The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-05-21
ME MPHIS.
The Commercial COnVentlOn-OYeF
Une Thousand Delegates Present
Third Days PFOceediBgss

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MEMPHIS, May 20.-Delegates con-
tinue to arrive. The number is now
near eleven hundred. Among those
arriving are delegates from Illinois
and Pennsylvania. syt.faf
The Convention opened IN regular
form After the completion of the
committee, one from each State, to
select the time and place OF the next
m eeting Of the Convention, Judge
Williams, of Kentucky, offered a
resolution appointing a committee OF
FIVE to memorialize Congress for aid
in removing Instructions 10 the Ten
nessee River, aud to make canals
around the shoals. Referred to a
committee.
A communication was received
from the Memphis & Charleston Rail
road extending the time for the re-
turn Of delegates to The 1st of June.
Under a call by States, the follow
ing resolutions were read and refer
red, together with many not read:
That standing committees hold over
until next session, the chairman Of
which shall have power to call them
together at any time, and re-
questing railroads to furnish trans
portatiOn, and asking each State
to hold conventions and appoint ten
delegates to the General Commercial
Convention; to form a permanent
convention to meet from time to time;
requesting Southern railroads to hold
a convention, for the purpose of es-
tablishing an immigration corpora
ton and taking meaus to systematic
labor; (this was ably supported by
Colonel Cole, of Georgia, and passed
under a suspension of the rules ) ask
ing aid for the Augusta q Brunswick
Railroad for Go1ernment aid to. the
Selma 81 Memphis Railroad; for a
committee of five to memorializa Con.
gress on all subjects endorsed by the
convention, and that Governor Pat
toD, of Alabama, be chairman.
Governor Patton offered a resolu-
ton. which was passed under a sus-
pension of the rules, to memorialize
Congress for a repeal of the direct
land tax of 1862.
After the expiration of the morning
hour, the reporr of the committee on
a Southern Pacific Railroad, made the
following report, which was unani-
mously adopted amidst great ap-
plause:
ar. President and Gentlemen Of The ConVe1s-
ton: Ir
Your Committee, to whom was referred
the matters relating to the Pacific Rail-
roads, respectfully report the following
reso Tut .ons for your consideration:
ReSoIUed, That in the opinion of this
Convention, the interests OF the whole
country, especially those of the southern
states. could be serve by main trunk
railroad line from Sandiago, California,
over the Junction River, Colorado, and
along the Valley of the Gle, soutn Of that
river, TO lei Paso, on the Rio Grande, and
thence to some convenient central point
near the thirty second parallel OF latitude,
east of The BrazOs River, in the state of
Texas, from which main trunk feeder
roads should lead from ST. Louis, Cairo,
Memphis. VicAsburg, New Orleans, and
other points, all Of which feeder roads.
having equal rights, to connect with the
said main trunk line, while similar feeder
points on the Pacific coast, should have
similar equal rights in the same cOnnee-
ResoIved, That the President of the Con-
ventlon be requested TO forward a copy of
this resolution 20 the President OF the
United 5tates, Vice President. and Speaker
of the House OF Representatives, and re-
quest them To present the same TO the
leSpecitN Houses of Congress.
The comm tttee, whicn was composed of
representatives fro n seventeensStates, in
cluQ1HE three members OF congress-, give
the following reasons fer the report:
It is the shortest lime connecting the
Gull of Mexico anu the Nailev OF the Mis-
sisSippi with the coast Of.the Pacific Oc an.
2. 1t is the line, a though now Cnoccu-
pied. most easily graded, and cheapest of
construction per mile. -.
3 1t passes through less tnhoSpitable and
barren country, and over more fertile and
hos ptLa BILE lands tnan any other uuOccu-
pied route proposed.
4. The line IS touched By water trans
pOrtations at three points, affording the
greatest facilities for construction, aud
ha~tenf g and cheapenIng
s. This Iiue will open a world of gre It
mineral re- ourct s in A izona and Sonora,
and render more valuable The great stock
raising districts of Texas, New Mexico and
No hern Mexico, anu will thus enjoy un-
riValled traffic.
g. Il will inevitably attract numerous
feeders from the nelghbOriug Repub ie OF
Mexico, and thus ot Orly Stimu late enter
prise the e, but viii secure to our shipping
ports a greater portion of bullion, which
now seeks an oRtIet by hazardous con-
ductors and muggling vessels.
T. 1 viii open new cotton growing area
in Texas, New MeXi o and Arizona, IN
lands OF cot on growing bells tnat were
useless Tor lack OF iaotlities for transpor-
s. Il is well known that some roads,
which would be among the feeder roads
referred in the res DiuJIOn, have not only
been projected, but are already in active
course OF constructions, without waiting Tor
Government sabsI les or eneouragemenL.
9. Last, though not least the cOnstruc
ton of this route, more than all else be-
side, will encourage and build mp what We
feel to be the great necessity of th4 hour
immig ration and direct tra1e with Europe.
Respectfully submitted,
[Signe01 Logan Il RooTs, Chm.
>. b. b BEAUMONT, Sec'y.
Afrer the applause caused by their
adoption, the Committee on Direct
Trade with Europe reported IN favor
of the formation of steamship lines
from Southern ports, which should
be encouraged by subscription, and
that said lines should be patronized
by the planters and merchants of the
South, and approving the scheme in
augurated between Norfolk and Liy-
erpool, organized at the Norfolk Con-
vention.
DIR. Lindsay, of Alabama, present
ed a minority report, setting forth the
claims of Charleston, New Orleans,
Savannah and Mobile, which elected
long debate. participated in by him.
self, Col. Lamb, of Virginia; General
Lawton and Col. Cole, of Georgia; /;
Col. Massey, of Virginia; John
Everett. of England, and others,
until 6:30, when the Convention ad-
journed.
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