The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-06-21
lieved that Congress would nohsancton any sdch

in the report which was carried
Mr.. APPHRsoN moved to strike out Richmond
and insert Norfolk
Mr.. ELLIS, of Virginia, opposed it.
The motion prevailed.
MIR. TREzEvANT presented resolutions, and
moved that they be referred to the committee OF
two from each State They are
let. Resolued, That railroad from the Missis.
sippi valley to the Pacific ocean is demanded not
only by commercial and individual interests. but
by our national defences.
ID So soon as the surveys recently ordered by
Congress are completed. the General Government
adopt such steps as will insure the comnIetion of
the main trunk of said road at the earliest possbe
period.
! Sd. As the General Government could be ex-
pected to construct only one main trunk it should
be located in the route combining in the greatest
degree the advantages of genial climate cheapnesa
of construction, geographical centraiy, and ac-
feasibility at all seasons from ali portions of the
! Union
! 4th. The General Government should provide n
liberal grant of the public lands for This railroad
startDg from its eastern terminus. on the confines
Z of Arkansas, and running to Dubuque, Iowa, St.
Louis, Missouri Memphis, Tennessee, Vicksburg,
! Mississippi, New Orleans, Louisiana, and to some
port OF Texas on the Gulf coast thus giving to an
portion of the Union, from the Lakes to the Gulf,
fair and just participation in the benefits that
will flow from connexion with the worlds
I highway.
resolution, which was referred to the COMMITTEES:
/ ResoIued, That as the best means of nrovidinp
for the defence and permanent safety of our west
ern possessions, and to promote the general wei.
fare of the nation, Congress ought TO grant such
aid as may be necessary to secure as speedily as
practical continuous railway communication be.
tween the Atlantic and Pacific oceans by the
shortest, cheapest, and best route that can be
found.
Rev c. K. MARSHALL offered the following re-
solutions:
Whereas the Mississippi river and its tributaries
drain an extensive and highly valuable portion of
the Southwestern States-the agricultural and
commercial importance of which are incalcuabIy
great and must increase with the growing social,
political, and religious interests in all coming
time; and inasmuch as present welfare and
the obligations we are under to posterity alike re-
quire US to adopt such measures for the permanent
establishment of commerce and agricultural en-
terprises as shall insure safe inves tments there
in which necessarily involves the drainage of the
aliuvial lands and their protection from the floods
of our teeming rivers; and inasmuch as the atten.
ton of the citizens of this most southwestern basin
has been long called to these matters and uni
versal conviction prevails that every measure like
| ly to advance these objects should be employed
by the General Government; therefore
Resolred, That in the opinion of this convention
it is the duty of Congress to make arrangements
from the most thorough investigation of all the
sources of information and the obtaining of all
facts having tendency to throw light upon the
peculiar phenomena and laws governing the wa
tiers OF the Mississippi river and its principal tr
butares, by which their navigation may be rem
dered more safe and thorough, the adjacent lands
DE redeemed, and the country be preserved from
| inundation by their waters.
Resoued, That the convention respectfully re.
commend to Congress that among the measures
! calculated to advance the above objects and ia
cilita,e the schemes already undertaken, it deems
it highly important that the Government send
abroad corps OF competent engineers to visit and
investigate the history and phenomena of the
rivers Of the Old World, embracing the Pc, the
Nile, the Euphrates, the Tigris, the Indus, the
Gauges, and such other streams analogous to their
rivers as may be deemed advisable, and furnish
reports upon all matters that may contribute to
! the promotion Of objects contemplated.
Resoued, That in furtherance of the objects
sought we deem it highly important that system
of permanent hydrometic gauges should be esta-
blished by the General Government at several
points along the said rivers at the principal towns
and cities, by which the actual stages of their
water may be accurately ascertained from day to
day, the depths of their channels regularly sound
ed; the changes going on upon their banks be
marked and recorded, all which shall be reported
to the proper department Of the Government from
time 10 time.
DR.. MERRILL, of Memphis offered the following,
which was referred:
Resolred, That in view of the importance of the
diffusion of intelligence generally as the founda.
ton OF republican institutions, and as the basis of
higher seminaries of learning, it be strongly
ommended to the Legislatures Of the Southern
and Western States to adopt such systems of com
mon school education will teLd to secure, for all
future time the advantages of sound literary and
moral instruction to the youth Of their whole white
population, without distinction of condition,
and without the exacton of tuition fees.
JOHN A. KAssoN, of Mo, offered the following
resolution, which was adopted.
Resclued, That in the opinion Of this convention
II is OF great importance that each State should
tablish bureau of statistics, under special super
lnendence OF statstician, in which shall be col
leced all facts touching the capability, produc-
ton, industry, arts, wealth, and population of the
State, the superintendent of which should at each
session of the Legislature report thereto such facts
and suggestions as he may think expedient or they
| may demand,
| Judge Moore's resolutions were then referred to
| the Committee on Business.
Bishop OTEY offered the following resolutions at
the instance of absent friend, for whom he could
vouch
| lst. Resolusd, That the free navigation of the
ANA on lie one of the most important questions of
! the age, and its accom- lshment worthy of the beat
| efforts of American Statesmen.
I'd. That the naval expedition sent by this Gov
| eminent to explore the Amazon, an act worthy
| of the enlightened government of free people;
and this convention halls with delight the enlarged
and liberal views recently taken by our sister re-
| pubics OF the South with regard to their Amazon
| ian water courses. Inc Tree navigation of the
Amazon is THERE; they do light to claim-let them
| go ahead and fear not.
Sd That the interests of commerce, the cause of
ciyiizati n, and the mandates of high heaven re
| qure the Atlantic slopes of South America to be
subdued and replenished; that the river steamer
| and the free navi CATION of the Amazon are the
principal levers by which that part of the world is
to be raised up to the abode of great, prosperous
and happy peoples that, impressed with the i'm.
portance of such contamination, not only to this
country and to all the States of Chrstendom, but
TO the happy solution also of the great problem of
human progress throughout the world Therefore
We the people of the Mississippi valley and of the
Atlantic slopes of North America, represented in
| this cow enion, think fit to declare that in our
judgment the free nav cation of the Amazon is the
greatest boon that commercial people claim
of the diplomacy of the age; that we would be
glad to see such a boon obtained peaceably, at any
price that it becomes great nation to offer.
4th. That Lieutenant M. F. Maury be appointed
to invite in the name of this convent ton, the atten
ton of this Government to this subject, and to urge
the importance of procuring the free navigation of
the Amazon, and of opening the commercial rela.
tons by steam and otherwise with the mouth of
that river and through it with the people inhabit-
| ing the banks of its tributaries.
In favor of these resolutions Bishop Otey read an
exceedingly interesting paper
DR.. QUINTARD then took the stand, and spoke
| upon the same subject.
He was interrupted by the entrance of the Gen