Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1870-10-18

Speech Of Hr. John ". Garrett
The Cincinnati Enquirer gives the following
report of the remarks made by Mr. John W.
Garrett, of Baltimore. On taking the chair as
President of the Southern Commercial Con-
vention, recently held in that city:
Gentlemen of the CoUention-I cannot
thank you in terms too strong for the very
high and unexpected honor which you have
conferred upon me in calling me to preside
over Convention composed of So many able
and so many distinguished citizens, and upon
an occasion so interesting. 1t is an honor
which most highly appreciate.
Rarely in the history of our country has
similar occasion been presented. For the first
time since the terrible conflict through which
our country has passed, we find representatives
from all the Southern States assembled upon
the soil of so-styled Northern State-the
great State of Ohio-and those representatives
welcomed by the eloquent and distinguished
organs of public sentiment who have Just adj
dressed you in such terms of warmth, and hos
pitality, and kindness, as to make feel that the
Union is truly restored, and that cordiality and
fraternity agaiu exist between the North and
the South. [Cheers.1
This great, splendid and hospitable city
the Queen City of the West-appreciates her
relations with the South. Her geographical
position is such that, with the growth of the
country, the grandest future. Ohio recog-
nizes, aud those Northern States, whose emil
nent representatives are here to-day, rccOg-
nize that the early restorations of the material
prosperity of the South will advance the in-
terests OF the whole people,
What can be more advantageous to the en-
tire country than to build up the South-the
hot Srac aE,l Il 4 I,,
the recent great and terrible conflict? Let
all be done that the South ask, to restore
strength and prosperity and the happiness of
the people. Let earnest influences he brought
to secure national Legislation that will improve
her rivers and her harbors; that will con-
struct permanent 1evees for the Mississippi
river. and that will build the great Southern
Pacific Railway. [Cheers. Do all these
great things, suppremely useful and invalua~
BILE to the South, as they must prove in her
poriod of calamity, and you simply do that for
the whole country which is comprehensive and
enlightened for our national interest GCheers.
To accomplish results, such as should flow
from the efforts of such Convention, local
interests and local feelings must-and 1 am
sure will-be thrown aside. Harmony and
cooperation will be essential to insure success;
and that effective harmony and corporation
are indicated by the high character Of this as
semblage
At the close of the war what was more in
teresting to thoughtful citizens in the North
than to find the great heroes-the soldiers and
leaders of the South-instcad of seeking
homes in foreign lands. remaining in their
own country, standing by and with their peo-
pie, and prepared, after illustrating their spen-
did valOr in the field, to aid. when their cause
was lost, in reorganizing society-in rebuild>
ing and strengthening all the broken interests
of their people. aud in building together again,
in bonds Of peace and fraternity, cur great
National Union [Cheers.1
What magnificent examples ofmoTal cour-
age and grand action have been presented by
many of the heroic soldiers of the South =
That illustrious, great and good man, General
Robert f. Lee, IeheersJ at the close of the
war threw aside the sword and became the
honored and recognized leader in a spirit of
personal independence and moral heroism. in
the new work which was requisit for the
South. [Cheers
He became the President of a college,
promptly throwing his energies and influence
for the cause Of learning, recognizing that
knowledge is power" and that the strength
Of the South must in the future, as always.
largely depend upon the education of her sons
Luz. SGulltLutl, recent intercourse with tDat
distinguished man has impressed me with the
breadth and nObleness of his views upon other
great subjects in connection with the restora-
tion of peace and in the interests of our COM
mon country.
At very recent period, controlled BY his
conviction of the importance of binding the
North and the South by the strongest ties of
Interest and commercial relations. in addition
to his Iabors as the President at Washington
College, he accepted the Presidency of rail
way. The great object of that railway-the
Valley Railroad of Virginia-being to connect
the Maryland systems of railways through the
interior of the South to Louisiana. and in so
acting, governed By such motives. his anxiety
was not only to labor himself, but to give an
example, the value of which all must r.cog-
nize, that the true. great and benefcent policy
now and for the future must bind in cordial
interest and fraternity the North and the
South, the East and the West, under the iag
of our common country. [Cheers.J