Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-05-20
. os .,s.m,,, between New York and

ION, w and through or near parallel thirt,
Two degrees north, the same r.peral al
A has been extended to fae norther
routes to the Pacific.
Third. The importance of grantiu
such aid as will save from inundatio
the most fertile cotton and sugar land
| in the Mississippi Valley. Tf.s ~
Fourth. The importance Of establish
Il ing all duties on railroad iron, in order b
encourage the construction of railroads
and thereby more rapidly populate tn
country and develop its varied resources
Fifth. The importance of the Govern
ment making the telegraph part of tn,
postal system of the country.
Referred to the proper committees.
The following letter received by Hon
j. W. Leftwich from Mr.. Kerr, the In
diana Congressman, was read to the
Convention: N fFyf 4n et
NKw ORLEANS. May II. 1862.
MY DEAR SIR: 1t has become certain
that / am to be imperatively prevented
from attending your Convention to-mor-
rev. / regret it very much, but cannot
avoid il. / feel deep interest in the
matters proposed for consideration by
your Convention. They are full of in
trinsie importance, not alone to your
own State, but to our whole country.
Several of the sui possess great
national value, and, in my judgment,
ought to receive national attention and
aid. In an especial manner is this true
| of "the leveeipg of the Mississippi
river" The recuperatlve capacity OF
| the South and Southwest is very great,
not surpassed by any Of the agricultural
| sections approximating it-in extent
upon the earth. But yet, to accomplish
so great a good as would result from the
erection Of effective levees on that river,
the aid of the Federal Government may,
with great propriety, be invoked, and l
see no insuperable obstacle in the way OF
granting it in some mode that would be
both safe and constitutional Wishing
for your deliberations the most benef-
cent result, remain, very sincerely,
your friend, M. Q. KERR.
The States were all called in alphabet
zeal order, to enable the delegations to
offer resolutions. ~
Mr.. R. T. Saunders moved the follow
ing:
Resolred, That special committee Of
ten be appointed, whose duty it shall be
to prepare testimonial, addressed to
the Manchester Cotton Supply Associa-
ton of Great Britain and the National
Association Of Manufacturers and Plant
ers Of America, setting forth the present
state of the production Of cotton in the
United States and other cotton producing
countries, what crops of cotton we may
expect in the future, without any change
in the elements of production, and sug.
costing the means by which the yield may
not only be prevented from diminishing,
but be increased rapidly and surely, to
figure large enough for the demands OF
consumption.
Referred to the Committee on Manu-
features and Mining.
Colonel E. A. James, Of Chattanooga,
was selected as reading clerk, the
duties of which he performed with
efficiency from that time forward.
Mr.. Mansfield, of Georgia, offered
resolution earnestly recommending the
Legislatures of the several States, where
it is necessary, to pass laws whereby the
means of plain and substantial educa-
ton may be extended to all the people Of
the rising generation, with special refer
enco to the education of the children Of
the poor. Referred to the Committee on
General Business,
Mr.. John Martin, IT,, of Kentucky,
submitted the following.
WHEREAS, It is the true policy of every
section of this country, by judicious
combination of interest, to develop its
own natural resources; and
WHEREAS, The South, owing to causes
which operated against it before the war,
and owing to the war itself, is not adj
vanoed in its material development to
that extent which its great natural re
sources would seem to demand; and
WHEREAS, The policy on the part Of
the Federal Government has been for
some years to extend cid to great works
Vi iuLttudl VI
character; therefore b, 1t
Resolred by the Southern Commercial
Convention, That the Congress of the
United States be, and is hereby request
ed To grant liberal aid 10 the construction
Of the Southern Pacific railroad, the ex-
penditure Of ssid aid, whether 10 money
or lands, 10 be so judiciously made as to
secure the Government from loss.
Resolved, further. That such action on
the part Of Congress would be land it is
asked on that principle alone an act OF
justice due to Q SECTION which, in com
mon with others already benefited by
Government aid, has borne the taxation
requisite to make their magnificent
grants aHd loans,
Referred to the Committee on Southern
Pacific railroad.
Mr.. Scsnlou, Of Missouri, submitted a
resolution calling upon Congress to pass
the bill, now before It, authorizing the
construction Of Q railroad from Norfolk,
Va, to Louisville, KY, thence to St.
Louis.
Referred 10 the Committee on Rail-
roads.
Senator Sprague, when Rhode Island
was called, ross and made few remarks
concerning the Southern Pacific railroad.
he said Congress had not taken any &C
ton 10 the matter because Texas had not
been represented; but Congress is now
ready to grant subsidy, and be believed
it would be done at the next session.