Arkansas true Democrat., 1857-08-25

| 1 of the commercial independence of the south n to consider the "general subject'' of the "es taollShment of line of steamers between Eu- rope and the Chesapeake Bay" and to state in reply that my olhca enga yements will deprive me oi the pleasure of meeting yourselves and other gentlemen on the occason referred to
 am' very respectfully, your obedient ser. want. I rr- MesSrs. WM. BoULwARE, JOSEPH R. ANpER. SON, and others, Old Point Comfort Va
 Aetter 9 Hon. 4. V BrO1on, Postmaster GsneraE WASHINGTON, July 27, 1857.
 GENTLEMEN: 1 cannot be with you on the 18th instant My duty to the public service. winch am endeavoring faithfully to discharge. iorods my absence at the present moment. regret It very much, for 1 have watched and sympathlzed and sometimes personally partici- pated Tn every movement intended to give New Orleans, Mobile, Charleston, and Norfolk that just proportion of the commerce of the country to which they were fairly entitled. I | never wished to give them more than they were entitled to, but 1 have never ceased to hope | that should yet see them regain their long lost and neglected rights of exporting and i'm. porting directly to the full extent demanded bv the products and wants of the countries con- nected with them and dependent upon them.
 hanks to the liberality and public spirit of Virginia, that have contributed so largely to her canal and railroad connexions with the southwestern and northwestern States; thanks 10 the same spirit that has prompted Tennessee. ohlo, and Kentucky to reach out their Briarean arms to embrace the parent empire; thanks, 1 might add, to those individuals or association or individuals, who propose at early day the consummaton Of the grand enterprise which has called you together! Grand, indeed, will Virginia, Tennessee, northern Alabama, Ken lucky, and Ohio call it, when they shall see the great ships of commerce and of war gallant ly riding into the port of Norfolk as they now do the harbors of Boston and New York.
 It Is but too common to refer every step like the one which you are now taking to some narrow and sectional jealousy. I never felt such sentiment. The south never felt it, Her sons, on proper occasion, would battle as long and as valiantly for the just rights of Boston, New York, and Philadelphia as for those of New Orleans, Charleston and Norfolk. All the south seeks in the movement which you are now making, and in her commercial con ventions-one of which is shortly to assemble at hnoXvllle-is perfect equality of conner clal rights, in exact proportion to her produc- tlons her capacity for consumption, and the facilities furnished by her harbors, rivers, and railroads. Our southern cities and communi- tleS are only seeking to preserve and save to themselves that amount of export and import trade which naturally and geographically be- longs to them. If Norfolk shall desire to ob- tain portion of the vast productions of the west, has not Boston expended her millions and Now York her tens of millions for the same purpose? So has Pennsylvania poured out her means in rich abundance to accomplish the same object. I need not speak of Bati. more. God forbid that any thing but the most fraternal sentiments should ever exist between Baltimore and Norfolk! Situated the one at the foot and the other at the head of the mo- blest bay in the world, each can contribute | largely to the wealth and prosperity of the other
 In the commercial movements now going on Tn the south the northern States and their great cities should see nothing but an attempt to fol- low their own example, not for the purpose of injuring others, but solely with the view of ad- vanclng their own interest and welfare. They only desire that whatever of foreign articles are intended for southern and western consumption shall go direct to the south and west, for which 1t was intended, and that our productions shall be conveyed directly from our own ports to the countries furnishing the best markets So important Is 1t to furnish every facility of interchange of productions that most govern ments have given every incidental aid to com merclal enterprises like yours which they were able to give. It was for this purpose that our government instituted the Collins, the Bremen. and Havre lines, paying considerable bonus or extra compensation fo- carrying the mails of the United States. On the expiration of the two latter contracts new policy has, however, been inaugurated of paying them only the post ages (sea and inland) for conveying our mails to France and Germany. Whatever patronage shall be given by Congress in its future legisla- ton to any of the ocean steam lines should of course, be extended to the contemplated one between Norfolk and Milford Haven, and in deed to all other similar projects, whether north or south. If your line should be started in advance of such legislation, the greatest amount of patronage allowed by existing law shall be freely bestowed upon it.
 In this acknowledgements of the honor of your invitation l confne myself to the precise object purpose of your contemplated meet ing. Were 1 to go outside and beyond that, I might have many things to add in relation to public affairs. Especially might I advert to how often and how grievously just equality of right has been denied to the south. But I choose, in this acknowledgment of your kind ness, to leave the past with the past, and to in- dulge the hope that the future may come to us crowned with all the blessings that commer- cial, political, and social equality can confer.
 Very respectfully, your ob't serv't,
 AARON V. BROWN.
 Messrs. Wm. BoULwARE, 1. CHANDLER, and others.
 Nebraska Elections.
 S. Louis, Aug. 17.-Mr Chapman, the de-