New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-10-15
THE COMMERCIAL CONVENTION.

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scented not only the South, but also tn,
East and West and, in fact, this uni
versatility of its character was SO apparent
that the members concluded, righ
wisely, to change the name of the con
vention from Southern to National Com
mercial Convention. The various sur
gestions submitted to the consideration
of the assembly related to the entire
country, and it was at once considered
that the name of the collocation ought tc
conform to its objects. 1t not only pro-
posed to regulate the finance question, the
rate of railroad freight, the construction
of bridges over navigable streams, and
the improvement Of rivers and harbors,
in the South, but throughout the entire
realm, and the improperly of such
a proposition by a merely sectional
assemblage was SO apparent that the
change'of name was accepted, and adopted
by unanimous vote. It will hereafter
meet as the National Commercial Con-
vention, and all the States, and sections,
and interests Of this great republic may
legitimately come before its members for
consideration and Endorsement And the
fitness of this change is supported by the
fact that at the Cincinnati meeting, not
only the interests of the country were con-
sidered, but men of all shades of opinion
were there, to take q part in the counsels
of the convention. Commerce knows no
party. She is as blind as justice. Her
ministers trade from Timbuctoo to Ca,t-
casus Africa is not excluded from the
relations of trade any more than America
is. Peddlers enter Dahomey for ivory, as
they venture into Connecticut for wooden
clocks; and Louisiana puts on the ostrich
feathers of Kaffer as gracefully as the
Kaffir pours down the rum of Jamaica.
The convention recognized the power of
the Republican, as it did that Of the Dem
crat; and in changing its name, it widened
the door of its usefulness and power,
to let the avalanche of thought and energy
which stirs in all the people. In destroy
ing the sectional feature involved in the
name it toned another subject of irrita-
ton and weakness We premise, there
fore, that the Cincinnati meeting accom-
plished two good things at least.
There are parties who are not satifed.
They do not see any results, and they
therefore conclude that nothing has been
done. Small men, too, did not use the
convention, either, for any purpose of
their own. This is serious grievance to
them. But to us, the eye Of hope reveals
better things and the discontinue of
selfishness is not an unmixed evil. The
convention did not propose to accomplish
any practical results. 1t simply met to
consider what practical results were de-
sirable of accomplishment, and how their
success could be assisted 1t could pass
no law, nor grant any subsidy. but
it could recommend to the Legis-
VI VIS LAWFUL duu NAC
States what laws to pass and what moneys
to appropriate. 1t met to unity public
sentiment. Massachusetts met South
Carolina and Florida met Iowa. They
notes, and found that each
could help the other in obtaining what
both wanted. Boston wants a canal
connecting the Western lakes with her
railroads. Florida wants a canal from
Fernandina to Wacasas bay. AS these
two projects are not opposed to each other,
Florida and Massachusetts, agreed that, in
stead of fighting, they had better help
each other. A canal from the Ohio to
Norfolk is wanted by the Western and
Middle States. The South asks for q
evee along the Mississippi, and bigger
mouth for her great river at the Balize.
Neither Massachusetts nor Florida enter
my protest against these three schemes,
out consent to help us, if Virginia and
Louisiana will help them. 1t is happy
thus to discover that our
wants can be accommodated with assist
snce by simply helping others, This
IS what we should have found out long
Ago. The old Wing party made
some speed that way when it granted aid
n the shape of tariff to Massachusetts,
and Louisiana accepted aid
n that shape to her own sugar interests.
But Slidell came along with his gospel of
late, and while he denounced the protec-
ion that was accorded to the struggling
actories in the east, he took good care to
demand protection for Southern sugar.
lie had his object to accomplish in the
lienation of our happy people, one from
he other, and we were told frightful sto-
les about the injustice that was being
lone to us by fostering the cod fisheries.
Happily, as we said, the Cincinnati |
promises to abolish this Cos
'el of hate by teaching us to love one an
ther for the good we can do unto each
ther. When Banks, from Massachusetts,
meets Emley, from Louisiana, they explain,
make friends, and instead of pulling con-
rary wise, like pair of oxen in an old
ashioned team, they agree that the two
states shall be sisters in purpose as well
IS in name. They unite the family and
levote her patrimony to mutual deliver
nee and support. Thought breeds
gigantic purpose, and love trembles in its
mighty efforts to cherish what it adores.
Hands that Were raised against each other