Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-10-09
CONGRESSIONAL EXCURSION.

CINCINNATI, september q, 1865.
The presence OF serious obstruction
and impediments to the free navigation
of our Western rivers has bsen so loni
felt snd suffered from, that ii has cease.
to be q virtue to endure their continue,
existence silently, or without sn ener
getic effort for their removal. Move
ments looking to merely local improve
ments have been made. These not be
Ing general, nor sufficiently thorough &
enlist the support Of the CREST commer
cisl interests involved, have mostly
proved insufficient and imperative
These distractions, always q drawback
to the commerce Of cur rivers, have now
become u crying evil, TuInous to theil
prospects, demanding at our hands i'm.
mediate attention, otherwise the cities
and towns on our river banks will become
mere railroad way stations, and the nsvi.
| CATION Of our waters q matter for history.
The grave Importance Of this suhjest 50
impressed itself upon the public mind
that 8 convention of delegates from cit.
lea and towns on the Ohio and Mississippi
rivers was called, aud held in this citg
on September 23i, 1858.
It's object being the discussion of the
proper measures TO be taken ia the pre-
misses, II being q foregODe conclusion that
steps Of some kind were imperRtivsiy
called fer.
This Convention held it to be the duty
Of Congress to furnish the requisite meanE
for the effective prosecution Of the de-
sired improvements, and in Oyder to pro-
cure frcm that body the requisite legis-
lstiOD, resolutions were adopted recon-
mending that an excursion by water be
organized from Pittsburg to New Orleans
and return via st. Louis, to which should
be invited the President, Vice President
and Cabinet, the members OF both houses
OF Congress, and the editors Of the lead
ing papers whose influence would prove
valuable, the design of this excursion
being 70 afford an opportunity 10 orr leg
islstoTs for the inspection of our rivers,
Of their ObstFuctions-nstural and arlih-
cisl-and OF being brought into personal
intercourse with those best Informed on
the subject, that a free intercourse Of
ideas might be had, and the influence OF
the immense commerce of the valleys of
the Ohio and Mississippi be effectively
employed In the furthersnce of the o.
jsct sought.
1t is not our Intention to discuss what is
desired in particular. Local or sectional
advantages sre or should be lost sight OF
in the general good which viii be secured
by the permanent improvements OF the
water communication, from the head
waters Of the Ohio and Mississippi to the
Gulf.
The large and rapidly increasing COM
merce OF the West demands that this
subject should be urged upon our Repre-
sentatiyes until success is achieved, and
uninterrupted, safe and cheap transit &c
the ocean IS & reality,
1t wRs decided by the Convention that
the excursion should take place soon
after the Presidential siection-sbout the
10Th OF November next-by steamers
chartered for the purpose, aud the IN
dersig1ed were namsd a committee 20
in charge all business GppeTtaiaing
thereto, with instructions to EppOrtiOn
the amount of financial aid required by
assessment upon the cities and towns
interested; SUCH assessment 10 be based
upon their well-knOVn river interests.
After & careful consideration We have
the amount expected from your
city ct 5000, and request that you will
procure prompt aud decisive action
from your authorities, in the mat
ter, and advise our Chairman OF
decision on or before the
ls.h Of October, 1868, either by mail
or telegraph, thai 10 may be enabled to
iuteiligently on the inporEaHs
question Of mean to carry cut this
project, to g convention OF delegates
from contributing places, TO be hereafter
called by this committee, Any surplus
remaining, above actual wants, will be
returned ia proportion 10 the amount
contributed, We rely upon the import.
sncs OF the subject we present, rather
thaA UPON the manner Of is presentation,
for attention RuG aid 81 your hands,
IL Y~ouchssfed, viii materially as
II making the excursion q success,
and il, IN it's turn, viii supply US with an
occasion to influence these vita whom
the duty rests to render our internal nav
free 10 the Ocean.
Please forward nance Of the gentlemen
the press for whom you desire inYits-
tons.
A. P. c. RONTE, Chairman.
I. +. ECKERF,
JOHN {. RENO,
BENZ. r DAVIDSON.
GEORGE l. JOHNSTON,
NA. Ii. WALKER,