The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-05-28
COMMERCIAL CONVENTIONS.

We are by no means clear that it would not ad-
vance the welfare and serve to liberalize and en-
tighten commercial men if they could meet in ma
tonal convention, compare notes, and discuss the
great interests of the people in connection with their
domestic and foreign commerce. Indeed, we feel
almost certain that such meetings would greatly ad
vance the interests and promote the enlightenment
of commercial men. There are few persons in this
or any other country, sagacious and industrious
enough TO review the condition of the various States
of tho earth with purpose of conducting with each
certain branches of trade upon basis of reasonable
profit to the merchant For instance, there are few
men who will take the trouble to see what each
nation consumes of sugar, what each has on hand,
what is produced and therefore what is likely to
be required at given point with which we hold
commercial relations. Such matters might undoubt-
eddy be discussed by conventions OF business men
and with great profit to all
But conventions which take on commercial char
actor. with very limited infusion of the knowledge
of practical commerce, conducted by lawyers, pohti
clans, and farmers, we do not believe will accom-
pish any great good. We are convinced that in the
pursuits of agriculture the agricuturast is the only
person thoroughly qualified to conduct that kind of
business that in the mechanic arts, the skill and
experience of the mechanic is necessary; that
lawyers make the best judges; ministers the best
preachers and so on through all the phases of human
society Then again itappears to us that politicians,
of all men, are least qualified by habits of life and in
vestgation to plan or conduct the operations OF
trade.
1t is within the legitimate province OF the expe-
rienced statesman to settle the principles OF political
economy upon which the operations Of business shall
made to create capital they simply effect distribu-
ton between capital and labor Hence, to the coun-
Gil that determines upon the enactment Of law that
it shall not operate unfairly, to give capital for in
stance an undue share in the profits of the joint ope-
ration, too much wisdom integrity, and justice can
not be invoked. The law, however, being published,
the details of business under it properly left to
tenn ORDER and sagacity the great operations OF COM
msrce cannot be conducted.
Commercial conventions" of mere politicians,
orators, and ambitious aspirants for political noto-
riety can serve no useful purpose in this country.
They assume character which they do not possess;
they profess to counsel upon business they do not
understand, and they end in positive discredit of
a liberal high minded and intelligent class Of the
community, whose name they have used and whose
character they have abused
We care not to inquire into the expense of such
meetings. They can serve no great end Of society
and if it is desirable that the mercantile community
should be protected against the improper use Of
their name, we trust they will signify, all proper
occasions that they parties to fashionable
commercial conventions.