, 1864-01-05

General expense account. ...,..--. 81 ,S3155
War fund account nt-.-..------,..--...-. 1.a6A0s
Total: :............................ ss.61
Received during the year.
Yearly dues from members. .--,....-.. $&00.0l
Ecnt cf hail ..-.:.-:-..... -.-...---.. l0001
War fund subscriptions. s....,..-....... a,1:s.s0
Totnl receipts. ........$a, ,633.s 20
Expended during tho year
General account .----..-..--....''..-- $5V.s6
War tuId account. a,ssG6.1a
Leaving as balance on 1aad-
D. general account. --.---.-..---S1, 1301
Stock in Ncr, 1ns. Co a,000.00
Total. s.6s
The several reports were accepted by an unani-
mons vote of the Association.
On motion Aessrs. John Tyrrel1. ). T. Bowen
md Hibbard were appointed Il committee to confer
with the Secretary and ascertain what his expenAes
have been for assistance in the performance Of his
power to make m allowance to him for the amount
thus expended, and to provide for an Assistant
when required during the present year.
The President stated that he has been notified by
cupid BY the Association had been rented, and
that the Association viii now be required to find
On motion, the Committee on Rooms were in
Association separate from any other Society.
On motion, j. ". Stanley and Sylvester sibley
were elected members Of the association;
On motion, the Association proceeded to the
election Of officers for the enaning year, MessrA.
McKincley and Henderson being .appolnted tell
cra. The following officers were chosen:
r. Petident-John Iy1rell.
ut Fies Pses5deHt-E. Burnhan.
Seertssg-Mer1illI Iadd.
Wreaort-Wm. Mckinley z Hampstead, =.
". King, ]. 7. Mum and N. o. Williams, for the
terms Of tEo ycars.
Address BIT TIT: RETIRING p1Es1pExT.
The retiring President J. '. Farwen, Esq, then
addressed the Association substantially Is follows:
Gentlemen Of the Mercantile Association:
As one OF the strange anomalies Of gigantic
civil war, we can chronicle another year Of unex.
ampled prosperity to the mercantile interests Of
made Sncant b The hand Of death.
Fortheee cardinal blessings we are indebted to
the Awiae Disposer Of all cyent., and trust that
dom to use what OF life and prosperity are given
given us for noble purposes; for while We are
thus singled ont to receive the cup OF blessing,
Thus lar the merchants Of Chicago have not
been behind any Others in Just and christian ap-
probation Of the 1acte growing ont Of the War.
Nothing comes before The public in which benevo-
ience ie sought for in connection Herewith that
hes not met most hearty response at their
halds.
ID Tue EPpp01I OI Tue AQW1QltIAllDu IN crushing
rebellion against the Government, 20 far as !
know, as an association we represent IN unhroken
front,
Eowever much we may differ in other things,
the practical business mind can discern no basis
1or disagreement In that holy purpose
The ssne is nonentna and while politicians
With thcE ses ambition a f. may seeE m to 1 ~
that they find 10 sympathy IN such circles as this.
The idea is coming TO be quito prominent with po-
a P Of ,b,t th.t s,s t. thsss sas l'sr s5
ham, with the ttezn logic Of events, are too Inueh
for them, and the probability 10 that they will
sws theiT nnh0 stas TINT they
an Undivided heart in making it such.
May the Lord pity and forgive them; Abraham
win, of conrse. Whether t6rr WILL forgive them
While your influence has been potent for good
at home, 1t has also thundered in the field and In
,hs r1i h't Is s eoGSs ay %hs
yet given to he REBELLION, tie Mercantile Battery
stands among the first for valor, endurance and e'-
Let rs cherish it as one Of the voices that are 70
fpeak our patton Into a Dew life.
II thunder is the only argument that rebels can
appreciate, VIC must assis1 IN making it thundes
until the deaf hear and the dead are raised up; for
surely they are deaf 10 reason, and dead 10 tae OBJ
legations due 10 Government.
Perhaps these remarks are out Of place, but It
seems tome that ten Thousand voices from every
temple OF trade, literary and religion, as vel as
from the field OF STRIFE proclaim that no plea is too
which 10 recognize the great truths, which make
up the living history Of these times.
