The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-03-13
LOCAL MArTpne

oAaei = Was htin ~ the lily HAIL. on Saturday
night to appoint Delegates to the Charleston lE.
Cd Commercial Convention, to be held on d..
second Monday in April next
Mr.. d. III. London called the meeting Ia order
by proposing JOSEPH MARC, ESQ.,, AZ the Chairman
OF the meeting, which motion was carried unnni.
mously; j. w. LrwELLEN being appointed ssrre.
tary.
The Chairman briefly explained the object of
the meeting, and regretted that the hall was not
flled with business men to participate in its pro-
ceedings. II the people of Richmond were ne en-
ergetic as they should be, they would soon become
the most prosperous of those of any inland town
east OF the Ohio river. Richmond had more of
the natural elements of wealth than apv other CITY
In the Union standing she did on in.xhaustible
beos OF oitumnous coal, with the finest water
power In the world. at her very doors-and vet she
was dependent on Europe and the Nortl, for every
ornament and for almost every necessary article
OF manufacture that che needed He alluded to an
article IN the T. Tribune SOOTHING at the efforts of
the South to become commercially independent.and
declaring that agricultural communities must ever
remain dependents on the manufacturing DISTRICTS
and urged with considerable warmth and zeal the
propriefy OF sending large and able delegation to
the Charleston Convention, the object Of which he
most heartily approved. Virginia has all the ele-
ments OF greatness and independence, and with
proper energy can soon resume her true position in
in the Conlederacy, not only agricultural and
manufacturing, but as a commercial State
Mr. Edwin James arose and moved that the
chairman appoint one hundred delegates to the
Charleston Convention. He had been a resident
of Petersburg for the past twenty-five years but
had now become resident of Richmond, because
he ioresaw that she was soon to become the great
centre of Southern importations by the aid of
steamers and sailing vessels on the mighty York
and noble James rivers Mr.. J was in favor of the
various internal improvements of the State as well
as OF establishing line of steamers to Antwerp
virginia had all the elements of success, and by
proper exertions on the part of her people, must
soon become the commercial emporium of the
South
Mr. D. Ii. London was gratifed at the remarks
made by the gentlemen who had preceded him. He
believed that the people of Richmond and of Vir-
ginia had the natural resources to become great in
commerce, agriculture and manufactures-butf that
they could only attain that<great end by the united
aid of the South He was of the original friends
OF a Southern Commercial Convention, years ago
and had lost none of his zeal in that cause; and he
was proud to see that his neighbors and friends
were now coming forward to the support of mea-
sure which he believed so essential to the welfare
and prosperity of Virginia and the South But
few years since he was the only direct importer in
the clty-now, he was surrounded by gentlemen in
the same business. These happy results he be-
leved had been brought about by the great South
ern movement. and he trusted that the day was not
far distant when he should see the Southern States
making their own foreign importations to their own
ports and in their own vessels instead of to North
ern ports on Yankee bottoms. And he was strength
ened in this hope by the cheering news received
from all sections of the South The Charleston
Convention to be large one-deleeates were
to be sent from almost every Southern town and
city. Mr.. l.. then alluded to the good that had al
ready resulted from the Southern movement, and
referred to the fact that while in 1882 Charleston
had but one vessel trading to foreign port she at
this time owned three lines of foreign packets He
referred to Norfolk and her harbor and hoped to
see the day when she would occupy the CONNER
cial position which nature and natures God de-
signed she should hold Mr.. l.. then offered the
following preamble and resolutions:
Whereas, the Commonwealth of Virginia. and espe-
cially the city of Richmond, have uniformly mani
tested deep interest in the commercial prosperity
OF the South; and whereas heretofore the citizens Of
this State assembled in this city in the year 1851 and
took such action upon the subject of Southern COM
merce and direct trade as seemed to that Conven-
ton to be judcious and proper; and Whereas subse
quenty this city sent delegates to the Commercial
Convention in Baltimore in the year 1852, and also
sent other delegates to the Convention at Memphis
Memphst to meet again at Charleston the End Mon
day in April next; and whereas this meeting feeling
increased interest in the commercial prosperity of
the Southi and whereas, III our opinion, every
sderaton should require of us all of efforts to
feet direct foreign trade:
Be it therefore resotred, That the Chairman of this
meeting appoint fifty delegates TO represent this city
in the ensuing Commercial Convention at Charleston
on the End Monday in April next.
Resotred, That the City Council be- and they are
hereby requested to take such action as will secure
from the funds ofthe city the expenses said dele
gates
Resolred That the delegates which shall represent
this city at Charleston be, and they hereby in
structed to offer to the Convention if they shall in
their Judgment think this the proper point which
they should journ the part of this meeting and
of the city ofRchmond, the inequalities of the town
and that nothing shall be wanting to rem
der the assemblage here as agreeable as can.
Mr. Samuel NJ Price objected to the resolution
requiring the City Council to appropriate money to
detray the expenses of the delegation. He thorght
that11 OLE
willingly detray their own expenses, and therefore
moved to strike it out.
Mr.. London hoped the motion would not prevail.
The city paid the expenses of the delegates to the
Memphis Convention, and he desired that she
should do the same to the Charleston Convention.
as the object was to send the delegation under her
SEAL sanction and responsibility.
Capt Dimmock regarded the Charleston Con.
vention as most important one, not only to the
South but to Virginia She had the only omen barbox
nthe SOUTH where vessels of all sizes could come In
at any time-while the harbors of Charleston. Mo-
bile, Savannah, ETC., were obstructed by bars and
Baltimore was compelled to keep dredging ma
chine continually at work to admit vessels to her
port. The city ought to defray the expenses of
those gentlemen who were willing to CO. for it was
sufficient for them to lose their time and neglect
their business, for the benefit of the State without
being required to defray their travelling expenses
He hoped the resolution would not be stricken
out
ton to strike out.
The Chairman then put the preamble and reso-
lutions to vote and they were adopted without
amendment.
Mr. Jos. R. Anderson offered the following reso-
lution which was adopted the object of it being to
empower the Chairman to fill all vacancies that
may occur in the delegation:
Resolred That the Chairman be authorised to fill
any vacancy that may in the Richmond delega.
ton, before the meeting of the Charleston Con-
vention.
Mr. R. G. Morriss offered the following resolution,
which had been placed in his hands by friend, and
which he heartily approved of:
Resoiued, That have unfeigned satisfaction in
with essing the many evidences which are disclosing
themselves amongst the people of the South of =
determination to uphold and foster all efforts to
establish and maintain direct foreign commerce
and to build up amongst ourselves the necessary ma
nufacturers, and ship-owners aud shipbuilders de-
monstrating the utility and the value of self reliance
and determination to be free and independent and
that we entertain the opinion and belief that all suit
able action should be taken at the Convention to be
held in Charleston, for the establishment of regular
communication from Southern waters to foreign
ports being ready at all times to encourage such u-
dertakngs by giving such lines the preference over
any northen lines of similar character.
Mr.. Jas E. Ferguson was in favor of the princi-
Piles OF the resolution. but did not think he could
vote for it, because, if he did So he should feel COM
PEELED to ship his goods from Europe to Charleston