The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-04-20
SPECIAL LcoRREsPoSDEycg OF THE DISPATCH
LETTER FROM CHARLESTON.
THE CONVENTION.
CHARLEsros. April 10th. 1854

H .
The Southern Commercial Convention after !
session Of six days adjourned yesterday At S
O'Clock. The interest in its proceedings had ma
tsrially diminished, as well as had delegates from
the several States. Hence, only few ladies' and
dlers in the galleries and small number of the
vast concourse of delegates at one time in attend
ance. witnessed the demise of this august body -
The discussions continued to the last moment, and
saw dozen or more gloomy looking delegates,
who shook the dust of the Theatre Indignantly
from their feet, as they quilted it. without having
uncorked and discharged their long suppressed
speeches. They seemed to eye with envy JONES,
CoMBs PIKE and CLAY, who had spoken each a
dozen times.
The long series of resolutions, which ycu win
lind In the Charleston papers of tomorrow, were
many OF them warmly discussed, and assed after
much compromise and concession.
Ihere was much dissension and vexation intro.
duced into the Convention, by the unwise attempts
OF Senator JONES OF Tennessee, TO force upon the
Convention, resolutions filled with what were re.
sarded as political hercses by one OF the great Do
liticsl parties represented In the Convention This
gentleman, throughout the Convention, seemed to
regard the Federal Government as the Mecca to
which the South should look with confidence and
respect; and appeared utterly regardless of the
prejudices he was constantly exciting.
The talents of Mr.. JAMES Lyons of Richmond.
were OF great service in the Convention, in sepa.
rating the deleterous from the advantae eeous re-
solutions of the committee. His speech produced
marked effect upon the Convention and he was
by general consent the most efficient and attractive
dehater In the Convention. Senator JONES and
LESLIE COMBS added nothing to their regulations
by their speeches, but were regarded as very
empty windbags.
made unfavourable impression at first, butt af.
ords great pleasure to say that he continued to
win upon the esteem of the body over which he
presided. His good temper, courtesy and industry,
completely etfaced all recollection of his rather
timid speech upon taking the chair.
The grand and final struggle between the rival
Pacific Railroad routes, occurred the last day of
the Convention. LESLIE COMBS had LETT his bant-
ling to shit for ITSELF and no longer figured upon
that stage, in a suit of checked CLOTH marveously
like that of professional harlequin He and his
map were no where visible
The man with the beard, PIKE of Arkansas was
the successful competitor, and the Convention al
most by acclamation, adopted his plan, which con-
sttues portion OF the series of resolutions adopt.
ed by the Convention.
The effects of these Conventions may not prove
Immediately beneficial to the South, but they have
the effect of making the citizens of the several slave
holding States acquainted with each other and they
offered opportunities for interchange of opinions
and views, and also of removing prejudices and
! antipathies No delegate TO the late Convention
can ever think OF the people of Charleston, with
attentions heaped upon large body of entire
strsngers-the hospitaltiee, public and private
filled every delegate with admiration. Not content
with expending thirty or forty thousand dollars In
the entertainment ofthe Convention, their last act
OF kindness was worthy of their previous course
Each delegate was provided with free ticket en-.
titing him to return to his place OF residence with
out charge on any ofthe railroads and steamboats,,
connecting Charleston with the most distant
portions OF the Union.
The last public entertainment witnessed by the
delegates was boat race, regatta, the prizes ha
wing been arranged by commtte of the citizens ol
Charleston 1t was spirited and exciting and wit.
messed by an immense concourse OF persons. The
BoTr House, large and handsome building, was
appointed to the of the delegates from the fiat
root of which they beheld the struggle for victory
among the athletic oarsmsn.
On last night magnificent entertainment was
given to the members of the Convention, by RICH.
ARD YEADoN, one of the editors and proprietors o!
the Charleston Courier.
This morning in visiting the principal hotels, l
surprised to hud that of the original eight hun
dred or thousand delegates who were here on Mon.
day last, not dozen could be seen. They had dis
appeared like the morning dews, leaving scarcely
a trace OF their existence In the quiet streets OF
Charleston.
A few scraps of dirty red ribbon, with the black
word Delegate" upon them, were the only indica.
tions afforded by the theatre, of their having
just adopted so many wise, sasacious and patriotic
resolutions.
Encountering nothing but strange faces where
but few hours before, there were a hundred
friends entered the nearest church and listened to
a very ordinary sermon from descendant of the
illustrious Charles Catesworth Pinckney. should
have soon expected the quiet tone divine of q
lineal descent from the moon. as from SO eminent
an orator. :
Yours, Plus TX.