The specific cause which called our association
into existence, Was The distracted and unstable
condition Of the currency, nntecedsnt to The war
gree, to 1ectify lbs evil. none of na foresaw the
monetary MOI W matters q the whole country, and work
out through revolution and necessity anew Eye
ton, national in its character and conservative in
A- h-,& $nwr% NFhf- nh
ces Ill classes TO ia support Such is the nstioual
banking system, which regard as one ofthe grand
results of The war: It may Be imperfect, bas ume
md nd ti1e Us the best paper money fof tie people,
that We have crer.had. We will not nave to epcad
one half our time looking over bank note detec:
currency for lime, and then sell It for heavy
Ssvs:9eady SssSS9a dec deessed H.. It shan. u0 ' '
money for Us. as vel as Din. is j. settled
| iact- The country demands that " Uncle Samuel
shall give us the currency as well as the coin. Thit
faithful execution Of the national banking law
viii be at once the pillar Of onr natdona! strength
| financially as well Is Of individual security
it with the game unanimity that we hsve supportet
| the wnr measures OF tho Eovernment-
| Bankers, who have for 80 long time ruled tht
have heretofore, and asy still lend their inhuenct
ncatnet syste1n that fnterfeFe8 60 cectualy will
t6eif pQweF in this respect; bat the time e not ia
as s Mhsa sappotefs 7 They Rsve BONE 10 IT,
! finances OF the country about the same relation
that the pence men haveto its political Interests
End thcy together must cosae do'cH from their has
pole, and his comptroller manages 1t well for rht
protection Of the systSm, we shall soon have mi
Wss IT to rs u e.
/ ST. Louis ard Cincinnati hare National Bank
opF nsss si.sF caaf hSs bs
hare already been orranized. but not enougl
Of capital yet launched in this channel to exer
cite controlling influence. THIS u What ta mos
needed to give pcTmanence, and to gain the bea
When Fuch result is reached, and other banl
aed We
onr fruitful soarce Of financial panies and revo
la.tons. ....- .
currency. Tint 1s the time when the most vigil
anee is required. Many Of ns hare vivid reeo
lection Of the manner In Which the currency tooEt
manded blood, and we were obliged to stan
the d1aft from which there WAS no exemption claus
an4eS spd 4 he m
6nye eayed our city and the Northweat from th
cure Of $la0M,90 Of currency. having for II
uost part, no other sponsors than ne bonds {
Hsd tic bonds Of the United States found the basl
Of that cirsu'ation, 1t would al have been IN o.
i4t1nec to-day, and the $5000,c00 sacrifice
by our apathy would have been ssved TO u
Instead of having l6rnishcd the South with til
eiIews Of war.
Th.re are many other considerations connectc
| with this subject which have undoubtedly att1ac'
ed your attention, that We cannot al1nde to here.
There nrc ether questions, arislng from tiroe 7
time uEon which it is most important that tn
| might of your influence ae q body should b
brought to bear. thrust, therefore that the assd
| cintton will maintain vigorous life. he pro
posed to mike its power felt, whenever such oeca
Very much rests upon M Individually, and col
lcctiycly in shaping the future Of this eommercts
emporium, which We may well be proud Of in 1t
| present position; but Cur ambition az hnsiues
men. should be. to make Chicago second only I
New YORK, among The commercial centres OF III
Ct trt:rcn+ Natnre has etitently surveyed her de
4 ain nll around ua With such N Intent TOT II !
marked uporeysT - lake, river, and railway nnota y
tf1,icbcF over the broad territory tributary to CHI
| esro We have only to read her book OF destiny
and do our part in developing her untold wealth. I
a.ionieh the world In the permanent pfogrea
| Thfrl, the immediate fnture will unfold.
"TfsnkinT ron most heartily for tbs kindness an
to1ias1s1ae e1erciscd towards me In the perform
nnrr ofmy Official duties, let me asaute Jon thss
| shsil tTcrremember youf partially vain gfanend'
and eetesm tho honor you have eon{erreo upo