Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-09-24
GUBERNATORIAL CONVENTION.


The approach Of the proper time for making tn
nominations, necessitates the designation OF prope
pace snd time. Richmond Alexandria, Staunton
aad Lynchburg have all been named as places TO
holding the Convention.
Richmond is as central, as far IA regards The rail
roads any place in the State, and her facilities TO
the accommodation Of The delegates greatly e1ceet
those of any other. The hotels will easily accom-.
modste any number OF persons that may come
snd the many large hss will ensure ples-
aani and SAFE as.emblags Of the Convention
Alexandria will slso urge many aud strong claims for
the Convention. She hns large and comfortable
hotels. and most excellent halls, that are perfectly
safr for any crowd they can hold. Alexandria ia as
-asiy accessible as Staubton. The delegates frou
the Northwest must resch either Stsunton or Rich
monG through Alexandris-those from the lower VA.
ley csn much more readily 60 to Alexandria thar
S,auncn, and thrse from the South side GO tt
Alexandria as readily As to Staunton. Lynchburp
aud Stanton the least accessible of any Of The
places that nave been named
Richmond can bs more easily reached than any
other city by larger portion of the State. The South
Siie the Valley the Northwest and Southwest al
can come to Richmond by rail without any inconve
nence; aud every cltizsn should visit Richmond al
iesst once yeHr.
Stauuon-notwhstanding the kind hospitality
with which the delegates 10 the last Conveuto1s &
were rec-ived-we are forced TO say, il too email
in point of accommodation many delegates rsmen-
Der the grrat rsk otiie and limb attending the gtc,ng
array Of NE Hah tioor in 1855 and persons will not
| ri,k their live. by going to StsGnton.
Lyuchburg is the leas, accessible Of any OF the
named places.
We therefore submit to the consider aton OF the
party the pr"priey ol designating Richmond or Alex
sndris as the place. and the time Isl of December.
We submit to the psrty these views and Il BE-
glad to hear from correspondents on this point.
OUR TRADE WITH THE SOUTHWEST.
Our trade with the South.west, its results and the
beet means OF obtaining that trade, are matters
Of considerable importance, and deserving of our
direct attention, since that trade holds forth magnf
cent prospects Tor Eastern ctea, and particularly
R,,hmrnd and Nor'oIk-ti":ks to that old and d.
spised ditch" the James River and Ksnswhs ca
nal the i'-.giving artery OF capital. Petersburg
may flourish, as our sister city deserves TO flour sh
lor her unrng enterprisei she will reap great share
of the trsde that is destined TO pour in from the West
aud South west, over our canals and rail rosde
but as long the waters of noble James continue
10 flow by the feet of qneenly Richmond, will the
great bulk Ot that trade continue to seek her mart,
or ps,s through her gates.
But after all sls has Baltimore and Ale1sndris
on her LETT, and Petersburg and Lynchburg on her
right, and with all her advantages, they will strive
they should strive, in emulation for the award OF
commercial greatness and prosperity. We have seen
tho enterprise and energy Of New York, bring the
waters Of the lakes in effect. her feet, and ia fact
:urn back the tides Of our Western rivers, with,
the mos, magnificent results and such examples
should teach u, that more, much more, depends on
oar own exrrtlons than our natural advantages.-
We must work it would profit, if would reap
the ben-ti, OF those advantage; aud intend to do
40. Richmond will strive and let our sister cities
strive in noble emulation for commercial and financial
prosperity. Richmond glories in the growth of all
around her. Bat let thst petty selfahnesa, which
our common fortunes, br forever ended and
forgotten, and let our efforts he united in accomplish
ng the greAt work on which all our enterprises
depend. Let every city aud toSn in The State ait
in building up Norfolk, the natural centre OF The
middle Siaes and rs emporium 10 which our
merchants can 60, without trading in second-h
.."oia from The North
Directing attention 10 the South west, the States
Of Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennesaee and parts OF
tnnre distant once, including part. OF Georgia, Ala
5aHs, and Mississippi, We see an Immense territory.
who're produce s.eks market and whose producers
in turn rnuat become good customers if encour-
age them II is the produce OF those States alone
thal We want to secure II would be more important
10 us to become their 'obbers" AMI importers, to
.-i, them their coffee, their machinery, their dry
goods &c. They now draw largely on New York
aud Baltimore for their articles and We cannot see
why Richmond has not the advantage in these res
pec;.. But, H. preliminary, We must first become
their customers and then they will become ours We
consider their confined rad-, the exports and im-
ports Of this region extremely valuable, and only sec.
ondary 10 tha, Of the Great West which we are ariv
ing obtain through ih- New River, or the Central
Water line The whole country bordering ON tie
broad and beautiful Tennessee river, must become rlb
u,ary 10 that influence which control the trade at
Chslianocgs, Charleston and Savannah have both
pushed Tor this point long lines ofra over the noun
,ain. and 80 have got ahead Of Richmond. ust as
I Mt ~
Western trade.
Let us ses what chsnoe We s have of controlling.
or even of obtaining part of the Sou'h western trade,
From Chattanooga which must be the starting point,
n Charleston i! We are correctly informed, is 446
mi!ea and, taking co'ton Is our criterion the c"st
per bale ia 81 50 S3 25 from Decatur. The distance
from Decatur TO Chattanooga, by river, is somsthlng
less than 200 miles. to Knoxville rather over 3OO
mil.e We zee il STATED tha: cotton can be delivered
al the railroad depot in Knoxville for 81 30 per bale,
and we infer from this, at the coat of delivering it al
Chattanooga canno, be less than IS cents per BALE or
one half. YET il would be Iuat to suppose that it
might iu good water, be delivered at Knoxville tor
81 on per bale na easily it could at Chattanooga for
rs cent? We wish, however, to be saie in our figures,
and. therefore, give every allowance in favor OF
Charleston If coats s. so per bale to carry cotton
4i6 miles to Charleston, it il, therefore, Sc cents
per bale for every 100 miles, or 81 IA per bale
for 204 miles. which is the length Of the Vir
gnia and Tennessee road, or equivalent 10 23 cents
Der 100 lbs on the Georgia and South Caroline roads,
against 50 cents by the Virginia roads. Our roads
can carry freight as cheap as the Georgia South
Carolina roads and should do it little cheaper,
since the Virginia aud Tennessee built in view Of
this trade Still, suppose roads put their charges
on par with their rivals which s all We ask. We
find ;ha; COTTON CAN Re DELIVERED AT LYNCHBURG
for 81 6l per bsle, even allowing Is cents per
bale rs freight from Chattanooga, by river 10 Krox-
Vile distance Of 100 miles. But, 10 ceuts per
bale would b. the mark 're .oe sure tha, cot
ton can he delivered in Lynchburg from Chaitanoo-
gn for s2 SO per bale, SO II from Decatur, against
% - to Charleston.
The charges from Lynchburg to Richmond by
cana! are now about half the rates Of the rail road,
and although the condition OF our water line is not
favorable, from iis partially completed state we
feel certain that s chsrgss would be made to suit
the wants of Richmond, and the people. But 50