The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-12-07
COMMERCIAL CONVENTION.
CLOSING PROCEEDINGS OF THE MEET
ING FOR THE PROMOTION or
AMERICAN COMMERCE..
Adoption Of tho Report of the Committee
ON Foreign and Domestic Commerce
speeches by Jefferson Davis, John
Hogan, G.. J. Berry and Others-The
Delegates Express Thanks to the PeO-
pie Of New Orleans.

ventiOn tC order.
On motion the calling of the roll and read
ing Of the minutes was dispensed with.
The President Before proceeding with the
business before the convention the chair de-
sres 10 call the attention Of the convention to
the fact that he has received the certificates
Of the delegates from California. These dele
gates are not In the city, but have conferred
upon Mr.. Ryehman their proxy to vote for
them, also IN regard to the delegates from
Philadelphia, who hayS conferred their proxy
upon Mr.. Rychman. The chair desires to
know the sense Of the convention upon that
point.
Mr.. George Of Texas--I don't think they
have n right to appoint proxies They have
no representation.
Mr.. Bussey, Of Louisiana move that the
| communication Of the Mayor of Philadelphla
to the delegates, and also the communication
in regard to the California delegation, be
spread upon the minutes.
Mr. Whitmore, Of Missouri think that 10
but fair, and In order that the question bo
fairly brought before tho convention / move
| that the proxies be allowed
| Mr. Cave Of Texas-Beforc that motion is
put, desire to say that large number of
| delegates have gone home, and rs the con-
vention is very near the close Of It's labors, 1t
would not be Just that these proxies be ac-
cepted, because had those gentlemen who have
| gone bnek home known that proxies would
| be accepted, they would have left proxies be-
| hind them. | think 1t would be n great in-
Justice to the delegates who have already
gone home.
Mr. Bnssey Of Louisiana / have no idea
| that the question Of proxy will los raised here
Mr. Hill, Of Kentucky i think that these
proxies ought not to be accepted. The sub
| jects to be voted on are not stocks.
Mr. Bussey Of Louisiana In order to put
an end 10 the discussion, ! move that the
subject Of these proxies be laid on the table
subject to call. Carried.
The credentials Of Messrs. II. N. Martin
and John Il. Cameron, Of Vicksburg Miss,
were read and received.
Mr. Hogan, OF Missouri, introduced reso-
luton indorsing the COmmerci0 del Vatle Il
paper published In st. Louis and printed in
both Spanish and English and devoted TO the
advancement Of commercial relations be-
tween the Mississippi Valley and South
| America. The resolution was ordered to be
spread upon the minutes.
| Mr.. Quarry, Of Missouri offered q resoIu-
ton TO the effect that all delegates having
prepared speeches to deliver should present
them TO the secretary Of the convention to be
published in the records Of the convention.
Carried.
Tho President The first business before the
convention Is upon the motion of Mr.. Berry,
Of New Orleans To the report of the commit
tee on foreign commerce.. The amendment
proposes TO strike out the word built" in the
third resolution.
Mr. Berry, Of New Orleans Mr. Chairman,
III | understand, sir, the resolution that was
just now presented by the gentleman from
| Missouri think IL meant. sir, that discussion
upon this question should be cut OFF, and to
allow those who have prepared addresses upon
this subject 10 send them 10 the secretary to
be read do not desire to occupy the atten-
ton Of the convention by any long -winded
speech, and am prepared 10 take my seat, and
i will present an article here that have pre-
pared on the subject.
The Presidcnt-The chair does not under
stand that the resolution is intended to cut off
argumenta@ IT s to give an opportunity 10
those who rave prepared addresses To present
them to the convention.
; Mr. Berry Of New Orleans Yesterday in
the heat Of the discussion upon The subject Of
the report which Ia now before the conven-
tion, was taken to task by gentleman from
Texas for saying that New Orleans did not
want the trade Of Brazil. If / said 80 1t was
| not what intended or meant. did not mean
that 1t d d not want the trade of Brazil.
meant to say that there was lying at our very
door q better and more profitable trade that
was easier TO reach than the trade of Brazil.
! meant, sir, that right here, within 1900 miles
OF New Orleans, We could secure the trade
with Aspinwall by steamship connection and
instead Of which we are to-day paying tribute
to the cities Of New York, Philadelphia, Bos-
ton and Baltimore, which amounted last year
Q to S28,0O0,000. The distance from Aspinwall
TO the city Of New York is 300 miles, and
from New Orleans TO Aspinwall 1t is 1900
nilesN requiring three days less time
in transit Therefore | say, that q
mail service between New York and
Aspinwall has deprived New Orleans
OF legitimate trade that lies close to our
doors. Now, sir, If we build vessels In the
United States, we will be again paying tribute
AxsS H..
/ want the South and West toa,void. When,
yesterday, the worthy gentleman on my right
mentioned the shipment Of 10000 barrels Of
-four from Minneapolis TO New York and Lon
don, knew part Of that -four went To As
pinwall. ] knew th'A that -four could have
} come to New Orleans and thence to Aspin-
: wall. Why wasn't 1t 50? For want of yes
!. sells, and which is mOnOpOlized by the East,
by the financial position Of New York, which
she has occupied for the last century. She
wouldn't keep the control Of that trade IL we
we're all free to buy ships wherever we chose,
and the government would choose routes for
, the mails which were legitimate.
The press and the whole South and West
are continually talking about the Brazilian
> trade. Why, sir, in order to reach that coun-
try from this point you have 70 sail 1850 miles
right straight to win1ward before you get IT,
Brazil, right east against the wind and then
you are on a parallel line, which New York
and Philadelphia already have. say there
: fore that it is impossible for " To compete
WIN Ihe EaSt In the Brazilian trade. Ihey
Z have the winds, situation and currents and
parallel lines of latitude straight 10 Brazil.
men, In addition To tnat, in order 10 get back
to New Orleans you have ~ % around the
south side Of the island Of Cuba, and fight
around In that locality with the trade winds.
!. Mr.. Smith, Of New Orlean3-lf the gentle
man will allow me to interrupt him. you are
: aluding to sailing vessels?
> Mr. Berry answered that he alluded also to
steamships and gave some explanation TO
Mr. Smith which the reporter didn't hear,
Continuing, he said that tine distance from
New Orleans to Rio Janeiro was 5233 miles,
while to Aspinwall the distance was only 1900
! miles, at which place the whole and more
: prosperous coffee trade could be got than
q with Brazil. He pointed out the fact that the
: Pacific Mail Steamship Company and the
2 Atlas Mail Steamship Company, Of New
York, were sending out to Aspinwall five
ships month - accommodates that trade.
The South ought to De dong that, and the