Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-10-23

Of the Elector, and the comments of the
"Standard "a Islander and an insult to the
"honoyed dead" and to all true sons of
chivalry.
Very conservatively yours,
% WHITEHEAD JOHN"
NORFOLK COMMERCIAL CONVENTION
Large Attendance OF Deiegates-Opening
Address OF Colonel Lamb-Address of the
PresIn RESOLUTIONS Adopted.
| Special telegram to the Richmond Dispatch
NORFOLK, Va, October IA, 1868.
! The assembling of the Commercial Con-
vention has created great excitement in
Norfolk and the surrounding country. The
city is crowded to OVERLOOKING private re-
sidences, boarding houses, and hotels
with delegates from Eastern and Western
Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and
Kentucky, besides many persons from
other parts of the country representing in
telligence and capital. The citizens of Nor
folk have opened wide their doors to give
the strangers cordial welcome.
At about noon over two thousand dele
gates marched in body, preceded by a
the Convention was called to order by Col
onel William Lamb, ex-Mayor of this city
! OPENING ADDRESS.
After prayer by Rev. E. G. Lindsey, of
the CRANKY street Methodist church, Col
onel Lamb delivered spirited address, ex-
tending hearty welcome to the delegates
on behalf of the city. It was especially
gratifying, said he, in the midst OF the
great and exciting political occurrences of
the day to see so much OF the wealth and
true nobility of the South assembled to
consider an object of so much importance
to the States represented. These States
need nothing but enterprise, persevering
effort, to make them what they should have
been long ago-the wealthiest part of the
world. The interest displayed in this Con-
vention would indicate that the people are
fully aroused to this necessity, and that
our vast resources are at last about to be
developed.
Norfolk, before the first Revolution, was
one of the richest seaports on the Western
Hemisphere The prostration which fol-
lowed that event, and the diversion of
southern interests from commerce to agri-
culture, retarded her progress, and the
north became the commercial section
Now, in this new era, when southern pro-
ducts would seek southern ports for expor-
tation, Norfolk must regain her former po-
sition, and go far beyond. She would be
made the gateway through which the great
countries of Virginia, Kentucky, Tennes-
see, ETC., would establish a direct trade
with the wealthy markets of Europe.
He predicted the most brilliant 1esults
from the action of this Convention, and
hoped that the members would return
home with the pleasant consciousness of
having accomplished something to-
wards the restoration of the country to
its former prosperity.
ORGANIZATION.
Judge Mckinney, of Knoxville, was
then made temporary chairman, and Col.
W. Fl. Taylor, of Norfolk, Gate of General
Lees staff, appointed secretary.
A committee consisting of the chairmen
of delegations, was appointed to report q
plan for permanent organization. During
their absence speeches were made by Hon.
Mr. Clapp, of Tennessee; Col. Goode, of
Norfolk; Hon. Waller S. Staples of Virgil
MIA; and Maj. L. S. Marye, OF Memphis
These speakers briefly explained the OBJ
iects of the Convention, and urged the i'm
portance of carrying them out. appealing
to delegates to cast aside all local and po-
itical prejudices and settle upon practi-
cal plan of action for the good of the
whole country.
The committee on their return reported
in favor of President, three Vice Presi-
dents from each State, two Secretaries
from Virginia and one from each other
State represented.
This plan being agreed to, Col. George
". Boiling, of Petersburg, was nominated
, and chosen President.
Vice Presidents-PeterC @. Johnson, A. d.
Dickinson, and David J. Brown, of Vir-
ginia P. @. Nelson, A. j. Mckinney, and
: l.. S. Marye, of Tennessee; Colonel 81. A.
Gillian, u. S. Hill, and Seaton Gales, OF
North Carolina; Col. Bush. VIM. P. Howle,
IoD6 ~ P166 IF
.Secretaries-R. FL. Glass and R. W.
Hughes, Of Virginia; W. J. Ramage, Of
| Tennessee; ?. E. Hill, of North Carolina;
. Oliver Lucas, of Kentucky.
COLONEL BoLING's SPEECH.
Colonel Boiling, on taking the chair, az
ter referring to the unexpected honor con-
ferred upon him, expressed his pride at be-
, ing chosen to preside over such body
The objects of the Convention had already
been fully explained. There was prize
within the reach of our people, and it was
: for this Convention to take the first step
, towards obtaining it. By their action they
could establish direct trade upon which
would depend the close connection of Nor
folk, on the Atlantic coast, with the coun-
try watered by the great Mississippi-the
/ vast granary of the world. By estimation,
%, 900, 900 of tons of its produce annually
sought al eastern market before the war
but though in connection with the Is,
100000 miles of navigable water, the
many miles of canal and railway of the
northeast and Canada, only 5000, 900
could find an outlet. By establish.
ing connection direct between the
Chesapeake and Mississippi prize would
be in our reach worthy of the exercise OF
the best talent and energy, and to excite
the warmest emotions of the most patriotic
hearts. If good Judgment governed this
Convention in it's deliberations there was
in store for the South renewal of the
glorles OF the past, and prosperity for the
future far beyond the brightest anticipa-
lions OF our most sanguine citizens.
BUSINESS COMMITTEE.
General Malone then submitted a report