The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-05-26

i
Southern and South western States that the
Blue Ridge Railroad should be at once COM
pleted, and we cordially commend this en-
terprise to the people Of the Southwest.
Mr.. Millett, of South Carolina, submitted
the following:
Whereas, this convention has assembled
to devise means for developing the resources
OF the South in building the Southern Pa
clfic Railroad, in leveeing the Mississippi
River, and making available the mineral
treasures of the Mississippi valley; and
whereas, to accomplish these ends it is
essential to increase our labor; and to
increase our labor, immigration from
Europe must be had by means of steamers
OF heavy draught and largo capacity, plying
directly between Southern ports and Eu.
rope; be it, therefore,
Resolred, That in the opinion of this
convention the great harbor of Port Royal,
on the thirty-second parallel of latitude, is
one of the greatest ports of the South At
lantic coast, and that the railroad from that
point to Augusta, Georgia, should be COM
pleted as speedily as possible.
MIR. Millett, in Offering his resolution.
said that In the Southern States they must
nave immigration, and must pat forth all
their efforts to procure it. In regard to di-
rect trade, it had been said that they had
no Southern port to compete with New
York where Immigrants could land
Within the past fifteen years q great
change had taken place in regard to the
vessels carrying passengers across the At
lantic Fifteen years ago they had wooden
ships, then they got side wheel steamers,
but now there were iron propellers. And
out OF ninety-fivc vessels engaged in the
ocean trade to and from New York, ONLY
two We're side-wheels The average tonnage
OF the propellers was $500, and few were
below that, and all or nearly all drew nine
teen 1eet OF water, and South of Cape Hat
teras they had no port that had over sixteen
feet at the bar. In the State which he rep
resented they had port where the water
was twenty feet deep. He had only to re-
mark that in South Carolina they had har-
Dor equal to New York, and that harbor
was Port Royal.
Ihe resolution vas referred to the Com
mlttee on Immigration.
Mr. William s. Hastie, of South Carroll
ma, introduced the following, which was re-
ferred:
Whereas by Act Of Congress, passed
March rs, 1854, certain cities of the West
and Southwest are allowed to import goods
III bond through the cities of Boston, New
York, Philadelphia, Baltimore and New
Orleans, entirely ignoring Norfolk, Vir-
gina, and Wilmington, North Carolina, and
limiting Charleston and Savannah to three
polnts-knoxville, Nashville and Memphis;
and whereas, since the passage of that
law the Southern Atlantic cities have made
extensive railroad connections with the West
and Southwest,
ReSoiced, That the Committee on Direct
importation be requested to frame peti.
ton to Congress. asking that all ports of
entry IN the United States be placed upon
the same footing as to the importation of
goods Inv int o;t
report in favor Of holding another con-
ventlon at Louisville, on the 10Th of Octo-
ber next, also for committee of one from
each State, to prepare constitution and by
laws Tor the convention, to be reported at
the next meeting, was adopted
The following resolutions by Mr. Austin.
OF Tennessee, were adopted:
Resoloed, That the delegates here assem-
bled from all parts of the Southern States
fully represent the spirit and purposes of
the great body of the Southern people.
heS0lred, That this convention, in Justice
to the members and in justice to the people
of the United States. deem it expedient and
proper on this occasion to declare that there
Is not now, and has not been since the sur
render OF the Confederate armies, any other
purpose or design on the part of the great
mass OF the people than q cordial and
thorough restoration Of fraternal relations
in all sections of this broad land
hesolred, That it is the deliberate opinion
OF this convention that erroneous impress
sions upon the minds of the people of each
section IN regard to the other, go easily
made and so hard to remove, have been and
now are the greatest obstacles in the way
OF prompt and thorough adjustment of our
political and industrial relations, which
would create peace, contentment and uni
versal prosperity throughout the entire
country.
Resoloed, That copy of these resolu-
tions be presented to the President of the
United States by committee of one mem
Der from each State here represented, ap-
pointed by the President of this conven-
ton.