Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-06-16
THE RICHMOND ENQUIRER.
by RITCHIE & DUNNAvANT.
TUESDAY MORNING, JUNE 10, 1857
THE BRISTOL, CONVENTION.

lhE DklSFOL CONfEN llON'
The Commercial Convention at Bristol, on Inc OH
instant deserves, and We have doubt viii COM
mand an earnest endorsement not only from the pe'
pie and press of Virginia, but from every Sou'he'i
State. The idea Of establishing a direct trade VIII
Europe, has long been entertained and advances
by the Southern people. And it must 10
source Of almost neffable satisfaction 10 e'e''
man in the South, who has his own and the n'ereS"
of his country at heart to know that praclc" p'"'
has at last been devised aud proposed ior '"' 'u'
therauce of Southern commerce. and the co"'et'e"
enlargement of sphere OF industrial ehef'''e.
The action of the Bristol Convention evidences "
advent Of an era Of energy and enterprise "h''N O'
speaks for the South prosperity and power.
Agriculture 10 the handmsid Of Manufactures a','
the mother of Commerce. The Southern eoun','
essentially adapted to tillage And, IN the cu"''"
ton of cotton, corn, wheat, rice OATS sugar. ZODIAC
90, &C., we have been too long content 10 teap ~,
profits of our products PER Sc. without Inc auu'''oA'
advantage of a foreign commerce to accon''no'".e
our generous soil From Maryland TO leAas 'net' ''
variety of climas of surface, Of agrlcul'u'ai
duotions, which constitute in the slaveh''u's
an empire of wealth and strength io"noeu up""
natural resources, prolific and iDeShaustlnle. we
have ths practical advantages as well as the raw ma
terial for manufactures and, in all the attributes VI
commerce the South is unsurpassed ny Guy ''"',
country on earth. 1t is evident then lha' Oil "e
now, is enterprise. Our manufactures must 10 J"
creased. And it is still more important lna' our
commerce should be extended. The one VIII 'o''o"
the other.
Heretofore all projects in the South for Inc es'ao
lishment OF a foreign trade have comnenoeu' eA'''
sd and ended in theory and speculation. ou' n""
tbers are cheering signs that the Southern people
At ast fully aroused to the imperative necessary Oh
direct communication with Europe. II TO- J." 'o'''
indispensable to our independence and prosperity.
TO allow to the North the entire foreign u
great country, without even an effort on our par
to divert or divide it, would be to acknowledge 'a'
the South is either incapable, from oarrennesS' 10 'uf
,;sb freight and travel enough 10 sustain a ine o'
OCEAN steamers, or that people have not toe pu"
liz snirit TO embark in such an enterprise. ln'erna
improvements are accumulang and extending IN a'
nor,ions of the Southern counry and there must oe
,o..n;c o,,at, "a complete the benefits Of this wise
policy.
The gentlemen who assembled at Bristol on the
3rd inst. were evidently intent upon something more
practical and profitable than pointless defamation
and grandiloquent resolutions. Their deliberations
were not long, but sensible and practical 1t was al
admirable arrangement that the railroad conPa"'e'
should meet in Convention, and endeavor 10 devise
sone plan for the commencement OF foreign com
nerce for the South; for the steamships will oe In
effect but combinations of the railroads which are
to carry the freight and travel from the interior 10
the seaboard. The appointment OF Hon. William
Ballard Preston Commissioner to treat with INT
owners of the "Great Eastern or with any o'heI
company in Europe, that may be disposed 10 ente'
in,o trade with the Southern States, WAS most ju
dicious step. To obtain the concurrence OF d's'
tant people n such undertaking, it is indispensa
BILE that there should be apersonal conference. Mr.
Preston is emiuently fitted tor such an embassy
With a strong, clear intellect experienced and elo
ouent, he is highly capable Of di'chargins the i'm
(, o-tant trust committed to him. We have heard til"
his speech in acceptance Of the mission was master
ly production.
The L.couture letter of Governor Wise, we also
learn, was approved and endorsed. We would re-
spsctfuly recommend to Mr.. Preston that able paper
as an accompaniment, which would doubtless aval
him much in his object. Itisa compendium Of sta
ti.tics bringing out in bold relief the resources o
Virginia-a collection of facts, which were un
known even to our own people; and they are sdmi
raby collocated and illustrated and enforced with ar
guments unanswersbIe and en- eloquent earnestnes.
characteristic of the mind from which it came.
The Lacouture letter proves our Governor to be
the man for the times in Virginia; as his public acts
havo always pointed him out NJ the master spirit OF
every occasion on which he has appeared. We shall
ap1iously await the result OF Mr.. Prestons visit to
Europe, heartily hoping that the attractive harbor
of Norfolk will be selected ss the els Atlantic termi.
nus of the Great Eastern's route.