Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1853-06-17
THE MEMPHIS CONVENTION.


This important assemblage, convened in Memphis, OF
Monday June 7. More than thousand delegates il
attendance The Convention was called TO order al II
o'clock, A. NJ by placing Major James Penn Of Memphis
ia the chair The proceedings were commenced by prayer
by the Right Rev. Bishop Otey. w. L. Dawson, Esq
OF Georgia was on motion Of Gov Foote Of Mississippi
elected President by reclamation
The President, on taking his seat made eloquen
speech In which he clearly defined the objects be
summaed by the Conventions Direct trade from Southern
ports with Europe; Education Of children in Southern
colleges; Continental depot for cotton The Pacific Raj
Road; Tho Rail Road Alliance between The West and South
encouragement Of State improvements; The establishment
and support Of Southern and Western newspapers and the
encouragement of Southern eraure To give liberal cup
port to Southern importing houses.
The President eaid that the Convention for lust
unfair sectional unconstitutional purpose 1t 10 in op
position geographical interests but examine into
plain aud admitted rights Ii any seeming sectional anita
goHism appear the reply is members of family
children Of the mother only younger than elders
and by one statute Of distributors the Constitution Of the
United States, entitled the shtsto equal
of the same hertage that claim nothing
that We ask nothing more and would not, If we could
take any thing more We know blessings, family
have been abundant and that have lived in plenty and
prosperity upon what We have received But now,
growing up-our wants have increased and positively
claims should regard In words we desire 10 i'm
prove domain TO improve ways-to regulate our IA
my ntercouse-to transact business and not "a
trouble sisters in managing affairs with ono ano
ther strangers. We hereto ascertain how we can
manage heritage and deveope its resources and
fulfil the duties incumbent
Our Agriculture fret demands serious attention
How shall best dcvelope its resourcesl Look the
great West-the Valley OF the Mississippi draining least
l25OOO square miles and then the Southhe base Of the
West and pressed by her the Atlantic and the Gulf Ex
anime the present productions Of both, and what their
capabilities when fully deveopcdq The contemplation is
wonderful What surplus Of productions is presented
where shall they be consumed? What facilities have
transport that surpus2 These questions before
hence II Is duty to examine into national highways
their capacity their improvement and their extent; then
Investigate what artificial improvements The necessities
agriculture and commerce demand TO ascertain the cheap
est and most expeditions carrying our surplus
ducts TO their consumers and the points on our coasts 10
which they should be directed.
The question then occurs would l. encourage our sp
ricuue the planter should be the exporter of his own
productions his surpusq And whether it would be 10 his
interest TO prefer ports Could he thereby
avoid much of the intermediate agency which so heavily
his productions aud Of dminshes his receipts
whether the present commercial policy of intermediate
agencies cannot be berazed to to the producer