New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-12-05

That shall endsavor to lay before readers ct the
earliest possible moment.
SOUTHERN COMMERCIAL CONVENTION,
The Commercial Convention Of the Southern
States, which meet at Baltimore in 1851, at
Memphis in 1852, and at Charleston in 1868.
adjourned from the latter city to reassemble in
New Orleans On tho second Monday Of the en-
suing month.
If we were to judge Of the Importance Of
these Conventions by tho perceptible results Of
their deliberations only, it is much to be doubted
whether they would preserve the position and
Importance generally awarded to them. They
have not started single new line Of steamships
built one mile Of railroad, improved the naviga.
ton Of any river, increased the yield Of any
plantation, given aid to education, or, in fact
contributed directly to the improvement o
Southern interests in any way that can b,
pointed out. In view of this it is hardly to BIZ
wondered that some Of the Northern commercia
classes and merchants who are accustomed tt
judge Of the value Of everything by its imme
diate cash results, and to ask for a direct tan.
question the usefulness Of these unproductiye
assemblies
1t Is undeniable that our conventions have not
built steamships or railroads, or, as yet, per-
ceptibly contributed to the growth Of Southern
commercial interests. For all this they are
neither useless or unproductive, but, on the con-
trary, highly valuable. A direct interference
in the great measures Of the day was not within
the scope Of their original plan. They were
commenced, and have been continued, rather
with reference to future undertakings, than to
those that are now in existence. They were
intended to be deliberatiye, and not executive
bodies; TO draw together as much Of the intelli.
genoe of the Southern States as might be prao-
cable, and take into consideration those mea-
gures that promised most for the welfare OF the
South, in order that afterwards, concerted ac-
tion might be had on them. They have been, in
fact, sectional, industrial congresses, the dele
gates to which were representatives and sena-
tors They have taken up and considered some
Of the most important questions Of the day, and
elicited opinions whose value is beginning to be
every where visible. They have given stim-
ulus 10 Southern enterprise and industry, by
pointing out the way in which it might be rem
dered remuneratiYe and valuable It is ell that
il desirediof them-all that is expected. The
Anti Slavery, Maine.Law. Peace, Anti-Ne-
braska, Horse, Baby, and other conventions at
the North, have nothing more to show for their
ilabors. This 10 not political or philanthropio
idea, but agricultural and commercial intended
to do the most that can be done for bringing out
and developing Southern interests. There has,
undoubtedly, been d needless amount Of speech
making at each Of the two previous meetings,
and matters wholly irrelevant to the objects
of the convention have been brought forward.
We hope they will be omitted hereafter; but
even their existence is only blot upon very
laudable plan
Wea not aware what precise subjects will
be brought before the Convention that is about
to sit here. They will. however, most probably
be analogous to those discussed ct previous
meetings, and include whatever is likely to be
Of interest to the South. First and foremost in
this order We think the support, encouragement
and extension Of railroads should be placed.
Every year shows more and more conclusiyely
the advantages they confer upon the sections
traversed by them and the proportionate injury
suffered by localities that lie away from them.
The Jackson and Opelousas railroads, incom-
pleta as they are, have incontestibly demon
strated that the wealth as well a. the con-
venience Of those living on their route ia in.
creased by their existence; and every one Ia
looking forward to the time when the engine Of
the one shall only stop at the Ohio, and that of
the other not pause this side Of the Rio Grande.
The inconvenience suffered from low water can
be aurmounted only by this means, and neither
NeWOrleans Or the South can take its proper
position until system Of railroads is generally
introduced. We would urge this as a promi-
nent topic for elaboration and hope that il will
be carefully weighed and the results published
By the action Of the City Council the Mayor
has been directed to appoint d hundred dele
gates from the city and to invite the Governors
Of Southern States and the Mayors Of Southern
cities to visit us during the session of the Con-
vantion. Other appropriate steps will undoubt-
ediy DC taken, such as commend themselves to
the Judgment Of our people. The citizens of
cnarleston, baltimore and Memphis took coca
sion, during the meetings in those places, to ex-
tend an elegant hospitality to the delegates,
which will Of course be initiated in NewOrleans
The festivities which enliven ssason here vii,
have attractions in the eyes Of our friends from
other places, and no better time can be selected
by those intending to visit us than that in which
the Commercial Convention is in session.