The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-05-22
2ittlntond 1ispatrll.
SATURDAY,. . :. ). ;. . MAY % 1853
The Commercial Cenecnsfsn.


MEMrhts, May 20.-Delegates to the Com
mercial Convention continue to arrive.
They now number nearly one thousand one
hundred. .. ..--
Under the call OF States the following re.
solution were read aid referred, together
with many which were not read:
That the standing committees shall hold
over until the next session. their chairmen
10 nave power 10 call them together at any
time: requesting railways to furnish trans.
portation: asking each State to hold COM
rcntons and appoint ten delegates to the
General Commercial Convention and pro-
Nldng Tor the appointment Of committee
10 inquire into the cxpcdicucv Of forming n
permanent convention, to meet from time
10 time. '..sg I. = :
\ resolution requesting southern railroa d
companies TO hold Il convention for the Dur-
pose Of establishing an immigration corpo-
ration. and taking means to SyStematize In
Dor, waS ably supported by Colonel Cole. of
georgia, ana passed, under q suspension of
the rules. ..-
Resolutions asking Government aid for
the Augusta and Brunswick and Selma and
Memphis railroads were read and referred,
rs was also resolution providing for the
formation Of committee of five to memo
rlaliZc Congress on all subjects endorsed by
the Convention.
Governor Patton offered resolution,
Which was passed under u suspension of the
rules, to memorialiZc Congress for the re-
peal OF the direct land tax of 1862.
At the expiration Of the morning hour,
the Committee on Southern Pacific Railroads
made the following report which was
unanimously adopted, amidst great APP
plau>c ... .
KeSolrcd, That, in the opinion of this
Convention, the interests of the whole coun-
try, and especially Of the southern States.
would be served by main-trunk railroad
line from san Diego, California, through
the junction Of the Colorado and CHA
rivers and along the valley of the ella,
south OF that river, to FL PaSo on the Rio
Grandc. and thence TO Il convenient central
point near the thirtrssecond parallel of lati-
'udc east Of the Brazos river; to which
llaln-trtInk feeder roads should lead from
It. Louis, Cairo, Memphis, Nicksburg. New
Orleans, and other points; all such feeder
roads having equal nights 20 connect with
their main trunk, while similar feeder lines
from san Francisco and other points OH the
Pacific coast should have similar equal
rights of connection.
Hc$oIred, That the president of this
Convention be requested to forward Il COPY
of the above resolution TO the President.
l''-1 iCN'd'iAfs 'h'i '3Itdh'I vi iHt IiouSC
OF Representatives, ana request them to
present the same to the respective Houses
Of Congress.
The committee, which is composed of re-
representatives. from seventeen States. incu-
ding three members OF Congress. gave the
following reasons for their report:
First. The line recommended is he short
ct one connCctu" The Gulf Of Mexico and
the Mississippi Valley with the Pacific coast.
II j. In. If
occupied most easy TO trade and cheapest to
construct.
Third. II passes through less inhospita-
hlr and barren country, and over more fer
tile ana ho>piablc lands, than any other I'M
occupied line which has been proposed.
Fourth. The line is touched by water
transportation at three points, thus afford
iug the grcHteSt facilities for construction,
and consequently laStcnln@ and chcapcnlng
such construction.
Fifth. This line will open to the world the
-rrat mineral resources of Arizona and So
nora; render more valuable the great stock
raising districts of Texas, New Mexico, and
Northern Mexico, and thus enjoy IN unri-
vailed traffic.
sixth. 1t will inevitably attract numerous
feeders from the ncighboring Republic OF
Mexico, and thus not only stimulate enter.
prise there, but secure 10 our shipping ports
now seeks Europe by means Of hazardous
,"udoct0s and smuggling vessels.
seventh. 1t will open new cotton-grOW-
lng area in Texas, New Mexico, and Ari'
IonI, in lands of the cotton-groWing belt
that are now useless for the lack OF tacili-
ties for transportation.
Eighth. 1t il well known that some roads
which would be among the feeder roads re.
tered to in the resolution have not only
hccn projected, but are already in active
course of construction without waiting fol
Government subsidies or encouragement.
Ninth (and last, but not lcast). The con
strurtion of this road, more than all clst
beside, will encourage what we feel to b'
the great necessity Of the hour-Slz., cml
grafton and direct trade with Europe.
The Committee on Direct Trade with Eu
rope reported in favor of the formation o
steamship lines from southern ports, whicl
should be encouraged by subscription amt
hr patrOniZed by the planters and mer
chants Of the South. The report approve
the scheme organized ut the Norfolk Con
Nrutiou for establishing line of steamships
between Norfolk and Liverpool.
pr. Lindsay, Of Alabama, presented mi
'uoiity report setting forth the claims o
charleston, New Orleans, Savannah, ant
Mobile; which gave rise to long debate
III The conclusion of which the Convention
adjourned.