central railroad to the Ohio no
| longer subject of exclusive interest to Rich
mond, appeals to the support OF Alexandria.
| The completion of the Dock connections will
connect Norfolk with the James river and ka-
nawha canal, and interest that city in its extern
| sion to the Ohio. The Richmond and Danvile
| railroad is upon the same principles work from
| which Petersburg and Richmond may derive
4 common benefits.
I Convinced, therefore, that their interest and
l duty alike demand cordial alliance, the cities
| of Virginia will hereafter bestOw upon the ex-
| tension of the great lines of Improvement here
\ in.iicated, their earnest and combined co-opera-
ton
Since, however, the partial completion of
these great improvements have already bestowed
upon the cities of Virginia large accumulation
of trade, il becomes necessary to encourage the
establishment of commercial MARINE of sail
ships and steamers, 10 convey abroad our own
trade, and exchange for ii the productions OF
other nations. The export and import trade OF
Virginia is now taxed with transport coast
wise, for expectation from Northern cities it is
burthened with the charges of Northern mer-
chants ;.whilst the whole commercial profits
\ resutiR from freights, exchanges, as we'll AZ
\ from tie Importation aud supply of tire goods
\ received on exchange, result ex 'lusvely to
| Northern capital and to Northern enterprise.
l We state this fact in no spirit of sectional
prejudice, but as a consequence OF our own
supineness. We think it time that trade so
crcuitous, and tribute SO unworthy, should
l cease. We should now export from, and import
into the Chesapeake cities of Virginia, by yes
| sells owned and manned by Southern men. No
State can expect TO preserve its prosperity, which
does not provide for its citizens the varied pur-
suits in which industry and enterprise shall re-
ceve an adequate reward.
| In estimating the present value of the Chesa-
peake trade, 40 far as meterials are at hand for
correct estimate, We will find that the James river
| aud kanawha canal, its principal tributary. con-
trlbnted during the lf st year, &c., 90 1865 49, the
| products of the interior; whilst it carried into
| the interior, merchandise and other articles val.
| ued at S7,727, 224,29.*
| The business of the central railroad has
doubled within the past year, its downward ton
mage amounting TO $4,000 tons, and it's upward
transportation is perhaps one-haIf that amount
The Richmond and Danve, the Richmond
and Petersburg, and Richmond and Frederick, :
burg railroads, contribute considerable additions
| to the aggregate of trade upon the James river.
Amongst other important items of-an export
| trade we may mention that the total inspections
| of Virginia tobacco amount TO 10000 hogsheads,
4
rope; whilst the remainder, with large amount
not inspected, is manufactured in the interior
for consumption at home and abroad
| The Touring mills in Richmond manufactured
last year l,l73,l0O bushels of wheat, and are
expected this year to manufacture / ,5S7, 100
bushels. This flour is shipped to Rio, through
Northern houses. in vessels whose return car
goes consist chiefly of coffee. This coffee is
in turn, sent back in Northern vessels 10 Vir-
ginia, for consumption--the freights, commits
stone, and commercial profits of both the export
snd import trade, being direct less to the
State of Virginia, to which this trade rightfully
belonged.
During the present year, however, some of
the most enteprsing merchants of Richmond
have shipped nine cargoes of -four. directly to
Rio, the vessels to return to this port with
hides coffee, and other products Of South
America. We are moreover informed that a
larger amount Of goods will be imported this
year TO Richmond than has been imported in
any one year for n series Of years and that the