Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-08-09
SOUTHERN COMMERCIAL CoNyENrIoN

~.
This Convention, to further the project of Dudley
A. Mann, to secure direct trade met at Old Point,
Va, on the 29th. Ex-President Tyler presided, and
letters endorsing the plan, were read from all the
members of the Federal Cabinet. Speeches were
made by Messrs. Mann, Barringer, of North Caro-
lima, and Chandler, of Norfolk, and eloquent adj
dresses by several others.
The Subscription Committee reported that $4,000
had been subscribed the spot
We copy the following statesmanlike letter from
the Hon. A. V. Brown, Postmaster General:
4 WASHINGTON CRY, July II.
GEYTLEMEN: cannot be with YOU on the 29thinst,
my duty to the public service, which am endeavor
ing faithfully to discharge, forbids my absence at
the present moment. regret it very much, for L
have watched and sympathised, and sometimes per-
sonaly participated in every movement intended to
give New Orleans, Mobile, Charleston, and Norfolk
that just proportion of the commerce of the country
to which they were fairy entitled. | never wished
to give to them more than they entitled to, but
have never ceased to hope that should yet see
them regain their longlost and neglected rights OF
exporting and importing directly TO the full extent
demanded by the products and wants of the coun-
tries connected with them and dependent upon them
Thanks TO the hberality and public spirit of Vir-
gina that have contributed so largely TO her canal
and railroad connection with Southwestern and
Northwestern States. Thanks to the same spirit
that has prompted Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky
to reach out their Briarian arms TO embrace the pa
rent empire. Thanks, might add, TO those indi-
vduals, or association of individuals, who propose
at early day the eonsummation of the grand en-
terprise which has called you together Grand, in
deed will Virginia, Tennessee, Northern Alabama,
Kentucky and Ohio call it, when they shall see the
great ships Of commerce and Of war calamity riding
into the port Of Norfolk, they do into the har
- NJ IL =. I,,t
mon TO refer every step, ike the which you are
taking, to some narrow and sectional jealousy
l never felt nor the South never felt. Her sons,
on q proper occasion, would battle as long and as
valiantly for the Just rights of Boston, New ork,
and Philadelphia, as for those of New Orleans, Nor
folk, aud Charleston.
All the South seeks in the movement which you
making, and in her commercial conventions
of which is shortly TO assemble at Knoxville, is
the perfect equality of commercial rights in exact
proportion her productions, her capacity for
sumption, and the facilities furnished by her har
bors, rivers and railroads. Our Southern cities and
communities are only seeking TO preserve and save
themselves that amount of the export and import
trade which naturSlly and geographically belongs
to them. If Norfolk shall desire to obtain proper
portion of the vast productions of the West has not
Boston expended her millions, and New York tens
of millions, for the same purpose? So has Penn
sylYania poured out her in rich abundance to
accomplish the same object 1 need not speak Of
Baltimore. God forbid that anything but the most
fraternal sentiments should exist between Bal
timore and Norfolk situated the one the foot and
and the other at the head of the noblest bay in the
world. Each can contribute largely TO the wealth
and prosperity of the other.
In the commercial movements now going on at
the South the Northern States and the great cities
should see nothing but an attempt to follow their
example, not for the purpose Of injurng others,
but solely with view of advancing their own in
terest and welfare. They only desire that whatever
of foreign articles are intended for Southern or
Western consumption shall go direct TO the South
and West for which it was intended; and that
productions shall be conveyed directly from
ports to the countries furnishing the best market
So important is it to furnish every facility of inter
change of productions, that most governments have
given every incidental aid to commercial enterprises
like yours which they able to give. 1t was for
this purpose that Government instituted the Col
Inns, the Bremen and the Havre lines, paying
siderable bonus or extra compensation for carrying
the mails of the United States
On the expiration of the two latter contracts,
new policy has however been inaugurated of pay
ing them only the hostages (sea inland) for
rying our mails to France and Germany What.
ever patronage shall be given by Congress, in its
future legislation, 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 South
North. If your line should be started in advance of
such legislation, the greatest amount of patronage
allowed by the existing law shall be freely bestowed
upon it.
IN This acknowledgment of the honor of your in
vitatiOn, conaRe myself to the precise object or
purpose Of your contemplat l meeting. We're l to
90 outside and beyond that l might have many
things TO add in relation to public affairs. Especi-
ally might / advert to how often and how grievOusy
just equality of rights has been denied to the
South; but choose in this acknowledgment Of your
kindness, to leave the past with the past and to in
dulge the hope that the future may to crowd
ed with all the blessings that commercial political
and social equality can confer.
Very respectfully, your ODE 5ient servant,
AARON V. BROWN.