Vicksburg weekly herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1868-1883, 1870-01-22
SPEECH OF GEN. WIRT ADAMS,
AT THg
CITIZENS MEETING. JAN. 10. 1870.


FELLOW. .ClTlzENs Returning you
my thanks tor the honor conferred
by my election TO preside over your
deliberations, | accept the duties
imposed with pledge of my earn
est endeavors 10 promote your
views, aud render what assistance
| can towards the accomplishment
Of the important objects Of your
association.
These objects. | understsnd to
be, the promotion, by intelligent
aud concerted action, OF thc present
welfare aud future growth and
prosperity Of our city. All must
admit that it i, full time sach &C.
ton should be akcn aud that there
is abundant work for your kaudS,
both immediate and prospective.
a. in the progress oi lite it Is
customary iUr individuals TO
mark The commencement OF each
New Year by a calm retrospect Of
tie past, and tie forming ol good
resolves aud wise purposes for
the future; 80 it i, cmincntly
tit that "A community like ours.
bound together by common interest
aud aspirations; in which the ~
grcgaic good becomes the individ-
ual benefit, should sigualiLc ,hc ad-
ycut OF anew year, and an impur.
taut decade in the history OF our
city and state, by voluntary as
ISOLATION If il, earnest and public
spirited citizens Tor the purpose OF
consulting together regarding is
present welfare and the promotion
Of the future prosperity Of our city.
These are objects which shUuid be-
dear to us all.
But, gentlemen, ! think YOU will
agree with me that, in the inmc-
diatc past. that devotion to the
general good. and concert OF action
which are 80 essential TO the build
Ing up Of all interests OF a great
city, have been sadly wanting
among us. An exclusive devotion
10 individual enterprise and per-
sonal interest has to a remarkable
degree characterised our people
since the close Of the war. Every
man has been wholly absorbed IN
his own affairs, and has given but a
furtive anu mOmeniary glance at
the general veal.
II Is true this course may have
found, heretofore. a sanction in the
ruinOus losses and almost universal
impOverishment INFLICTED by that
disastrous conflict. But this excuse
will not avail us In the future. We
have now advanced nearly five
years beyond that event, into a fu.
ture thus far peaceful. Our city
has swelled in population from
5000 in 1860 TO something like
1900 inhabitants In 1870. New
and important duties have devOlved
upon each and oil who claim 1t as
their home, and desire its future
progress. Indeed, may add, the
dictates of a wise seliishncss alone
could we feel no more generous
prompting-wOuld enjoin upon Us
the necessity, now and hencelorth,
Of earnest, energetic and united
effort for the advancement of OuI
city. In its prosperity and wealth
every worthy citizen would neces'
sarily participate. In the benefit
resulting to all, each would newt.
ably share ; as the humblest dover
alike with the lOrdly oak, divides
in the life.giving rays Of the vernal
sunlight.
A glance at the position and pros
poets Of our city must carry
conviction that the duties and labor!
imposed by her manifest destiny
are neither few nor light A mo,
ment's reflection must satisfy the
most obtuse and skeptical, that
whether we limit our vision to tho
State of Mississippi alone, or ex.
tend ii 10 fhe broad circumference
of the most productive cotton dis
tricts of the world, oil which Nicks,
burg is the geographical, as well as
commercial centre, she enjoys unu'
sual aud magnificent advantages,
! Within the limits Of our State nc
point can compare with her in tbf
combined facilities ofrivcr and rail
way transportation for the pro
! ducts of her soil. Like New Or.
leans on ono side aud Memphis on
the other, she has become the com
mercial capital of our State, by the
natural course of trade, and the in
evitable force Of circumstances. But
even beyond Our State limits, con
slider, ifyou please, the millions o.
acres, unsurpassed In fertility, and
whitened annually with the pre-
ClOus staple Of our cline, which arc