Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1868-10-23
DIRECr TRADE WITH EUROPE.

Our latest Richmond exchanges come
filled with reports of the recent CONNER
cial Convention at Norfolk, called to con-
slider the question of uniting the CONNER
cial and transportation interests of the
South and Southwest in establishing
from that port direct steamship connec-
ton with European ports.
The delegates appointed from this city
have returned, and we presume will
shortly report to the municipal authori-
ties and the mercantile community the
result Of their mission.
We extract from the Richmond Wing
the following summary of the proceed
ings of the convention:
Our readers have been made acquaint-
ed from day to day, by means of our cor
respondence and special kilograms with
the proceedings of the great Direct Trade
Convention Just held in Norfolk. After
a successful, we may truly say triumph
ant, session Of three days, that body ad-
iourned Friday night. OF all the various
commercial conventions held in the
South, this has proved to be the most
valuable in results. 1t has accomplished
what all others failed to accomplish. II
has already raised large subscriptions
and laid the foundation for others that
will make up the whole amount con-
templated. a charter granted by the
Legislature of Virginia, at the ses-
sion of 1866, to the international
| Commercial Company OF the city
of Norfolk" was availed Of by the con-
vention as the basis Of organization, and
all the necessary steps have been taken
| to give validity to the company. 1t has
been wisely determined to start the en-
terprise with two steamers only. They
will be English steamers and are
to be chartered for the purpose. The
| fund to be subscribed is only three hun
dred thousand dollars. This is to be
subscribed by individuals, municipalities
and corporations, and there is no doubt
on the mind OF any one who was present
at the convention, and witnessed the en-
thusiasm that prevailed, that the amount
will be easily and promptly raised. 1t
NAV appear to some that the number OF
steamers to be run 1.-TWO, and the amount
to be subscribed three hundred thousand
dollars, are too inconsiderable, in view
of the magnitude Of the ultimate objects
contemplated. But sagacious and pract-
cal men, who have well considered the
whole subject, were brought to the con-
cluSion that it was the part of prudence
thus TO begin the enterprise, leaving
a margin for such future expansion as
may be required. g..
| As an earnest Of success in raising the
means, we have already referred in ouI
telegraphic correspondence to the sub
scriptions made in the convention, be.
ginning with citizens of Norfolk (about @
hundred thousand dollars in money and
wharf and warehouse property, and fol
lowed by Nashville, twenty-five thou
sand dollars citizens of Petersburg
(twenty thousand dollars and VariOu;
county delegations Tin sums ranging from
four thousand TO one thousand dollars.
AL this was done on the spur of the mo
ment. All the delegations, (none o
whom, save that of Nashville, came
authorized to subscribe, for it was mo-
known when they were appointed wha
the course Of action would be- announced
that the cities, counties and corporations
they represented would, without doubt
display similar iberality. The various
gentlemen composing the several delega
tions would doubtless have subscribed
the majority of the amount themselVe
hut for the difficulty Of getting them to
gether in the interval o! the sessions
difficulty which can only be fully appre
ciated by those who experienced tn
pressing and munifcent Inequalities tina
everywhere attended the delegates.
The interests represented in the Con
yention were varied in their character
and there were delegates from Virginia
North CAROLINA, Tennessee, Kentuck!
and Alabama, but there was not an in
terest represented, nor was there soil
tary delegate that was not fully impressed
with the Importance OF the enterprise
and that was not warmly in sympathy
with it. 1t was marvel to see SO man,
diverse interests and so many individual
from different States so completely ant
entirely in accord. All seemed to hay
Norfolk, consolidation and direct trade OIL
the brain. ---.-.g. a..
There was an amount OF intellect Il
the convention that is seldom drawn to
gether in any country; and the wisdom