New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1853-05-25
WEDNESDAY MORNING. MAY Is. 1853
THE MEMPHIS CONVENTION.


Although We entertain feelings of but slight
regard for conventions in general, and believe
them to be more frequently the means Of defeat
ing the measures they are got up to advance,
and Of retardng the plans they propose to assist,
by letting Of in talk the enthusiasm that should
b expended in hction, than of forwarding those
schemes and furthering tho.e measures, there
are, nevertheless, Conventions which we are
compelled to look upon with favor, and whose
results bid fair to prove advantageous to the in
terests they represent
the Convention to be holden at Memphis we
believe to be of the latter class and cannot avoid
thinking that it will prove advantageous and
beneficial to the interests for whose promotion
and protection it is called, The objects and
measures which will be submitted to it for con-
sideration are Of grave and momentous char
acter, affecting the present interests and future
prosperity not Of one city or one section only,
but of the whole South. 1t is not probable that
the deliberations Of the Convention will result
in an immediate increased movement in any of
the various branches of business with regard to
which it will express itself; but those dehhera-
tions will pave the way and make preparation
for an united and successful action whenever
action shall be undertaken, and will show to our
citizens the means by which they can be most
useful to their neighbors, and at the same time
do the most for their own interests.
Interested, however, as the whole South is in
the deliberations of the Memphis Convention,
there is no portion Of the South more imme-
diately or more deeply interested than the City
of New Orleans; by nature the depot and en-
trepct Of greater trade than that which flows
through New York, or Boston, or Baltimore,
the inlet Of q country consuming an immense
amount of foreign produce, and the outlet Of a
section producing more than all the rest of the
country. With advantages unequaled and I'M
surpassed, the city has not grown in accordance
with its posi- ion or its advantages, and, with all
its advance, is still greatly behind the goal to
which it should have reached Its natural adj
vantages and certain matters of mismanage-
ment have prevented it from Selling those other
artificial advantages which have been used so
effectively by other cities to the injury and
detriment of New Orleans. A conviction of this
sort has for some time been deepening and
Strengthening in the minds of our citizens and
Of our neighbors, who feel or should feel, a GER
tain degree of pride in the greatest metropolis
of the South the city which is the best and
truest exponent Of Southern life and Southern
manners. The conviction here has resulted in
efforts that are already proving themselves to
be proper by the profits they yield, and has
spurred to the commencement and initiation of
other plans, destined, we believe, to be far more
profitable, and far more productive, than any
yet started
The interests of New Orleans are so identified
with the interests Of all the Southern States,
and SO closely interviewer with whatever affects
these interests, that one cannot be touched
without a perceptible sensation in the other.
Let cotton or sugar command fair prices in Ala
bama and Mississippi, and there is almost as
much accruing benefit here as there; and con-
versely, let there be a stagnation Of business
here, and its effects reach into the country. 1t
is manfes,ly proper, therefore, that the plans to
be adopted by the Convention should be of a
broad and substantial character, such as can be
approved by all sections and all interests. We
do not recommend any matters to the body
about to meet, as deserving of special promi-
nence, nor do we fear that any that are of great
moment will be omitted or overlooked We're
we, however, to select any one out of the hume
rous subjects to be brought forward, we should
certainly select that of railroads, and urge with
our utmost ability upon the Convention that
they should do all that lies in their power to
extend, increase and hasten to completion these
roads, which will ultimately drain the Southern
States, and make st. Louis and Richmond and
New Orleans and San Francisco no farther
apart than New Orleans and Memphis now are.
A DIAMOND NuGGEr.-We have seen letter
just received by a mercantile house in this city,
from their correspondents in Rio Janefro, which,
among other matters, makes mention of the dis
covery Of diamond of remarka BILE size and purity
at small place about one hundred and thirty
five leagues from that city. 1t was accdently
seen and picked up by negress who suspected
that so brilliant stone must be of some value,
and therefore carried it to her master. He has
been already offered hundred thousand pounds
for the treasure, but declined taking it. This
is the second diamond of great value that has
been accidentally found of late near Rio Janeiro,
besides which, we have chronicled the finding of
very rich stone in North Carolina, and the
discovery Of a still richer one among lot of
meteorological specimens of small apparent
worth. Those nuggets are not quite so common
but infinitely more valuable than the golden
ores turned out in California and Australia.
DELEGATES TO THE Souri, WESTERN CoNyEN-
TON. We cheerfully give place to the annexed
call of the Mayor for a meeting on Thursday
evening next of the Delegates from this city ap-
pointed to represent her interests in the pro-
posed Memphis Convention. The card of the
Mayor fully explains the objects for which this
preliminary meeting is called
MAYoRALTY OF New ORLEANS,
May "a, 1858.
The undersigned believing it to be highly de-
sirable that some preliminary actor should be
taken on the part of the delegates from this
city to the Memphis Convention, with the view
that in the consid aud discussion Of the
vitality important questions that will be submit
ted to that body, the city of NewOrleans may
be prepared to present united stand in the fur
therance of those projects so intimately associa-
ted with her future prosperity, herewith re-
spectfully invites the Deleg ties appointed by the
undersigned, as also those appointed by His Ex-
cellency the Governor, to meet on Thursday
evening the 26th inst, at half past clock,
at the chamber Of the Board of Assistant Alder
men, City Hall, in order to determine upon such
course Of action as may be deemed advisable.
ID. CROsSMAN. MaYor.