The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-10-08
TIE VEST TO THE SOUTH.
The Address OF Welcome, by the Hon.
George H. Pendleton to the Southern
Commercial Convention.

Hon. George Fl. PendIeton delivered the fol-
lowing reception address on the occasion OF
the opening, last Wednesday, Of the Southern
Commercial Convention at Cincinnati:
Ftiends-Every industrial interest, and ad'
vocates OF every growing enterprise from the
alIeehauies to the Rocky Mountains, attest
the dignity Of this convention and the magnl.
tndo OF the questions committed 10 its eonsld-
GRAFTON. Your pred dacessors, who met at Nor
folk in 1868. We're few in numbers, aud the
chief subject OF their consideration was the
ocean trade of the Atlantic cities with Europe.
Your numbers already reach many hundreds.
mud YOUR debates will touch every project Of
material Development every phase of lntell-
gent industry, every racilltT OF commercial In-
tercourSe, every plan OF finance and taxation,
every encouragement OF immigration, every
question Of governmental economy;
This convention meets to consider and adj
ya,ce the interests Of the great Mississippi
Valley. Arc, centre, aud source OF the we'll
benz OF other portions OF the country, lts de-
yelopmeut is T.: cir III owth, its prosperity their
wealth: aul when the hand Of industry touches
into life any dormant element OF power which
nature has hidden III lts fields, mines, lakes or
rivers. they grow by lis activity, and move
uuder it's ilnpulslon. Inc Mlsslss!pPl SaNey
Tbe very name calls up vision OF transcend
mt crandeur-lands teeming with cotton, rice,
sugar. corn barley. 1t stretches from Gen.
traI Pennsylvania tu the western boundary OF
Kansas; from the Lake of the Woods to the
Gulf OF Mexico. Its soils are fertile, lts mines
productive, it's forests exhaustess, it's climate
healthful.
Ere long hundred millions of people will
innabit it. rhey will till lis fertile soil, they
will work it's fruitful mines, they will manu-
faclure it's raw materials, they will be an ac-
tive. enterpl ising, self-reliant aud Industrious
peonle. They win not submit to isolation.
rhey will require and thcy will have free, unill-
terrnnted. and easy communication with the
GuIf of Mexico by the Mississippi River, with
the Chesapcak, Bay BY canal in Virginia, with
Sandy Hook by canal in New York, wirh the
North Atlantic by the Lakes and the st. Law
renee. They will reach the Pacific by the
Northern and Central aud Southern rallro Ids.
They will dig through the mountains OF Vir-
ginia and import by way OF Norfolk They
will thread the valleys Of Kentucky and len
mes see and load ships at Charleston and Sayan-
nab They will build levees on the Southern
rivers and reclaim to cultivation their rich al
Iuvia1. They will sweep away every embar-
rassment caused by the protective system,
an they will demand every Improvement III
the burden of taxation and in the benefits OF
currency which the most enlightened and sa-
paclous civilization can suggest. This ls the
Southern Commercial Convention. Oho was
tbe first fruit of the muui6cence OF maenanl-
mons Virginia, eldest born OF the Northwest,
fairest of her sisters. Conscious OF her own
matured and mItronly beauty, che looks with
loving pride upon their youthful bloom and
yiror. In her name bidsy on welcome.