The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-04-17

At the annual dinner Of the Board Of Trade
on Wednesday evening, the following letter
was read from Gen. J. ". Harrison, one Of the
most energetic, far-seeing and patriotic of the
public men Of our State:
ANDERSON, April IS, 1868.
Gentlemen: regret that my engagements
will not permit me to be present at your an.
niyersary on the 151h inst. The prosperity Of
the City OF Charleston is 80 intimately con-
nected with that of the whole State that every
association to promote her prosperity should
command the sympathy and encouragement OF
every citizen. 1t is melancholy reflection
that the peopls OF South Carolina seem to have
lost, in some degree, their ancient and honor
aple pride ir the beauty, growth and wealth OF
Charleston. It is q great misconception to
suppose that the people, as individuals or COM
munities, can be prosperous, whilst our own
principal cities are langulshing and decaying.
In proportion as these cities increase In popu-
lation, in wealth and commerce, so will the
advantages resulting from this be reflected
back upon The whole people.
The enhanced value Of property and extend
ed commerce will enlarge the revenues OF the
cities and the State, and thus the general sax
alton will be Gghtened, and each taxpayer re-
ceive proportionate beneht.
Again, there seems to be settled conviction
they cannot purchase their stocks anywhere SO
cheaply as IN the great cities Of the North; and
vet every now and then these merchants must
be impressed with the fact that some enter
pr;sing reighbor, WHO buys IN Charleston, ls
selling the same style OF goods at the same 1ig-
ures, and perhaps e little lower. This is true,
and can be easily and satisfactorily explained;
sill IL will REQUIRE time and experience to con-
vince our commercial men. A well directed and
concentrated effort Of the active business men
of Charleston, aided By influential citizens in
the country, will eventually reclaim the trade
of CUR own people. to which Charleston is now,
and always has been, so justly entitled. But
Charleston cannot become a respectable COM
mercial emporium if she relies alone upon the
Irade of our own State and sections contiguous.
The area must be enlarged, and other States
be invited 10 become tributary. Charleston
must have more direct and cheaper commu-
nication with the great cities OF the West. This
Is now within her reach. She may not have
the money within herself to accomplish this,
but she has active. intelligent, far-seeing citi.
zens, and by concentrated effort the capital
could be induced 10 come.
For more than thirty years this enterprise
has been entertained, fostered and encouraged
by your citizens, and surely there must have
been and is now great merit and practicabiity
in the scheme or it would have been forgotten
and abandoned long ago. What was first. per-
haps, State prlde, has become stern necessl-
X, and the active enterprise OF ADJOINING
States !s daily forcing It upon our view. Then
permit me TO entreat you to arouse, not from
apathy and indifference, but from that intent
ness upon daily business and avocatlons which
for the SUI cess OF day or an hour sometimes
interyepes and cuts of the most important
prospective advantages. If could venture,
would further suggest that you should use all
efforts to shorten the line OF communication
between YOUR city and The Northwestern dis
tric.s of the State, by constructing the branch
road from Aiken to New Market, then push for
ward the road to Knoxville, where you will be
in direct contact with Cincinnati and Louis
Vile, Chicago and othe- Western cities upon
line in which you will hare great controlling
interest, and where you could at least guard
against any adverse restrictions.
Next to this il not Of equal importance, is
the necessity for shorter and more direct line
to Memphis. from which point roads are pro-
iected northward to the Pacific Railroad with
such advantage, that Charleston could draw off
her proportionate part of that valuable traffic.
With these great lines constructed, and the
management properly consolidated, Charleston
would certainly be in position where she
could secure that part OF the commerce OF the
West India Islands which her natural advan-
tages OF location entities her to.
Permit me to add the following sentiment {:
s:T2.e City of Charleston Nature hes fur
nished her beautiful and eligible site upon
the great highway OF nations The tact, en-
ergy and enterprise Of her citizens must render
her worthy OF it. ~
Messrs. .. F. FLEMING, p. S. BRUINS, a. g..
HAYDEN, and others, committee.