The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-03-22
THE IRON STEA NSHIP BENJAMIN DE-
FORD-EXCURSION DOWN THE BAY
DINNER ON BOARD SpEETHES ,Ec

The committee of five will be appointed to-day.
| TIE IRON TEANSHIP BENJAMIN DE-
FORD-EXCURSION DOWN THE BAY
DINNER ON BOARD SPEECHES, &c.
The new iron steamship Benjamin Deford, lust
built for the Merchants and Miners Transportation
Company, arrived in this city on Tuesday evening
from Wilmington Del, where she was construct
ed She is of l 200 tons burthen; 22O feet length
of main deck; so feet breadth of BEAM and lG feet
depth of hold. Her engines are of 600 horsepow-
er, with IL feet stroke of BEAM with cylinders Sc
inches in diameter. She has been built with espe-
cial view to accommodating the passenger travel
and freight trade Of the line and is in all particu
lars most thorough and complete. In model and
dimensions she isprecsely like the s. r. Spamlding.
and presents as perfect specimen of naval arch
! lecture as floats upon our waters The dininpsa-
loon Is 30 feet long, and each side are the state
rooms, twenty-four in number, which are admira-
bly arranged, and together with the other apart-
| ments, will accommodate seventv-fye passenGers
| The furniture is all made of mahogony, with trim
| mlngs of rich blue velvet The whole boat is pain
! ted and finished in the best STYLE and presents n
neat and inviting appearance. She will ply be-
tween Baltimore and Savannah, under the COM
mand Of Capt. VIM. H. Hallett a gentleman whose
efficiency as an officer, urbanity of manners and
sollctude for the comfort of passengers have made
him most favoraby known to the patrons of the
|
OF the steamer CITY Of Norfolk, of the Savannah
line, fills the position of first mate. The BENJAMIN
| Detord will be placed on the line immediately
Yesterday, at noon, merchants and business men
OF the city, to the number of two hundred assem-
bled on board the vessel to witness her performance
! IN trial trip down the bay as far as Annapolis
AT half past twelve o'clock the boat left her wharf
a gun fred from her deck and she plidad
beautifully down the harbor. When opposite Fort
mcHenry another gun discharged. At two
O'Clock dinner was announced, and the company
assembled IN the spacious dining saloon to partake
| OF sumptuOus entertainment, prepared bv Messrs
| Shamburg Co., under the direction of Mr.. AIex-
ander BraShears, of the firm After full iustice
! had been done the good things, Benjamin Deford
Esq, after whom the ship is named, in reply to
| complimentary toast to the Comnany rose and
| said: That the Merchants and Miners Steamship
| Company appreciated the compliment which had
! Just been paid them, The line which was about to
De instituted was one which the business
| Interests of the city demanded and which
! should be supported. 1t was an experiment-
If the merchants and business men will sustain the
line IL Will be permanency but if, on the CONTRA
~, the line Is not sustained, it is not to be ex-
| pected that the company will continue it. The
! company desired nothing but fair compensation
| Tor freight, and II generally patronized the most
complete facilities for transportation will be fur
hlsaeu; ana that TOO, at rates cheaper than those
| heretofore charged. If, however, business men
would for the sake of day or two's dispatch send
| goods by any ways and means which offered and
| which were neither permanent or reliable it coud
not be expected that this line would prove a sue
cess. On the contrary, it would fail and the nom
| success would be chargeable to those whose best
interests should lead them to manfully sustain it.
1t was not the intention of the Company to be ex-
orpitant or unreasonable, but anxious to do what
Is equitable and just The capacity of the vessels
is from 5000 to 10000 barrels, sufficient to meet
the wants OF the business community ,and he called
upon the jObbers and merchants to give their sup.
