Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-10-12
LouIsvILLE HOTEL. LoufsvrLLE. XVII .
fhst Y IN Monday. October II. 1869. .

rHE coMMrRcAL CONVENTION.

Special to the PUBIC LEDGER.l
THE COMMERCIAL CONVENTION.
There is but one theme Of conversation
in Louisville among strangers and resi-
dauts, and that is the great Nations
Commercial Convention, which will b
opened tomorrow. / arrived here Sat
urday from the North and concluded ;,
remain over and furnish the LEDGER
report of the proceedings from, day I,
day. The Convention bids fair TO be ont
of great interest, and the attendance vii
be larger probably than the Memphis
convention of last spring, as both sidel
of our beloved Union will be represented
As one of the results several new topics
will be introduced, and work enough will
be provided to occupy the entire week.
The term Southern, which was never
used in prejudicial sense. has been
dropped, and we will see what the Ma
tional Commercial Convention will ac
complish for the South and the coun-
try at large. Congress will doubt
less, be lnemoriaizsd on several i'm
portsnt subjects, such as the rebuilding
of the Mississippi levees, and the
construction of a Southern Pacific
railroad. The public mind will be di.
rected to these and similar important en-
terprises, and capitalists may be induced
to invest money in them. The discus
sion Of the material interests OF the coun-
try, and the friendly interchange Of views
from various starting points, must be pro-
ductive indirectly of practical results.
Conventions never build railroads or e.
tablish lines Of trade and travel. ttut thew
may discuss the measures and point out
the means necessaTJ to insure the success
of such undertakings, and cause corpora
tiors and persons to avail themselves of
the best facilities for promoting trade and
the development of physical resources.
FILLMORE.
Ex-President Willard Fillmore, of
Buffalo. arrived Saturday, with his wife,
and took up his quarters with Col. Blan.
ton Duncan, prominent citizen of this
city and Chairman of the Com mittee of
Arrangements. This morning Mr.. Fill
more had public reception in the east
room Of the courthouse on Jefferson
street. The affair was rather informal
but quite cordial all around, and attended
by several hundred people, all anxious
to look upon and greet one of the best
aud purest, if not greatest, men of the
ago. When Mr.. Fillmore entered the
room, leaning upon the arm of friend,
it was already Allied with people, who
greeted him with hearty applause as be
was conducted to the stand. He was in
troduced by some gentleman OF the COM
mittee, and then made few remarks,
expressing the pleasure be felt at meet
ing SO many Kentuckians. as we'll as
others, on Kentucky soil, on such q
pleasant aud interesting occasion. The
crowd pressed forward and each one was
introduced by member of
the Convention, aud warmly taken by the
hand by the venerable gentleman. Prom
nent among those who advanced. l no.
ticed Gen. Humphrey Marshall, aud other
Kentuckians. Mr.. Fill
more is we'll preserved gentleman Of the
old school-one of the last connecting
links between tho present fast sge and
the better period adorned by such men as
Clay, Calhoun, Webster and Jackson.
He ia apparently sbout sixty eight years
Of age, is rather portly, and would weigh
fully two hundred pounds. His hair is
perfectly white. without any tendency to
and his face is as clean shaved
as bishops. In his manner he com
bines dignity and elegance with perfect
care and gentleness. He cenverses with
auency and grace upon any topic intro.
duced, and is evidently in the full enjoy.
ment Of health and oil his faculties. BE
Is spoken Of as the presiding officer Of
the Convention, and will Gil the place
doubtless, with great dignity and eff
cheney. While his reception was going on
to day, l could not help thinking that the
funeral Of franklin Pierce-another good
man-was taking place in distant part
Of the country, aud that such men are
rapidly passing away and their proto-
types seldom found or likely to be.
THE MEMPHIS CROWD.
The Memphis delegation, i learn, has
arrived, though have not seen them yet
Our city, it seems, will be rather nu.
merously represented BY visi,ora, aside
from the regular delegations. Among
those whom have met are Colonel John
s. Kerr, Mr.. Thomas II. Cockr. DR..
O'Reilly, Colonel Miles Owen, Role
Saunders, Esq, Alderman Cartwright,
Captains J. G.. McManus, Thomas Il.
Newell and W. K. Hendrix. Captain Sam
Shock and daughter, and various others.
The hotels are already full, and will be
crowded all week. It is quite probable
that the city of Memphis will
only be alloved six yotea, ss the rale
adopted ct the last convention
to regulate representation will be
very strictly enforced. This is consid-
cred bat just in ths FIRST place, aud sec
ondly. is necessary 10 order to get the
convention all compressed into one