Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-02-12
gatlg Glnioa t 5meritan
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IsaiIroad Convention as menDhis.

Railroad Convention as Memphis.
Pursuant to a call very generally circulated,
convention of Southern raj road men was held il
Memphis on Monday, the 9Th inst 10 consider n
most practicable route for lice Of railroad from
the valley of the Mississippi to the Pacific Ocean
The AUaianeAs says the meeting was not large il
point of f.numbers, but quite respectable as to tn
character of the delegates.
Gov. Jones was appointed President of The Con
VentiOn, who. on taking ihe chair, stated the obse
Of The Conventon to be to advance the construction
of contiguous line of railway from the valley o.
the Mississippi to the Pacific coast, and he though
Memphis was the proper starting point; that hel
natural position pointed her cut as beng the bes
and mOst practical point, and hence he advocated
the scheme most earnestly. He vas of opinion thai
the proposed scheme for the construction OF the Pa
ci6o Railroad, which has been urged before Con-
| gress, is humbug; that it was impracticable, and
that the road must first be commenced by private
enterprise and sfterRards it deyolved On the CIV.
ernment to grant bid TO the work lie said that he
was unwilling 70 see the Federal Government take
chsrge of the road but preferred that it should be
left TO individual enterprise The best route, in his
opinion, vas from Memphis to Little Rock, thence
to Fulton, or to Ell PasO.
In furiheranes of the organization the follOwing
Wee Presidents chosen: L. Il Morgan, Of Tex.
! as; Mr. McDermOtt, of Arkansas; Mr.. Thompson, of
Virginia; Mr.. Love, Of South Carolina; Mr. Wilton,
of New York.
The folio wing gentlemen were chosen as Secreta-
ries: j. H. Mcmahon, L. J. Dupree, ard NJ. C. Gal
lsway.
We copy from the appeal the following synopsis Of
the proceedings of the Convention.
The following resolution, offered by Mr.. A. H.
Douglas, was adopted
ResOlUed, That the President appoint Commit
tee Of seven to report to this meeting the most eli
ghle route for the construction of Railroad from
the Mississippi river to the Pacific ocean, and to
advise such application for government aid as IL
may think will further and promote its ultimate con
stru tion.
Mr. hlcDermOt, ofATkansas, next addressed the con-
Vention at some lengthupon the subject of railroads.
etc. Remarks were also made by Mr. Delaield. of
Memphis, and others
resolution was adopted inviting Hon Kenr eth
Rayner, Of North Carolina, Messrs. G.. J. Pillow.
s. H. Morgan ana John S. Claybrrook, Of Tennes>
see, to take seats as members Of the Convention
these gentlemen being in the city.
After some preliminary proceedings, the convsn-
tion adjourned until seven o'clock
Assem-
Odd Fellows Hall at o'clock, and was called to or
der by the President, who introduced to the large
and intelligent audience present, Mr. Morgsn, Pres
ident of the Memphis Ell Paso and Pacific Railroad
Mr.. Morgan addressed the convention in a speech
Of considerable length, in which he gave general
history Of his road its present peculiar advantages
and recommended 1t as embracing the best and most
practicable route to the Pacific. He urged upon
the convention the necessity of immediate action.
on the p8rt of all interested in securing southern
road to the Pacific, and argued that the route which
he proposed. could command stronger influence in
its favor than any other route should it REQUIRE
goVernmout aid He touched upon many interest
ing points In conclusion be acked the members of
the convention to exercise i'll feeling, but to bear
and foTbear.
letter was presented TO the convention by the
President, from the Hon. Kenneth R9yner, in reply
10 an invitation from the members Of the convention
offering him seat as a member. The following is
his letter:
MEMPHIS, Monday Evening, Feb. T.
Ny DEAR SIR: assure ycu appreciate most sen
sibly the high compliment rendered me TO A seat in
the Railroad Convention. ov,r which you have the
honor 10 preside lfpossibly in my power, it would
afford me great pleasure TO avail myself Of your
kind invitation in taking q seat apOog you, and
contributing my humble aid in the Promotion of the
great enterprise which has brought you together.
So far IS regards the purpose you have in vieW-as
understand it-that of arousng public opinion TO
the importance of speedily undertaking the work
of a railrOsd to the Pacific and Of fixing on Mem
phis Of the tsrHini Of the road most decids
edly and cordially concur with the convention In
insisting on Memphis one of the teTnliA you are
only claiming for this growing city what nature has
already decided in her favor.
If in my power, should be happy TO give pub
ltc Endorsement Of the noble undertaking in which
you are engaged; but circumstances forbid it. l
am on hurried return to my home in North CArOli-
ma, after "a absence of two months-have tele-
grnphed to my family that will be with them at a
certain time, and must therefore, beg to decline the
honor rendered me.
Ifyou deem 1t necessary, please tender to the
convention my thanks for the honor conferred and
the expression of my regret that 1 cannot accept
of the same.
Yours sincerely, K. RAYxoR.
Hon. Jas. Z. JONES.
Judge Mills, of Texas, next addressed the Con-
vention. He advocated the claims of the Ell Paso
and Pacific route being the best and most desra-
BILE route over all others and gave an interesting
description Of the country through which the route
proposed TO pass. Among other things he said that
Memphis, from her Datural position, could command
q trade which would make her one Of the most de-
sirsbe commercial marts in the Union, and urged
the great Importance of completing sll her connect
ing links with as little delay possible Mr.. Love,
of North Carolina was called upon, to deliver an
address, but excused himself. Mr.. Thompson, of
Virginia, representing the Virgins and Tennessee
Railroad, called upon, and delivered an address
in which he presented many interesting statistics
IN regard to Railroads in different portions Of the
I MON. showing the advantages Of railroad from
Memphis to the Pacific.
Mr.. Payne, of Memphis, was called upon, who ad-
dressed the convention in forcible and eloquent
manner, in favor of the schemes before the COnvsn
tion. lie depicted, in glowing eolors, the results
which must accrue to Memphis when her various
railroads are completed.
Col. John s. Clay brook, Of Nashville was called
upon, but declined saying anything
Ex Gov. Jones, the President Of the convention,
was loudly called for but he declined, by declaring
th9 call out of order.
The convention adjourned to meet at ten o'clock,
Tuesday, at Odd Fellows Hall.
SECOND DAY-TUEsDAY, FEB. 8-The committee
location presented their report, which, after be-
ing discussed and amended, was adopted as follows:
Resolved, That in the opinion of this Convention
the most feasible and practicable route for road 10
connect the eastern with the western portions Of the
Union, and that which is the best adapted 10 the
great purposes in vieS is from the Mississippi rv-
er, at Memphis by the way of Little Rock, Fulton
and Ell Paso to San Diego, the Pacific, uniting as
it will the varied and otherwise conflicting interests
of all sections of our common country
ResOlUed, That it is expedient and proper on the
part OF the Government of the United States 10 ex>
tend to individual enterprise such assistance as will
aid the construction Of such roads westward to our
Pacific possessions, as the public necessities may
require.
RssOiUed, That Congress be memorialized to pass
such law as will authorize the Government to en-
ter int contracts with these companies for the
transportation of the mails troops and munitions