| port to the line
In response to loud calls, James Hodges, ESQ,
OF the firm of Hodges Bros, rose and said that he
hailed the Inauguration of this line with ioy In
the transaction of business, the great object to be
attained, was the despatch of goods. Give this as
surance to the Southern merchant, and his patron
age was certain; but without it, there was no hone
OF securing the proportion of trade to Baltimore
which her geographical position entitled her to-
Baltimore is peculiarly Southern city. Her chief
| reliance was in Southern support, and in the
Southern people. The West and North west were
affiliated, to greater less extent with the Black
Republicanism of the North, with which the people
OF Baltimore have no sympathy. The West too,
| could seek ten Northern cities through avenues
| other than those which lead through the CITY of
Baltimore With the South, there was community
OF sentiment and feeling, and the citizens of the
Southern States could reach the North only through
Baltimore. 1t was only necessary to give Southern
merchants a guarantee of promptness and despatch
to secure almost their entire patronage This line
! to Savannah was the first step in that direction
and its permanency would insure untold benefits to
| our city. lie hoped that, ere long, lines would be
established to other Southern cities, thus increas-
ing the avenues of trade, and, a consequence the
| sources of wealth and prosperity. The speaker
closed with well-merited compliment to the direc-
| tors OF the Merchants and Miners Transportation
! Company.
In response to toast offered complimentary to
Henry M. Warfeld, Esq, the popular and efficient
| PRESIDENT OF the Baltimore Corn and Flour Ex-
change, that gentleman said that it afforded him
much pleasure to bear his testimony to the enter
| prise OF the Merchants and Miners Company and
he also in behalf of the Corn and Flour Exchange
| wOuld tba inst ~; II
the most cordial appreciation of the members of
that body. The Directors of the Company are en-
titled to the respect of the entire community for
lnaugurating this line, which be believed was
put the forerunner of a more extended system of
ocean communication, and which would eventual
! ly result In the establishment of a trans Atlantic
line. BY this step the Company stretched forth its
arms, and grasped the shores of New England and
the fertile plains of the South, and the results
which will follow, will act as the incentive to the
establishment OF new lines, opening outlets for
our goods, and furnishing new sources of wealth.
The Company deserved credit for its selection of
| oihcers. a. L. Huggins, Esq, the agent in this
! cty,was gentleman who possessed the entire con-
! hdence OF tne business men of the community and
discharged his duty in the most satisfactory man
| ner. Capt VIM. II. Hallett was a gentleman noted
Tor his efficiency as officer, and his courteous de-
| pertinent as man. Such officers added no little
| to the success of the line. He closed by Offering
| the following sentiment:
-, The Merchants and Miners Steamship Company
This dag constituted Committee on WAYS and Means
whereby the sections of the Union may be perfectly
| mented.
| Thomas jenkins, Esq, was loudly called for but
declined speaking beyond thanking Mr. Warfed
| for his remarks, and concluded by calling on Beale
ID. Richardson, Esq, to respond in his behalf
Mr. Richardson rose and said that as he was not,
! and never had been, president of a steamship
| company, it was scarcely to be expected that he
would be able to make creditabe speech, relative
| to the duties of the President. He looked upon
! the establishment of this line the Inauguration
n Al o. IL
would result greatly to the advantage of the bust
ness interests of the city. He had been battling for
| the principle which was now about being carried
out, for years, and had always contended that the
interests OF this city were with the South. Unlike
| the Black Republican member of Congress from
this city, he believed that the sustenance which
was to support Baltimore must come from the
| South, and accordingly people were more
closely identified with Southern interests. The
North Will drain the money from this CITY, but will
bring none here. For this line to succeed it was
| necessary that the merchants and business men
| should give it hearty support. Let it be fixed
fact that the facilities for the TRANSFORMATION of
! goods from this city were sure and prompt and
! business men need have fear for the results
! George w. Herring loudly called for, and
| in a few pertinent remarks assured those present
that the crockery and earthenware men of the city
| were determined to give an earnest and undivided
! support to the line-not by words, but in deeds
| in the shape of freight.
Mr.. Richardson closed by complimenting the
company
toast complimentary to the Baltimore city
Press was offered, and Chas. G. Kerr, Esq, being
called for, responded in few remarks and offered
| the following sentiment:
The Southern Trade-A Southern institution which
Northern people dare opposea of union which
| no fanaticsm reach.
A.. Fuller Crane, Esq, made few very happy
remarks, which were received with much satisfac-
| tlon by the company, and closed by giving as a
! sentiment-The Baltimore Bar
George NJ. Gill, Esq, was called on to respond,