New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1858-05-10
sourHEaN coarnrrRcIAr. coNvENTIoN.


SOUTHERN COMMERCIAL CONVENTION.
This body coavenes IN Montgomery, Ala, this day,
pursuant TO the terms Of its adjournment at Knox
vile, Tenn, last year.
We presume the Convention viii be important not
only in the NUMBER intelligence and respecabilty o.
| its members, but in the questions that VIII come up
for discussion, consideration snd determination. How
long the Convention will remain 10 session we are I'M
| able to say--probsbly the greater portion OF the
week, If not the entire week
The besettinq fault OF previous Conventions has
| been that too many of the members appeared en-
bued mere with desire to make oratorical displays
than to effect objects Of practcablityto advocate
theoretical pretensions to the neglect Of of
palpable, sefevdent Importance = to propose the
bnildng Of a. Steam Ferry from Norfolk, Virginia,
to Liverpool, which would cost many Millions with
out one dollar Of available capital to with,
and which, the gigantic ferry boats bailt would
prove ruinousy losing business owing to the mpos-
sibity Of obtaining suitable feghts at an obscure
port together with other manifestations of the same
nature which occupied altogether too much of the
time of the respective Conventions. We hope wit
ness radical reform in these particulars in the de
liberations Of the present Convention.
As matter of course, the subject of direct trade
will be brought before the Montgomery Convention.
1t is subject in which the South possesses deep
interest and, if judicionsly initiated and inangu-
rated, and carried out with eye single to practi
cates, will result in securing vast commercial ad-
vantages to our section Of country. Bat, in the
name OF common sense, let us hear of no more
learned discussions by learned theorsts--visonary,
mpraoticabe theorists upon the expedlency of es.
tablishing steam ferries from Norfolk to Liver
pool, nor of their sanction by the Convention, for
they only serve to subject to rdicue of the most
biting character, and at the time neutraize the
Influence over the Southern mind which these annual
Southern assemblages onght to WELD Those opposed
to us always make the most Of these preposterous
proceedings, and by making them public give people
abroad poor opinion Of our practical ability, while
they weaken the confidence of common sense South
ern citizens in tie feasibility Of Southern enterprises.
Why, there isn't man prominently connected with
the vast marine business OF New 0rleans-the great
exporting city Of the South-who has not laughed
imnoderstely over A. Dudley Mann's project en-
ticingly denominated steam ferry across the At
lantic.n Why, IL Norfolk was as important mart
Of commerce New Orleans the project would fail.
Bat as Noffork is neither port Of export import
worth mentioning, the idea Of connecting it with
Liverpool by the most expensive means of commnni-
cation known is SO horribly absurd, that it is won
der the proposition was seriously considered.
Norfolk has little nothing, comparatively speak
ing to export, and her power to import is bounded
by her power TO export and yet Mr. Dudley Mann.
in face OF the Interchangeable laws of trade, proposed
to make Norfolk the chief exporting and importing
city of the South, by opening from thence direct
trade with Europei Had he proposed to start his
ferry from Cat Island, in the Gulf Or from Biloxi,
there would have been more real sense in it,
But if the Montgomery Convention wishes to inaug-
urate anything useful the subject of direct trade
let the members thereof recommend the construction
Of lines of moderately sized propeers to the Southern
people, TO sail from the more important Southern
ports to proper European ports aud enlist the sym
pathes and pecuniary aid of citizens in behalf
Of the enterprise, and great end will oe accom-
plished. Charleston could easily support a line So
could Savannah. So could Mobile; and New Orleans
could easily support three lines. All this could be
done from the Inauguration of the lines, if matters
were arranged in practical. business.like manner
and more lines would be demanded by the wants of
commerce the lines referred to had demon
srated their usefulness and permanence by their sue
cess.
great many other questions will necessarily come
before the Convention. We have not room to even
refer to few Of the more important, but we shall
watch the proceedings with much interest, aud shall
lay before our readers whatever occurs Of general
moment. The Southern question will probably be
brought mp. Although this is subject which will
probably form the basis of another Southern Conyen,
ton called together ere long for another object, we
do not any objection to its being freely discussed
in the body which assemblies to-day.
s------
| pa- American Clmb, First Ward--The re-
Ruar meetings Of ts oluD 81 be held every wEDNEsDA Az
EyENIN6 At Abe Eagle Hail. Of Pyiania Felicity
~ o'clock Punctua attendance is earnestly de
| sired
my4 2ptf JAS. REGGs President
/ ~ NOTES.-The American Club No. meets
EVERY SATURDAY at * o'clock P. NJ at No New Ba-
sin All iesavoiers residing In the Ward who may desire
Join the Club requested their names registered
| agreeahly 10 the Constitution Of the Ohm