The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-12-14


comfort ana safety; never interrupted byse
we're stornss and terrible winter weather.
Is would be constructed at cost one third
less than the present rnnscontinefital line,
and could therefore be run upon q cheaper
schedule and with d superior service.
THE LAND TRAvgRsED BIZ THE TExAs.pACIrIc
RAIgK0kD. s5:1 sz5
/ will not cucumber my hurried sketch
with the figures and facts. that were pre-
scented. All the delegates TO the Convention
looked forward to 3 day Of great activity IN
that land az Immense resources trayersed
by the line OF the Texas Pacific railway;
and they could not for moment tolerate
the idea that such O land should be deprived
OF an independent and vigorous line OF
railway communication.
NEEDED BY NATION AND GOVERNMENT.
The people and the Government need it
cannot, indeed, do without it, The Gov
ernment demands it for system Of efficient
frontier defence. The wealth to, be develop
ed In the region involved will far excel that
brought to light by the acquisition OF Cali
fornia. And who can, foresee
WHAT NAY CONE FROM THE FUTURE
political changes and physical develop
ments in the wonderful land in the penin-
suia south OF Texas. The United States
should prepare itself for any turn in Ameri-
can continental affairs, and the establish
ment OF - -
GREAT INDEPENDENT AND VIGOROUS LINE
OF railway from the Gulf States along the
thirty.seeond parallel OF latitude to San
Diego is the most important and stindis-
pensable step that the National Government
x.1-o ~, in, tho nOSi.
ton to be ready for what may come.
This is the sort Of reflection that occu.
pied the minds of the very remarkable Con-
yention which met at New Orleans on the
Sd OF December.
That Convention was most remarkable for
its freedom from all party feeling. In all
its debates and in all its resolves there was
not word OF party sentiment or feeling.
THE BODY WAS NATIONAL;
but its nationality was chiefly reflected
through its immediate unbounded devotion
to the interests OF the great Mississippi Val
the Union. To espouse the cause OF the
Mississippi Valley is to spouse the cause
Of the nation; and statesmen should learn u
lesson from the spirit and action Of the
Commercial Convention OF New Orleans.
All that was done by the Convention was
marked by national devotion and freedom
from party prejudice and sectionalsm.
Such action is entitled to general respect
and influence. 1t should be understood as
the .......
VOICE OF THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY,
that is fast rising to 4 controlling position
in the nation, and therefore, while on the
one hand it would be wise to respect it. on
the other it would be like defYing fate to
treat it with indifference.
The action OF the Convention upon the
Texas Pacific railway was altogether hearty
and enthusiastic.
THE SUBSIDY OF NAIL SERVICE.
Only upon one other subject was there
much debate in the Convention. That was
upon the subject OF encouraging the trans
mission OF mails between the United States
and Brazil by q subsidy to steam line.
The resolutions upon the subject proposed
that the vessels assisted by Government
should be owned and built" in the United
States. Upon motion to strike out "built"
there was warm debate, which was ended
by defeating the motion to strike out and
adopting the resolution.
WAY TO HELP MONOPOLY.
It would have been more proper had the
debate taken place upon the question OF
giving Government aid to such line. The
Substituting Of 4 line under such name
would only be helping on a commercial
monopoly. 1t tends to concentrate out
ward freghts and also the inward return
freights. The main port Of departure will
be the point OF concentration, inward and
outward. Other places will iall under the
power OF the monopoly.
RICHMOND WILL BE ONE OF THE SUFFERERS.
She has before now enjoyed profitable
trade with Brazil. If the subsidy succeeds
she Will suffer; and so will other second or
third-class cities, whose chief advantage is
found in that sort Of commerce which diff
fuses in the largest degree business and oc-
cupation amongst the smaller adventures
OF capital, enterprise, and tact. / trust
New Orleans may not live to regret that she
was so warm friend Of measure that so
befriended monopoly as did the resolutions
about subsidy to mail service.
AN APOLOGY.
This is perhaps too much in the line OF
serious reading for what set out with sort
OF promise Of something more lively. This,
however, we hold in reserve. only suggest
ing that one Of the wisest Of proverbs is
Blessed is he who expects nothing, for be
shall not be disappointed.
"JEEMs RIvER.''