Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-05-26
THE LATE COMMERCIAL CONvEN.
TON

The Commercial Convention that met
in our city has adjourned, as is well
known to all. The members who COM
pesed this convention were-a great
many of them-men of irst-rate ability
and enlarged business experience. Tue
session was rather long for the business
before the body to be transacted, which
is easily accounted for. A deliberatiVe
body, for the transaction of business
should be- small and composed of persons
qualified to perform understandingly the
work to be DONE
We would not be understood, asa Mem
phiau, Directing to the number OF our
guests. Not by any means; for we
were over rejoiced that so many had felt
interest enough in the meeting to
come hundreds Of miles to psrtake OF
our inequalities. But as permanent
organization to exist through years to
come, we should ascertain, if possible,
the best means and adopt the most FEAST
BILE plans whereby we may accomplish
our purpose expeditiously. White the
body. which assembled here, we're COM
posed Of men of decided mark, yet there
was, out of the large number of twelve
hundred delegates, goodly portion
rather novices in commercial matters.
1t was almost impossible to do business
with such number of men, on ACCOUNT
of the confusion that of necessity mast
arise whenever the simplest matter was
before the convention. Men who had
come hundreds of miles to a meeting,
thought it their duty to say something
ia the way of speech, or the objects fer
which they came would be con-
sidered by those at home as not
accomplished. Then, when there we're SO
many to make speeches on single
given question. it is not surprising that
the discussion took the widest range, and
a great many matters not pertinent we're
introduced into the deliberations, The
Radicals complain that the convention
was nothing but secession meeting, COM
posed of rebels who went there to make
political speeches. This ID great mis-
take. 1t is true that few indis-
Greet speeches we're made by enthusi'
astic and excited men, but every mans
political opinions were respected, and
nothing was said during the entire con-
vention which in any way tended to
wound the feelings Of Southerners or
Northerners.
If the complaining Radical will but
think a moment, he will see in what init
mate relations the politics of the country
stands to the commercial prosperity and
interest of our people. With the entire
help and assistance Of the General Gov.
eminent Withdrawn from our section and
directed to enhance and build up the hos
tile North, we are bound to view such ac-
ton as unjust and prejudicial to the
future growth and development Of the
South.
II, in a single instance, the General
Government would but forget her bitter
ness and hate toward the South, and give
the right Of way across the public do
main to the Pacific coast, a road might
be built from this section, and 1t would be
q blessing and means Of again making
the South build up and laugh with pros
perity. But no; if Southern road was
built it would interfere with the Northern
Pacific already completed, and at once
render the stock belonging to politicians
in that road valueless. It is not neces-
sary for the North to hold conventions
and petition Congress for help in the way
TO build railroads and improve
their commercial advantages. Mo- for
the reason that they can get valuable as
sistance by the mere asking, and FREE
quently without that, when it is clearly
10 the interest Of the Congressman to
make an appropriation. The South, to-
day, is nothing more than great planta-
ton. which belongs to the North. We
are made to contribute our wealth to the
General G overnment--which is more than
hat of the other sectious-and yet We are
denied the neanest Advantage If asked
FOR. The South is to the Government
that Ireland is to England mere