The Portland daily press., 1863-08-08
Reception OF the Western Board. OF Trade

Reception OF the Western Boards OF Trade.
The Boards Of Trade from Chicago, Detroit
and Milwaukee, were invited to meet at New
City Hall at IL o'clock yesterday, where they
were introduced to the members of the Board
of Trade, subscribers TO the Merchants Ex-
change, and other citizens Of this city. A
bulletin board was placed In the center of the
hall, containing the latest dispatches received
at the Merchants Exchange. The Portland
Brass Band was present discussing excel
lent music aud enlivcning the occasion with
their stirring strains.
After an half hour Of friendly greetings and
introductions, the meeting was called to order
by James II. Perley Esq, who introduced the
President OF the Board OF Trade, T. C. Her.
sey, Esq, who welcomed the Boards of Trade
in very appropriate and eloquent speech rs
follows:
Gentlemen and brother merchants ofLte great
Vest.
1t Is unfortunate for both you and the speak
er that it devolyes on me las the representa-
tive of our Board OF Tradc) to discharge the
pleasant duty OF bidding you welcome, proyid-
ed you were expecting aspeech, as for business
men, IL Is not our provinces 10 MAKE speeches.,
and know you will pardon me IL | say but
little, and that little inperiecty.
The East greets the West, and in behalf of
the business men aud citizens OF Portland
extend to you cordial welcome 10 the Forest
City, TO the Pine Tree State, to New England.
1t rejoices our hearts To see SO many of you
here; not because we have anything wonder
ful TO show you in our little little city. OF In
expectation OF pecunary gain, but 10 cultivate
ur n.
you aside from the heat and toll OF business, la
pleasant Intercourse aud recreation, trusting
that the cool bracng air OF Casco Bay may
serve to strengthen our bodies, and a better ac-
quaintance to strengthen the ties that bind us
as one people. IL is we'll and lifting that we
should meet together face TO face, take each
other by the hand as business men aud lovers
of the good old Union. Then the enemies Of
our country cannot liz they wouldl break the
tie that binds US together. We want you to
see New England, the home OF your fathers,
and say ii zee shall be left out in the cold.'
Are We to allow unprincipled politicians to
create jealousics aud heart burnings? Mol
your response assures me that we shall stand
together as band of brothers. and with the
blessing of God be able to triumph over all
our enemies, both foreign and domestic. We
of the East rejoice in your growth and pros
perity, and trust we may be inspired by your
enterprise. Your productive country is the
admiration OF the world. A portion of us
have recently visited one OF your Cities and
participated in the proceedings of that great
national movement To enlarge your canals and
improve your rivers aud thus TO further de-
yelop the vast resources of the West. Let us
work on; let US work together, and allow no
sectional jealouses TO interfere with the OPEN
ing and enlarging Of all needed channels of
communication TO connect the West with the
Atlantic. Passing over the Grand Trunk
railway to its western terminus, we have seen
the substantial business men OF Detroit and
their beautiful city. The eastern terminus
grects you, and trusts that through that chan
mel we may have better acquaintance.
We have also had the pleasure Of visiting
the "Queen City of the Lakes'-we have mo-
ficed with pleasure your enterprise and metro
politan Development Not coutent with sup
plying us with our pork aud grain, you must
needs also monopolize our numbering business.
What shall we say of Milwaukee, "a city set
0ndhfu,' with all the adyantagesol locality, a
spacious harbor, and with the productireness of
your soil and great activity Of your business
men, must rise higher and still higher. Your
wheat crop Is known at most OF our tables
your beautiful city and generous hospitality is
well appreciated by all who have had the pleas
ure OF visiting you.
Gentlemen OF the West-your enterprise
and growth has surprised US ALL aud challen-
ges our admiration, but we have admired
far more your devotion TO our beloved
country In this day of her sore trial. How no.
bly, you have responded TO your conntry's call
In linen and means" to aid in putting down
this wicked rebellion. and in relieving those in
distress. We honor your noble brave men
your Grants, your Rosencrans, your Foots
aud Porters, with other noble spirits who are
redeeming the West. We lave heard the
thunder OF your Artillery at Forts Henry and
Donaldson, Island No. 10 aud Vicksburg. Now
with the fall Of Port Hudson, by the persever-
ing energy and good generalship of the noble
Banks, the great Mississippi river is once
more, through our united efforts, open to the
commerce OF the world.
Yesterday we heard the joyful notes of
thanksgiving coupled with many tears. Is
there not cause for thanksgiving TO Almighty
God for his many blessings and the victories
vouchsafed to us on these and other holly con-
tested battlefielsls? We would not forget our
brave generals who have achieved so mnch in
the redemption OF New Orleans, North Caro-
lima, Western Virginia and the glorious victo-
ries won on the bloody fields of Antietam and
Gettysburg
We feel just pride as business men and
representatives of commercial interests in the
fact that no Board OF Trade or Chamber of
Commerce since the first gun was fired on Fort
Sumter, has ever passed disloyal resolution
bly, responded in aid of Government and suf-
fering humanity. We must not falter now af-
ter all these glorious victories but remain firm
and united, working on until we have settled
the question Of our ability for self government
Of liberty and constitutional government for
our children and children's children, but let us
rather rejoice that it has come tif 1t must) In
our day. Liberty loving men all over the
world are looking with intense anxiety to see
the settlement of this question. Unnumbered
millions are anxiously awaiting the result, and
full of hope; let us not disappoint them but
fight on until the stars and stripes float trium-
phantly over the whole thirty-five States of our
glorious Union. We may and do honestly dit
fer as to the mode OF carrying on this war, but
We must not allow these differences to lead us
to withhold our cordial and united support of
the government and a generous confidence
In our leaders. It will be time enough to set
tie these differences AFTER the war Is over. We
regret the necessity for this war and sympa-
thize deeply with those In distress and Attic
ton; let us not forget them or tire in our char
tiles for their relief Without this war we
should never have developed our vast resour-
ces. This war has silenced II trust forever)
the charge that we (Americans) "worship the
almighty dollar" We have poured out freely
our treasure as well as our blood, and the cries
OF the suffering will call for our continued re-
lief As merchants aud business men let US