The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-11-24
AMERICAN COMMERCE.
CONVENTION TO MEET IN NEW ORLEANS,
DECEMBER 3RD.


| DECEMBER 3RD.
The following circular explains ittc!f an,
sho VS. the Importance of the Convention whcl
| will meet in this city on Tuesday, Decem be
3cd, in the Varieties Theatre:
The municipal authorities, the Commercial
and the agricultural organizations of the city
OF New Orleans with view of advancing the
material interests of our cou ntry. have decided
to Issue call for an Interstate and inter ma
tional convention, for the promotion of Ameri
can commerce. The 3rd day of December q ex
has been agreed upon as that on which the con
vention will assemble in this city.
committee of forty hos been empowered
to make all necessary arrangements, and the
undersigned have been appointed sub com
mittee to prepare an address setting forth il
concise terms the objects of the convention
and to invite the various Stat es and municip pa
authorities and Commercial organizations who
favor its objects to appoint delegates to said
convention.
The object of the convention is to adopt such
othel measures as may be best calculated to
increase and extend American commerce., and
to obtain from Congress suoh legislation as
may be necessary to that end.
The narrow limits to which this address m ust
of necessity be restricted preclude anything
more than b:isf reference 10 q few important
facts.
Though we possess an internal commerce
estimated at over tweney. five thousand mil
lions of dollars, an amount prod ably in eXct ss
of that of any other country, our foreign trade
compares uufavorably with that of most Euro
Pean nations, being scarcely more than one.
sixth as Large as the foreign trade of Great
Britain. To trace the cause of this eY traodi-
nary fact, and to promote the extension of
our foreign commerce, shou Id enlist the hearty
cooperation of every we'll wisher of his coun-
try.
Whilst our primary object is naturally the
advancement of our own interests, We do not
hesitate to invite the CO operation of foreign
ers, for the reason that the extension of Ameri-
pa nrnn anrJ1 pnFNlty
cnrtailnent of their Own, bpt qnite the reverse.
We cannot hope to extend our trade for our
sole benefit for unles other countries be bepe
Fl ed thereby, they will cease to trade wi it'll us.
The present dulluess of ade and general de
preston is attribu ted by come to over-produc-
tion by our farms and factories this is fallacy;
there can be no permanent over-prod uctiop, for
the wants of mankind can never be fully sup.
piled. The true cause of the depression is the
lack of proper facilities for reaching new mar
kets for our products
The consumers exist, but we must seek
them ont, and must be prepared to take in re-
turn their surplus protectors. There is o
community of interest between all engaged in
trade, however diverse or antagonfstfo their
in terest may appear 0 q casual observer; there
must, of necessity, be rec prooal benefit or
there can be no commercial intercourse. The
increase ard extension of foreign com
merce implies q corresponding Increase of the
trade OF the countries with " blob we deal it
is th erefore only reasonable and proper that
we should invite them to confer with us az TO
the best means of promoting the general good.
We will close this address with brief refer
ence to three special matters, which merit the
careful consideration of the convention. They
are:
FirAt-Tbe improvement of the navigation
Of the Mississippi river and its tributaries,
" hc n eau only be accomplished by some well
devised plan for the deepening of their chan
1els, and the cor Fl cement of their waters at
lll times within their banks. This is q work
shet only be undertaken by the Govern.
nent of the United st tltes and when it is con- |
,idered that this river and its tribu aries are
jhe Datarsl outlets of district of country |
reducing 2 coo 600 900 bushels of grain, vast |
uantities of iron, coal, lumber and other |
bulky products and manufactures requiring |
cheap transportation it is not unreasonable |
20 ask for prompt and energetic action on the |
part of the Government
Secondly - The necessity of q Southern |
Pacific Railroad has occupied the attention
md received the support Of many of our
.blest statesmen, and its Importance is fnlly
rnment should be urged to grant such aid as
will ensure its speedy completion, upon such
erms and conditions as will protect the Gov
rnm ent from pecuniary loss.
ThiTdly-Our commerce with the West India
Stands, Mexico and South America should be
rom oted by the granting of liberal compeu-
alton to steamship lines for carrying the
nails. These countries are our natnral GUS
omers. Their productions such are
argely consumed by US, and they are in turn
arge consumers of the products of our farms
nd factories, and yet for the want of proper
team comm uuication with them, the great
t is a curious fact that the proportion OF our
ommerce with each of them can be gagged
With remarkable accuracy by the proportion
f steam tonnage we furnish.
Cheap transportation is an important element
f commerce, and we trust the railway, steam
'oat and shipping interests Will Dc ioiIy
epresented.
fn conclusion, the uude-S:Sssd trust that