Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-07-01
JOHN
The Meeting of the Chamber of Com
merce Yesterday.
The Ball Set in Motion Important
Resolutions Adopted.
A Chinese Labor Convention Called
for the 18th of July.
interesting Addresses from Hon.
Mr.. CIapp, Capt. Butler An
dersOn and others.
JOHN

About thirty gentlemen, among
them our most public spirited and in
fiuential citizens, assembled yester-
day at midday at the Chamber of
Commerce in responce TO the call is
| sued a few DAYS since for a meeting of
| those in favor of the importation OF
Chinese laboTers, to devise ways and
means to effect the same. The heavy
rain which came up just at the hour
set for the meeting and continued for
some time no doubt deferred a larger
attendance.
The meeting was called to order by
the Hon. Nh. Clapp, and Mr.. Charles
| Kortrecht called to the Chair, Capt.
! G. W. Gift being requested to act as
| Secretary.
Mr.. Kortrecht in assuming the
! Chair returned thanks, and said there
were others who had given the sub
iect more attention and were there
fore better qualified to preside than
he. He then stated the object of the
meeting, which was only preliminary
to a larger gathering of those inter
ested.
Capt. Anderson moved that the
Chair appoint a committee of five to
prepare a series of resolutions express
sive Of the objects, etc, preparatory
to a future meeting. Adopted, and
Messrs. Anderson, Moore, Nelson,
Ayers and Miles Owen appointed on
the committee, which Immediately re-
tired.
Mr.. Ayers desired to be relieved
from acting on the committee, but the
Chair stated that he would have other
committees to appoint and would pre-
Ter for him to act.
While the committee were out, Capt.
Gift read the following dispatch from
San Francisco, received during the
morning. 1t was as follows;
SAN FRANCISCO, June 50.
TO C. W. Gin, etc.:
Does the meeting at Memphis take
place on the 18th of July? kaapmans-
chap. principal Chinese importer,
will attend if the answer is favorable.
}. G. EASTLAND.
Capt. Gift moved that the meeting
adjourn until July 18th, and that a
committee be appointed to make ar
rangements for a convention to be
held in this city on that day to meet
MI. hdaplldlScldaD.
Mr.. Gates wanted to know whether
the meeting was called to take action
on this question, OIL to discuss it. He
wanted to discuss it.
Judge Perkins suggested the pro-
priety of naming either the 18th prOX.
or some other subsequent day, in order
to bring the move we'll before the pub
lie. He thought there was no differ
ence of opinion rs to the profitable
ness or utility Of the movement,
though of course there could be no
objection to a discussion of il.
Before the motion of Capt. Gift
could be put, the Committee of Five
came in, and through their Chairman,
Capt. Anderson, reported as follows:
WHEREAS, Among the numerous
obstacles in the way of the revival of
business and prosperity in the South
during the past four years, no other is
more keenly felt by the whole COM
munity than the want of efficient and
reliable labor in agriculture. Under a
system Of labor which was subject to
the control of industry and enterprise
We prOspered for half a century as
rapidly as the most sanguine could
desire. This was the natural result of
unlimited resources developed by the
steady hand Of systematic labor in the
fields of the country. Now many of
those fields lie idle. 1t is impractical
BILE to obtain labor 10 till them. This
fact cannot be attributed to the want
OF eXertiOn and effort on the part of
the landowner. He has offered and
paid the highest price for all such la
a- could no oh+oinn1 an1 +hof hoe |
proven to be entirely insufficient to
meet the demands of the country.
The natural cOnsequence-small crops,
waste lands and a scarcity of that
wealth which the generous hand of
nature so b~OunteOusly supplies, fol-
lows. To provide against such conse-
quences in future, experience teaches
Us that n of the best and surest
methods Of doing 50 is to seek the en-
ployment Of the reliable, industrious
and patient Chinaman as a labOrer in
our rice, cotton, sugar and tobacco
fields. Steps have already been taken
by the citizens of neighbOring States,
and especially by our enterpriSing
neighbOrs i'm the Arkansas Valley, to !
accomplish this purpose. That part
of the country trading with Memphis |
must not lag behind any other section
in any effort to revive the prosperity
Of the whole South; therefore
ReSOtred, That in the opinion of
this meeting the best interests of the |
South require hat all legitimate in
Gucements shall be offered ut once to |
encourage the emigration Of Chinese
labOrers, in large numbers, direct from
China to supply the great demand
now existing in the South for steady
and reliable lab0rs
ReSOired, That in order 10 accom-
pllsh this purpose a Convention to
consider the questions and mature a
plan of cooperation be called to meet
al this place on the 18th of July to be
composed Of delegates from ali parts
OF the South, especially from Georgia,
Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana,
Texas, Arkansas and Tennessee. and
that each county, city and town in
those States are hereby requested to
send such delegates.
Capt. Anderson moved that the re-
port be adopted.
Mr.. Gates moved that the report be
50 amended as TO invite discussion.
The Chair stated that such an
amendment was not necessary, as the
motion to adopt implied the right to
discuss.
Mr.. Nelson said that ne had under
stood that Capt. Anderson had had
considerable experience with Chinese
labor, and as most of those present
were ignorant of the subject, he would
suggest that Capt. Anderson address
them.
Capt. Anderson said he would do so
with pleasure. The subject had, how
ever, been ventilated in the oity pa
pers, and all the information that he
possessed had been furnished to a city
paper (the APPEAL). His experience
With Chinese, as laborers, had not
been, however, as cotton raisers. but
n the mines, in a country where cot
on would not grow, where it is
70 cold that even the mercury :
'ongealed in the thermometers. but !,
never had he e any laborers so F,
rue or faithful to their employers, who :
worked so steadily, conscientiouslv
faithfully, without ever seeming
o tire. They were skillful, too, in all I,
he trades used in their own country,
were easily taught, readily ac-
lessons from any who took the
Dains to teach them. The main thing i
hat they looked after was the money.
lie knew Of no valid objection to
hem. One that has been urged most
'ersistently is that they are heathen. )
Mat is grOundless. They are idOIGteFS