The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-01-18

From the New Orleans Delta, Jan o.
snce yesterday at the Lyceun ell. The great sssom
blies ct Memphis and Charleston, whore the aelo
gates nom the different States were counted BIZ
hundreds and scores, has tapered down to . mare
New Orleans. And jet New Orleans il four Hm,s
larger in population, wealth and c,mmsrce than
Charleston and Memphis; aud this ia conmerci u
convention! The &C ess to our city Ia very easy.
We can offer many pleasures and temptations many
enjoy ments and amusemsnts that cannot be ob.
tanned ut either OF the towns mentioned II Ia per.
fecty healthy here. and tia period of the year Is
that ct which New Orleans is usually much rssorted
70, both for PIE asure and business.
Why, then, this beggArly attendance Of the dele
gats OF this great convention, whose resolutions
were to change the order Of ns.ate-to achieve mi
iaces-to construct railroads that would supersede
the ssissippi river-to regulate trade ca new
principles revive extinct towns-to rev button.
jze the commerce OF the world, and develope the
unknown and uncomfortable wealth of the vales OF
tie Amazon and Oronoco7
We can answer this question by referring to whs.
We loI ago exposed a. Of .hs purposes aud OBJ
Jects Of the conve nion, TO w.t.: .ne adoption OF
some scheme BY which nature and New Oilea1s
might be set aside, ignored and superseded. This
cution Of this grand design Hence the absea,e Of
that hest OF orators, stateamen and railroad cha
pioos whose indigr ant soubbing Of Providence aud
vast grasp OF imag nation produced such startling
effects upon the hundie d. Of respectable country
gentle men who met at Memphis aud Charleston
whose unsophisticstsd ears were made to ring with
the shr whistle and fiery snort OF tae locomotive,
to such deg ee that they went home aud for some
time after looked upon toe old Father of Waters rs
contemplate ho,sepond. wlich vas deci iedly ain
the way" and covered too much valu able soil tn At
might be put In cotton.
This bubble has nov burst. We had the sagacity
to perceive and predict its early collapse. Whilst
we have ever been ready to co operate In auy judi.
cious measure for the aid aud dsveopm ent OF our
natural resources; whilst We have been warm
friends Of railroads, prosecuted on oon set prnci.
lles, and with some pruden te-railroads which are
demanded by The necessities Of trade and travel
railroads which supply defects Of nature, waich
est, bu' divided by physical obstsces-we havs
seen enough quite recently TO confirm Us In the
opinion that railroad mania was rapidly spread
ing through the South, which, II not properly
slough Of irremediabe debt and difficulty, aud, at
the same time, seriously retard useful and pra ticM
enter pTiBfs.
Wethink this opinion Is now very general one.
II the South can possibly execute what |. has on
hand in the way Of internal improvement, il will
bave TO be proud Of IT. energy aud resources
II msy be that IL has already undertaken too much
II this be 30, let these schemes be abandoned
which are most difficult and least demanded, aud
let our whole power and energy be concentrated on
mise spet dy completion and rich results.
lbi. Convention might embody its wisdom 10 the
following resolution
Resolved, That the South has undertaken az
mnch As II can execute In the way Of railroads. aud
that it will apply sl its energies TO the completion
Of these before 1t commences any new ones that
hade and commerce cannot be regulated by con-
venti0ns, speeches, and resolutions; and that the
Mississippi river still flows on, the mighsiest We
hic'e OF commerce In the world, on whose bosom
must ever b borne into the golden horns Of our
Cfeecent City.