Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-09-25
THE OPINIONS OF A PRACTICAL STATES
MAN.

THE OPINIONS OF A fhAtllIAL olA Ed
MAN.
ExPrcsident Tyler upon taking the Chair as Presi
dspt OF the recent Old Point Convention delivered
short address which, from the wisdom displayed in
it with reference to the contamination OF paramount
practical results, ought to command the attentive con-
alteration of every individual within the limits of the
ssyeholdng States who lie desrous OF their prosperity
Although in connection with the proceedings of that
body we published that admirable address, We wish
to call the especial attention OF our readers 10 the to-
lowing passages contained in 1t
regard the introduction Of commercial prosperity
to the South, through commercial marine, as sub.
;ect of very great importance but We must be ono
and all aware of the difficulties We have to encounter.
Already the strong current which has cut out s chan
mel for trade bears everything upon its bosom 10 New
York For one hundred years and more, that current
which now moves on with accumulated iorce has cut
channel 70 broad and deep as seemingly TO defy all
human effort TO diminish ts power or divert in any
devre. its course Ii has built up city which area-
dy in point of population ranks as the third largest
in the world. That city is the centre OF all the nan
dial operations of the government, and the heart
whoss nulsstions regulate all the exchanges OF the
country. You find them flowing out and INTO that
preat commercial mart with a force and with pow
ar which seems almost irresistible. Look at that c
ty and see her extending streets, her paatla mercan
a
seis at her docks bursting out, if may be permitted
10 use an expression which am cure will be recog
missed as appropriate by all who i've in This region
burstne forth like crab from the SHE'LL and expand
inc itself until it covers the adjacent shores OF its
bssntifu roadstead and rivers With cities and villages
What can you do in order to divert portion of the
cnrrent of that trade which has 30 enriched her. into
cbannels of your ownl Pardon me for suggesting
that there ia but single element which can bring
YOU into fair competition with your neighbors of the
North and that is recognised in mercantile operations
IA th. paramount and all controlling element-the e
ement of time. And how you to obtain that great
element in order to secure to yourselves the ability TO
compete with any hope Of success Such is the sub
iect of your present deliberations Nature has given
Won one advantage which you are now seek.
inp 10 avail yourselves OF tor the first time.
II has gwen you capacious harbor, with
a deem and a broad channel You seek now 10
Introduce new power into your water. You
bavs dspth of oh haune, and you want q ship CORES.
nond;n9 with that depth to How into your stream,
and n s that which gves you the essential
In the experiment which you are about to make for
All must admit that far it Is mere enunciaton of
an experiment. You have depth of water which your
Northern neghbors have not, and If you can only
manage TO bring into your calculations that other
GREAT element of time which will constitute the foun-
daton of your success you will be, you must be victo
rious, iAppause.) To arrest the course of trade
which has flowed for a century in one direction. you
want to the ocean in the shortest possible
space of time. You have roadstead deep enough 10
Soat the steamer upon the stocks London they
have II not. Now get the advantages of them in point
of the strength and velocity with which you cross the
ocean, and you hsve the trade diverted into your own