The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-01-03

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Nicaragua be has most undouDte6 right to return.
A Project sor . outherR New York.
A NEW STRIKE FOR sOUTHBRS COMMERCIAL INDE
PENDRNCE-EOvEL MODE OF FORCING MATHIS
: NORFOLK TO BE THE SEAT OF SOUTHERN CONNER
CIAL EMPIRE-THE JAMES RIVER TO BE UNITED
WITH THE KANAwHA TO FORM GREAT SOUTH
ERS WATER COMMUNICATION WITH TIM WEST.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD.
NORFOLK, Dec. %, 1857.
As your paper seems to be the medium by which
all new enterprises find their way to public notice
write to give you information of q new movement
in Southern affairs, which looks to nothing less than
entire Transformation of Southern trade-the es
tablishng of practical Southern independence in
commercial matters, and the founding Of Southern
New York at the locality of Norfolk. The move
ment first showed itself in tangible form by the
appearance of q pamphlet entitled can appeal for
the speedy completion 6 the water line of Virginia.
and, through that of the great central water line
of the Union which is to reach from the wharves of
Norfolk far into Kansas, and eventually to the
very bases Of the Rocky Mountains" The pamphlet
argues, with great force and perspicuity that the
completion of this line will bring about the same re-
suits for Norfolk az have Injured to New York by the
construction of the Erie Canal not only in securing
the mass of the trade of the upper Western rivers
but in developing those vast mineral resources which
underlie almost every county of interior and
Western Virginia. The pamphlet is illustrated by
a map which represents the James river connected
through the Kanawha to the Ohio, thus forming
nearly direct water line to the confluence of the
Ohio and Mississippi, which, the author argues. is
the grand concentrating point of the eight great
rivers of the Northwest and West, the convergng
point of at least 10000 miles of steamboat naviga-
ten and as such. controlling the trade drainage of
seven or eight hundred thousand square miles. All
this is to have new and superior route to the At
lantc by the new water line, superior to any that
now exists that can ever be established Tho
second edition of the pamphlet has lately been dis
trbuted to the extent of 1000 copies over this and
the Western States. and seems to kndie fever in
behalf of its theories wherever it is dropped. Mea
sures have already been taken to bring the matter
before the Virginia Legislature in commanding
form, and with almost certain prospects of success
chiefly because IT is in the hands of men who are de-
termined to inauglrate an era OF action in the Nd
Dominion III lieu of that Of olden time. which I'D
abundant faith III speeches. resolutions cOpious re-
ierences to the resolutions of '9S and 49, and the
various means upon which Virginia has depended for
material greatness.
In accordance with the theories of the author of
this pamphlet large and enthusiastic meeting Of
our principal citizens was held at Mechanics Hall
on Saturday night Inst, which was presided over by
the Mayor. Nearly every one of our most respecta-
bic mercantile and banking houses were in attend
ance, as well a. COpious sprinkling OF legal,
medical and even theological fraternities, thus
proving the hold this matter has taken upon the
minds of our people. This meeting was to endorse
the proposition Of the Appeal" and it is probable
it will be followed up by meetings in nearly every
city and county in the State.
In accordance with a resolution, Messrs. d. s.
Bisbie (author of the pamphlet), r. H. Chamber
laine, George Blow, Henry Irwin, John E. Doyle,
ed committee to draft a memorial to the Legisla-
ture expressive of the views of the meeting The re-
port read to the assemblage for their adoption.
II set forth at great length and with much force the
pec itv for a seaf ofS horn
the means by which New York obtained her COM
mercial supremacy through the Erie Canal
connection between the Hudson aud the great
lakes-shows that Norfolk, and through her.
the South may avail herself of the same
ans. and thus by digging out the intervening
space between the navigable points Of the James
and Kanawha-instcad Of the old method of speech
making and rcsoutiOns--may establish At this point
the seat of southern commercial empire. The re-
port also embodies forcible reasons why New Or
leans, Mobile, Savannah or Charleston, never can be
such seat by pointing out disabilities in each which
are insuperablc
The report was no sooner read than JosEru 7. Al
IYN, Esq, who is tn head of Of our extensive
mercantile houses, and an ex-rnember of the Vir
gna Legislature, rose to oppose the report unless
was accompanied by a scheme Of his own. which
proposed to hurry up the cakes Of the committees
baking. by coupling with IL tax Of ten per cent on
every article of foreign goods imported into Virginia
through any other State. His argument in favor of
his plan was quite long and able and was delivered
with earnestness that showed him alive to the
prosecution of his subject.
Mr.. BIsBTE, chairman of the committee supported
the report a. it stood, and objected TO its being
coupled with any peculiar theory of imaginative
thumb screws upon which the people of Virginia
had heretofore relied. instead Of going to work FOR
il in practical way. He gave vivid description
Of the concentration Of navigatle waters
at Cairo, and Of the immense trade which
must pass that point. He conteaded that
all that Virginia had to do 10 establish the seat Of
commercial empire at the South was TO follow the
wise example OF the State Of New York, and con.
tended that one days labor Of negro or Irishman
on the connecting section would do more to advance
and insure final Southern commercial aud financial
independence than all the speeches, resolutions
essays and editorials in the world He declared him
self in favor Of Mr. Allyns PROFIT il il were brought
up by itself, and could be constitutOnaly adopted;
but contCnded that IL would be improper to attach il
To the report Of the committee
After a further debate, in which several gentle
men participated, the report Of the committee was
adopted with but single dissenting vote and thus
was inaugurated the hnst practical step in public
body for ultimate commercial supremacy. Where
will Il endl
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