Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-07-14
CHINESE LABOR CONVENTION
First Days Proceedings Large At
tendance of DeIegates---Address
es of Mr.. KOrtrecht and Mr.. Clapp
Permanent Organization Ef-
feCted---Mr. KOOpmanschaapp to
arrive to-day.


At II o'clock yesterday morning the
Convention called together to devise
ways and means to inaugurate the
importation of Chinese or Asiatic Ia
Dor, assembledin the Greenlaw Opera
Although not so numerously
attended as the late great Commercial
Convention, the body was n of the
most solid and businesslike looking
assemblages that we have ever seen
called together in Memphis. The au-
ditOrium Of the Opera House, while
not crowded, was quite full, and there
could not have been less than five
hundred delegates present.
The Convention was called to order
by H. Cherry, Esq, President of the
Chamber of Commerce, and was
opened with prayer blythe Rev. Philip
Tuggle, who invoked the blessings of
God upon the deliberations Of the as
semblage, which had come together
to develOpe the resources OF the coun-
try that God has given US.
At the close of the prayer, Mr..
Cherry nominated Charles KOrtrecht,
Esq, as temporary Chairman Of the
Convention, and he was unanimously
called upon to preside.
In taking the Chair, Nj. KOrtrecht
briefly addressed the Convention, as
follows:
Gentlemen of the Convention:
You do me more honor than l de
serve in asking me to temporarily Oc-
cupy this place. There are those here
far better qualified to fill this place
than I am, and l a only hope, by
your generous fO~rbearance, to succeed
in performing the duties of the posi-
ton.
/ shall not attempt, gentlemen of
the Convention, any elaborate state
ment of the objects for which we have
assembled, nor of the great benefit to
our common country, and especially
to the Southwest, that we hope TO in
augurate by our deliberations. We
all feel and know that the great want
of our section is labor. All that we
need to make usthe foremost part Of
the nation, as l believe, is an album
dance of cheap, reliable labor. We
do not need, and could not en-
plOy now, any large amount Of
highly skilled or educated labor.
What we want are tTusty, faithful
common IabOrers, and plenty of them.
We want labOrers to cultivate our
fields. clear our forests, levee OuR riY-
ers and water courses, and to open
the mines and marble quarries in our
hills and mountains. We want them
to plant and cultivate the fruit tree
and the vine, and to assist us in devel-
oping all the riches of our generous
soil.
There are two things we often hear
considered and discussed as the great
wants of our people and section. One
is more railroads and greater facilities
for the cheap and rapid trans
pOrtatiOn of our products and
our people, and the other Is
mechanics and artiZans to
carry on in our midst the higher
branches of mechanical and mauufae-
industry. But in my Judgment
these are not our first Orgreatest needs.
Let the cotton and sugar producing
portion of the Mississippi Valley once
have its five million common labOTers
Is il should have; let our cotton crops
be ten million instead Of two million
and in nay Judgment we viii
have no more complaint that skilled
mechanics and artisans viii not come
md live with and work for Us. Then. !
instead OF a prospect Of one Southern
Railroad to the Pacific, and a contrO-
-ersy as to the route on which il shall
De cOnstructed-we will have a half !
lOZen lines constructed and in process l
If construction, and only a generous
emulation as TO which shall first be
completed aud in use. Then not
)nly every city, but every vii
and almost every cross
'oad will have its man
featuring establishments, and
Is skilled labOrs and citizens, and the
whole land viii be laden with ths
ich products and fruits Of our favored
lime. Our first want Is common la
nor and abundance of it. Its work
lnce done and its results in hand, and
{ is one Of Gods laws that the higher
ndustTies-the skilled mechanic, the
and finally the artist-all fol-
ONy N regular course and line.
If 1 understand the objects Of this
Convention, or the purposes and feel
ngs of those who Originated it, it was
lot conceived and is not to be con-
.ucted in hostility to any class or race
f labOrers or people. Godm His wis
.om has declared TO man that "by
he sweat of his brow shall he earn his
Different men, and perhaps
.ifierent races of men, are peculiarly
tied and qualified for different kinds
f labor. All labor, properly consid-
red, whether physical or mental,
contributes to the ameliOratiOn and
enetit of society, and that which does
OF is not entitled 10 be claSSed as
lbor.
Speaking for myself alone, / recog-
lZe the right Of all classes and condi-
.Ons Of men to contest with me, hon
silly and fairly. for the fruits of legiti-
nate labor and toll Be he Caucasian,
lOngOlian or African, if by either
or mental industry he can
-lrly accomplish more for himself in
rae of life than / can, l recognize
IS right to enjoy all bis earnings.
ut while doing this, all others must
,eOgnize my right and the right of
l Of US, to employ just such laborers
w gCA4NNt Il A41hC u AlAC AdfEtSL I =
rOhts. If we employ the Mon
)lian to come and till our J
alds, build Our houses and make
II clething, We do not do so to in {
re any white or black man in the
orld. We dOit simply as a business 9
after; for the profit we expect to !
by it. There is still, surely, q
ON and employment enough for all
hO wish to earn an honest living. c
nd whenever the white man or the G
lck man can show me that l will I
axe a larger profit by employing v
"a than the yellow man, / viii en- a
Dy the white or black man. z
| again thank you, gentlemen, for )
e high honor you have conferred on v
?, and l invoke the kindly aid of all 3
rticipating in these proceedings, to l
list me in the duties of the Chair, L
d in the preservation of the good \
der and dignity Of this convention o.
lle | temporarily occupy this place. k
Al the conclusion of Mr.. KOrtrecht's "
marks Mr.. Cherry nominated Col. o.
on Irousdale as temporary Secre- al
~ { the Convention. ADOPTED. W
T. VI. Apperson, of Tenn, moved "
Ofder 10 perfect the permanent &C
5anizatiOn, the Chairman appoint pt
'ommlttee Of five to nominate per- bC
anent officers.
iudge sutton, Of La, moved as an CT
iendment that the committee con- fo
OF one member from each State m
nendment accepted and resolution ga
Sc
The question tbap -