Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-09-27
MERCHANTS.
Their Meeting Neutrality-suspicious., Ac'
tiOn, Resolutions, New 0ficers.--ReOr-
ganlZsti0n of Chamber Of Commerce. ~

tiOn, Resolutions, New 0ficers.--ReOr-
ganlZstiOn of Chamber Of Commerce.
We have not space for all the details O
the proceedings of the Chamber of Com
merce yesterday afternoon, and can only
give a brief recital of leading facts, tht
most interesting of which were involved
in the speeches of Mr.. Nelson, the retir.
ing President, and his successor, colonel
r. A. Pinson. Since Mr.. Nelson may not
for some time to come, have access to the
public through the press, it becomes us a
least to give him a full hearing, ant his
speech therefore appears as a whole. The
| inaugural of Colonel Pinson, urging the
active cooperation of his associates in in
fusing vitality into the Chamber of Com
merce, was full of force and earnestness.
OFFICERS FOR THE YEAR.
Before these two excellent speeches
were delivered, while Colonel Nelson
still occupied the chair, il was an
Dounced that Colonel K. A. Pinson
was chosen President for the ensu-
ing wear, and that Messrs. Newton
Ford, w. NJ. Harrington, W. R. Moore,
Rcbt. A. Allison and B. Bayliss, had been
chosen Vice Presidents. All these gem
/ tlemen meet this afternoon at 4 O'Clock,
at the hail, to choose a Secretary for the
ensuing year. The Committee on salaries
| fixed them and the tax IN members as
they were last year, and its report was
approved.
Z. Cochran, s. NJ. Gates, j. j. Murphy,
j.. 4. Stratton, Darlington Mason, were
unanimously chosen the standing Com
mittee on a~rbitrations and awards, and
the excellent treasurer, Mr.. Scheduled,
still remain in Office.
Messrs. Jas. H. Bate, G. J. Phillips and
Alex. Allison were appointed a commit
tee to settle with the retiring Secretary,
and Messrs. Doyle, Townsend and Dick
insOn to adjust accounts of the treasurer.
Messrs. W. J. Sykes, E. 7. Porter and
Hon. Jacob Thompson were appointed to
represent the Chamber in the
Southern Commercial Convention, to
sit next month in Cincinnati.
vALEDICToRY ADDRESS OF COLONIAL T. A.
NELSON.
Colonel Thos. A. Nelson, when with
drawing from the Presidency of the
Chamber, said:
Gentlemen Of the Chamber of Commerce:
On retiring from the position as your
presiding officer position with which
you have honored me at three successive
elections, I beg to return my most pro-
found acknowledgements for the repeated
honors which you have conferred upon
me, as well as for the uniform courtesy
which YOU nave extended, and confidence
reposed in me in whatever affected the
interest of the mercantile community of
Memphis, and the Chamber of Commerce.
NV heart, gentlemen, has been deeply
enlisted in whatever affected the CONNER
cial prosperity of Memphis; and during
nv administration of the affairs Of the
Chamber, il has been my greatest desire
TO turn all questions affecting our interes
to the greatest advantage, for our common
good. 1t has often been a cause of deep
regret that so much apathy was
sometimes shown amongst our MEM
bsrs, and those most deeply interested
in the prosperity of Memphis. One of
the greatest difficulties which has sur
rounded US has been q want of united ac-
ton in what affected the common good.
Some of our members have ever been
prompt in attendance at our meetings,
and manifested due interest in what was
before US. Unfortunately this class has
not been as large as it should have been,
as large as was necessary for the good
of many enterprises which affected our
commercial prosperity. Another, and
highly respectable class of our members,
have ever been willing to contribute
money to the support of the Chamber, but
we're unwilling TO drop the business of
stores and country homes to attend
the meetings. This, gentlemen, should
have been so, and l invoke you to
give more life and interest to our meet
fngs by prompt and general attendance,
and thereby infuse the right spirit into
all the members, aud sustain by your
presence and otherwise the action of our
worthy President, my successor. in con-
Quoting the business of the Chamber, and
adding TO the general interest therein.
The Memphis Chamber of Commerce,
when sustained by the united presence
and voice of its members, has been heard
with favor by high officials and in the
halls of Congress and the General Assem-
bly, of our own State, and, we have good
to believe, not without its influ-
ence and power being felt. 1t is within
the recollection of sOme now present that
the oDerous tax on cotton was
crushing our people and destroying their
energies, not only by the tax imposed,
but by the difficulties of meeting the re-
quirement in paying it, that you came
and suggested to the Government
a system of collecting, which was to a
large extent adopted, and we were greatly
relieved Of the troubles which surrounded
You were amongst the first to raise
your voice and demonstrate against the
continuation of that unjust and unequal
on cotton, which WAS prOstrating the
finances of our people n impoverishing
tnD hnOlO DUulns 4Oul NOlNO wa ~
unheard by our Northern brethren, who
had the power of doing with US as
their views and pleasure. After a
time, they concluded g great wrong had
been done, and repaired it by repeal of
the law imposing the tax, and / doubt not
the 'sober second thought" will u
them to make such reparation as may
seem right, and in all future legislation
give to us e~venhanded justice.
At a later day, gentlemen, your voice
and influence was again heard and felt, in
relief to u merchants from a tax
10y our own State which was crush
.ng prosperity and driving the bust
from our doors, and putting 1t in the
APPS Of other and rival cities. What you
lid to give the necessary relief and place
Is on an equal footing with our rivals, is
90 well known to require further refer
snce by me. l merely mention these
.hings, gentlemen, to bring to your
mind the power which you have
when united and determined to have
ustice done. No army which is
iisorganized can stand before or
with one united and under
rood discipline. Other cities on
North and on u south, are each united
within themselves, and determined to
iraw from us some of the trade to which
are naturally entitled, by surrounding
Is WIN TlNAl lines OI EdAAIOhug anu oSbaD-
ishing lines of packets penetrating into
he waters of the different sections from
which we draw our largest trade. That,
is fair commercial rivalry,
il should admonish US not to be
sleep or indifferent while our rivals are
It work. We should encourage, with our
business, every line of packets termins-
ing at our wharf, and thereby induce the
establishment of other and additional
ranafroNfn1 oil fnfarfnr anI pnn-
rivers. Each will bring to US in
trade. If we ship our freight by
and rival boats to u regular
jackets, we can hardly hope for the con-
mutation of packet lines which are
o essential to u prosperity, and certain
y not the establishment of others, if our
opposition is manifested by encourage
OF, and s~ustenance given to similar
Enterprises of others and rival cities, who
re through them attempting to draw our
rsde from us. / beg, gentlemen, you will
uly consider this matter and its effect,
hen in your power encourage those
Tho give to, and sustain you.
Within the last few years your attention
AS been largely attracted to the various
mes of railroad in contemplation, the
of which is to be Memphis. You
ave aided in various ways and assisted to
alive these enterprises. While all
re llpOEbduts YET W my mluu nom e1-
ept the Little Rock road, offer such i'm
results to the future of Memphis,
s the Memphis and Kansas City and
demphis and Selma roads. If these two,
nd the Little Rock road were completed,
We might even rest from our labors, for a
ime at least, and defy our competitors to
10 us serious harm, and never feel a doubt
Memphis will soon be a great and
city, controlling the commerce
# a territory equal to an empire.
The question of building q Southern
Pacific railroad is attracting the attention
II Congress and the country. This ne
essity of having such a road is an admit
ed fact in all parts of our broad land.