Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-05-21

whereas, the scarcity of labor is seri-
ously retarding the development of the
South, therefore belt
RESOLVED, That the railways of the
Southern States, with their millions of
capital, be respectfully but earnestly re-
quested to meet in Convention, for the
purpose of establishing a Southern Rail-
way Immigration Organization, with
a view of supplying the increasing de-
mand for labor promotion and the
varied interests Of the country, and
thereby increasing their own receipts.
After reading the resolution Col. Hull
bert said that in his opinion nc resolution
of greater Importance to the South had
been introduced in this Convention.
What, inquired he, has brought over one
thousand delegates together here? 1t is
the free transportation. / very much
doubt had we nave been required to pay
our own expenses hither, if one-fourth of
those who are now here would have at
tended. [Applause.l What is it, 1 ask
you, gentlemen, that throws a damper
over the immigrant when he lands
in New York ind wishes to seek
the far West OF South? What but
the agents of the Western and Southwest
ern lines of Railroads, who thrust into
their faces their tickets with schedules of
rates of transportation? The immigrant
fresh from Europe, and with limited
means, is appalled, at the cost of the fare
to the far of lands of whose rich soil he
has heard so much. So instead of coming
to our midst he goes to the North and
Northwest. Besides the high rates of
travel, the arrangements o baggage
are bad and charges excessive. A friend
came around the Southern route with
him some time ago, and before he got half
way he was complaining of the amount he
was compelled to pay for a small camp
mattrass that he hadalong with him. Now
if railroad men will meet and make some
arrangement to lower the cost of trans-
pOrtatiOn of immigrants, they may i'm
mortalize themselves andfllour Southern
States with population. Statistics show
that every single able bodied immigrant
that comes to this country is worth $500
in gold. This being true, with a proper
system of railroad transportation, we may
yearly add to the wealth of our section OF
the country millions on millions of dol
lars, besides increasing the population.
Again, every producer that is added to the
population adds to the amount of freight
that railroads viii nave to transport, and
consequently to their earnings. The
speaker closed by asking the house to sus-
pend the rules and pass the resolution,
which was done, unanimously.
Gen. Duff Green said he had a resolu-
ton or communication on the financial
condition of the country subject which
he had elaborated very carefully, and to
which he had given a great deal of time
and study. He was confident that he
could submit a plan to the Convention
and convince them that its adoption
would enable the United States TO pay
the national debt, make the United States
currency worth more than gold, do away
with internal revenue, taxation, etc, etc.
The communication was referred TO the
Committee on Finance.
Kennedy, of Tennessee, Chairman of
the Finance Committee, notified Gen.
Green that the Finance Committee would
meet at twelve o'clock. and invited him
to be present.
a gentleman from Georgia moved that
the Committee on Finance be instructed
TO invite Gen. Green to expOund his
views to them.
Another gentleman said such a thing
never was heard of in parliamentary as
semblages. and moved TO table the mo-
ton.
Mr.. Kennedy said thai neither motion
was necessary, and hoped they woul be
withdrawn, as, in the name of the Com
mittee on Finance, he most cordially in
Vited Gen. Green to meet them. The res
olutions were accordingly withdrawn,
amid applause.
Louisiana-A gentleman introduced a
resolution in relation TO the great South
ern route. Referred to the Committee on
Railroads.
North GfbIina-A resolution declaring
that the most direct rotue from Memphisto
TO the Pacific was by Cleveland, Tenn,
and Sewbern, y. G.. This was received
with laughter, and it is probable that the
| Clerk mistOok the names and did not read
them correctly. Referred to the Commit
the on the Southern Pacific Railroad.
OhiO-Mr. kenzie moved that all bust
ness referred to committees, motions,
etc, shall not be printed before being
acted on by the committees. The motion
was made because yesterday the commit
tees wished to get documents presented
to the Convention and referred to cOmmit-
tees, and they could not do so because the
matter was in the hands of the reporters.
The rules were suspended and the motion
adopted. I'VE think Dir. Kenzie is mista-
ken in this matter. If any documents
were taken away from the Greenlaw
building they were not taken by any re-
porters to our knowledge. Every dOcu-
meut used was copied on the plat
fOrm.-REP.l
Observation-Disclosures Mr.. John Riley
added to the Committee on Pacific Rail-
rod. Adopted.
South Carolina-Geo. H. Walter intro
duced a resolution to obtain the endorse
ment of the Convention Of the Blu Ridge
Railroad.
Mr.. Mellett, President Of the Port Royal
Railroad Company, obtained the floor and
said he had in his hand a series of resolu-
tions which he wished to offer and call the
attention of the house to. Mr.. Mellett
made quite q sharp little talk before in
PRODUCING his document. He said the
| Convention had assembled to discuss va
rious plans for draining the valley of the
Mississippi, and retaining millions of
acres of the richest lands on the face Ofthe
globe, from annual overflow. But after all
his was done, and the lands reclaimed. of
what use would they be withou labd& And
where were We to look for labor but from
Europe? We must import it. Importing
labor means establishing a Southern port
and lines of steamers to Europe. The
talk about not being ableto support a line
of steamers South Is all nonsense. Last
year seyen-tenths of all the exports of the
United States was from the South.
Tn speaker was proceeding with much
Vehemenee and force to continue his re
marks, when Mr.. McMullen, OF Virginia,
arose to a point of order. The gentle
man, said he, should send up his resOlu-
ton and let it be read.
TO this Mr.. Mellett retorted that he had
not, nor had the whole South Carolina
delegation occupied as much of the Con-
vention's time rs the gentleman from
Virginia.
This sally was received with cheers and
roars of laughter and cries of good"
That's So"
Mr.. McMullen insisted on the point of
order, but it was not sustained.
Mr.. Mellett then proceeded with his ar
gument when, as he stated, there was not
a harbor South of Hatteras that could
compare with Port Royal, he was again
interrupted by a gentleman from Norfolk,
who corrected the statement and said
Norfolk harbor had a depth of twenty
eight feet at low tide.
Mr.. Mellet retored by saying that he
said South of Hatt,aras. The gentleman
from Virginia stood corrected.
Mr.. Mellett was about to proceed, when
he was interrupted by a gentleman from
Mississippi, who said Ship Island had 275<
feet of water. Mr.. MelIett retorted
to this interruption hat he also said
with a railroad running to it." Ship is
land is not connected with the main land
by rail, nor is there a railroad running to
the harbor.
After this second interruption Mr.. Mel
lett proceeded to the reading of his reso-
lutiOnS.
Judge Williams, of Kentucky, arose TO
a point of order, and tried hard to make
himself heard, but Mr.. Mellett read so
clearly and rapidly that he beat the Judge |
and compelled him tosit down discounted
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