Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-07-24
THE CONVENTION AT OLD POINT.


THE CONVENTION AT OLD POINT.
Our readers are aware that Convention at Old
Point on the 29h of this month, has been proposed,
for the purpose of devisng aome immediate means in
aid Of the great projsct of Hon. 4. dudley Mann, re
lative to the establishment OF Southern line Of
ocean steamers. 1t is al admirable move at the pro-
per time, and the place selected is incompatible in its
appropriateness to the OCCASION. As has been sens
bly, suggested it is important that some such demon
s;raton should be made in endorsement of the enter
priae before the Convention ut Knoxville IN August
And is especially desirable hat the people Of tide.
water Virginia, who arc peculiarly cognizant of
erge,icalIy 10 ms wori
The pterpal Improvement policy of Virginia Is po'
nulsr with all parties and portions o' tne ''o'''
ia moving forward with an impetus which ho' e''"
o,srous taxation can resist The people are cohV'ne
cd that the unrivaed resources OF our glorious ''o
S,a,e so bouu,eously blessed with al! tha' e"n .o"
duce TO the welfare of individuals and The sIe"s' ",
;-. c.p nevrr be otherwise than abnSed Until
,h.ra ia thorough system of active communications
.x.,d;py over the entire State, through the noun
,irs and yallsyp high lands and low lands' from Ihe
ox,or,o west IN the ocean shores OF the East. lhe
,,ror fat has beon issued on this subject and' COST
| what it may, tho time is coming ~hen .ao o'e ~
;,;,n ri,l ma second to State in The Union III la
cilit:es for domestic commerce.
! In view of this fact, in order to a'nphly u "e "
! most extent this stupendous System OF nnpro'
| and make the most Of the ncalculaoie ao'au'nRo'
arsing from it, the absolute necessary oi u'e'
,rsds with Europe is evident. After tunneilng noun
rains lsyeing hills, aud bridging rivers 10 bring pro
uca and Messengers to The seaboard, to stop sudden
" on the shores of the Atlantic, aud turn a"Ay w.
,vsrds the North for all farther transportation "ou.'
bs bumi!aing to Southern pride as II wou'd 10 u''
oarayinp 10 Southern energy and dangerous 10 OUT m
,ore.,s Nature and art, God and man must move "no
uo,k together for the perfection OF the thihgs Ut
oar,b Rail roads and canals are Indispensable u
I.n,.o,;, co,nmsrce; and they also TO fore'gl
trade, AS are the tributary streams anu r'''fS VI"
n,w either directly or indirectly into Inc ocea"'
II will take tirae to complete our interh"' ''np'
msnt systsm to s full extent, and reduce 10 "e.'
oxsre iss, wherever it's advantages are neeueu' ~"
o., will II ,ske time TO establish limo oil IeVia'n"
s,sau.rs from the waters of Virginia io Europe ID"
IA, ons keep paes with the other, and though not ]"
VAR. the advantages OF both VIII % rsa'
,ed and epoyed by tens Of thousands VINO are no'
active participants in The practical affairs o' me-
AR preston's nisaion 10 Europe WILL we 'rue
awaken an interest the other side ot tne h''A"'.
in mi, Southern commercial enterprise wh'ch WI
a,,sdte the project sufficiently to assure us III"
..a,s no danger of delay from the ds'rust Oh snf
owners or mercantile men abroad. Ills oelec' a'i
,ba, of Mr.. Mann are the ssme-the establishment
d;-ect trade between the waters OF Virginia an
, soms ons or more of the European ports.
ur p,eston. we believe, is authorized to negotla'
with any company, and at any port wh'e Af' Won ~
proposes limo directly to Milford maven. ~
objsc! OF both. 30 far as the Soath Is e"u''
4 TIA same. And we consider the proposed oo"'o'
lion al Old Point, an adjunct and accessory 10 'n
= lately held at Bristol. We hope tosee II largely
d tended by able practical and distinguished delegate