Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-11-20
THE CONVENTION.
CONTINUED from First Page.l


IaI markets OF the valley. The people
are beginning 20 pant with esgernes
for cheap and safe transportation OF their
heavy freights they pay TO New York skin
and capital will redeem the alluvial lands,
snd open a safe and convenient passage 10 the
gulf for ocean steamers, which will transport
our produce, and bring back business from
every land that Is washed by the ocean.
All these things being done, the dawn OF the
twentieth century will behold our country
glowing in prosperity and teeming with
civilized population from the Lake OF the
Woods" TO the Gulf of Mexico. Our beloved
Harnesses would spring forward to the 'front.'
rank among sovereign States, and Memphis,
our own emporium, would enlarge her Dor
ders and population IN generous rivalry with
New York, and looking down from the grand
bluff on which she is enthroned upon a per
ennial stream which connects her with the
ocean, will become the queen CITY OF Amer
lea" Immense applause.
HON. JEFF DAVIS
was enthusiastically called for, and mount
ing the stage, madSAa short address, in which
he stated the inability OF the government, as
well as the feeling OF improperly of the peo-
pie, to build the Southern Pacific railroad
when the subject was broGched years ago. He
stated the known objections to the Northern
Pacific road, ana the fact that only road on
the thirty-second parallel could be made to
subserve its purposes, Tor this was free from
ice and snow, was much nearer even to san
Franc SEQ. Another advantage was that the
earth was so hard as TO require no ballast, but
even admitted of cheap and easy construc'
wanted nc grant, he differed with them.
Owing TO the barren and useless character of
the land, such grant would be OF no value.
They wanted only what was due them from
the Federal government. San Francisco, San
Pedro or San Diego might be the terminus of
the road; all might be, but he urged the dele
yates moi to dissent as to the eastern terminus
and suffer IL to stop outside of rich country.
Let them deal with the matter as business
men ct. Louis being the richest, would first
get a branch; Memphis being richer than
VickgbuTg would get branch sooner than
Vicksburg New Orleans, poor, unfortunate
city, was like Niobe by the sea, but while
having more natural advantages as to site for
a branch, had shown no power, and would
have no connection unless by a road up the
Red river. He then spoke of the relative
means of branches from the above cities.
He did not think the Little Rock
road as bad as his friend, Mr.. Z app, termed
it, for he had experienced much rougher
travel on the ocean. So this road would az
ford a branch for Memphis, whether this
road came here or elsewhere. The road built
by the government was a political road. As
they had now proven their error, the govern
ment was asked to build q road where nature
Mr.. Davis then spoke of the advantages
which the construction of Southern Pacific
railroad to the entire country would confer.
If they were refueed road, they should re-
member that God had given them highway
TO the sea. They should improve this great
highway so as to render IT navigable for all
Commercial purposes. He thought the road
should be built, because 1t was necessary to
the government as it was useful to the south
the former in the exercises of the important
functions with which Ii is charged. The gov
eminent should not play the part Of Shy
lock, and demand the pound OF flesh before
they could have time 10 pay the interest-ten
years, for instance. The road should be con-
structed 10 the nearest point on the MISSISSIPPI
though he YVES willing to surrender this
opinion, If such be necessary, for the good OF
the road. He advised the convention not to
ASK government aid for the tve proposed
branches. The amount would be so very
large that the government would demand
prompt payment, which would kill the road
in its Infancy. He thought the gauge should
not be four feet eight and one-half inches,
but five feet, so as to conform to the grade of
stand shoulder to shoulder, SO as to secure in
the next congress modicum of what has been
granted to other sections and what is neces-
sary to her development and prosperity.
RESOLUTIONS REPORTED.
Judge Henry G. Smith, in behalf of the
committee on resolutions, said that they were |
ready 10 report. The report was then pre-
sented, it being as follows:
WHEREAS, The national government fur |
nished the means necessary to construct the |
railway connecting the country of the Pacific |
with the northern portion of the Union
which railroad, while useful and beneficial to |
the whole Union, is peculiarly and in a |
large degree exclusively beneficial TO the |
States of the north, and has the tendency,
existing alone, 10 the prejudice of the inter- |
ests of the States of the south; and whereas,
the people of the north were unable, without |
government aid, to construct the northern |
railway, much less are the people of the south |
tant future can be foreeSeen will |
they be able without governmental |
which shall link their destInies |
and interests more closely with the country |
on the Pacific coast, as well as with the |
whole country of the Union.
We have borne, and Will con. |
tinue cheerfuIIy TO bear, according to the |
measure of our ability, the burden upon the |
of f6a dahf fro
struct the railways of the north. That |
in view of these considerations, and others |
not now necessary to state, the people of the |
south appeal to their fellow countrymen of |
the north, and to the government of the |
Union, TO bestow upon US such favor and sub /
stantial aid as will enable us to construct a |
railway. with suitable connections. which |
shall unite US on the one side with the great /
country of the west, and on the other with the |
the north. And the more readily do we make |
this appeal, fully assured that the aid may be /
bestowed in such manner as Will not increase /
the debt OF the government, while 1t will add
greatly to restore and augment the prosperity
and happiness Of the people of the south; and
to this end we
United States to grant the credit of the ma
tional government to aid and accomplish the
of the Texas Pacific railroad,
from its eastern terminus at Shreveport in
Louisiana, to the coast of the Pacific at San
Diego or other suitable place on that coast;
and also to aid and accom- plish the construc-
ton of such railways as will connect the
eastern terminus with the cities of Memphis, |
and of Vicksburg, and of New Orleans, with |
such conditions and provisions as will effect |
ually secure to the lines of road leading to
these cities from the eastern terminus of the !
Texas and Pacific railway and along the
whole line of that railway, absolute equality |
as between themselves and as to ali other
railway connections and Intersections, in the
advantages and facilities for the transporta-
ton of freight and passengers, and for all |
other uses 70 which the Texas and Pacific
railway and its branches may or can be APP
piled. And with such provisions and con-
1itioDs as will compel the construction of the |
road continuously from the point of its
present completion in Texas to the western
terminus on the Pacific coast.
Resolved, That the president of this conven-
ion appoint committee of ten persons, who
hall be charged with the duty and power to
axe such measures as may hereafter be prop
n to prosecute the objects of the foregoing
resolutions.
Chief-Justice Mcclure, of Arkansas-Mr.
President, move that the resolutions intro
iuced by the committee be adopted as the
sentiments of this convention.
Mr.. Robinson Topp made an earnest appeal
n behalf Of st. Louis, and moved that that |
'tty be Incorporated in the resolutions with |
Nicksburg and New Orleans. The |
size and political influence of st.
Jouis demanded this, and without 1t the bill |
would be prevented. Last winter he was In
VashingtOn when the bill was introduced, |
It. Louis, Vicksburg and New Orleans being
provided for, but Memphis being ignored, he |
sked Tom Scott to amend the bill and in
lude Memphis, but the railroad magnate
WIS 'Dull-nSau6O, ana refused IL, linen ne | 4
nd friends determined to defeat the bill |
his was done, whether by this opposition or
ther he did not say. The representatives in
congress should demand this aid. Mr.. Topp |
hen spoke at length upon the character of the
i'd uesired and the reasons why they merited
t. ..
Judge Henry 6. Smith said in drafting the
the committee had been careful |
lot to insert anything in the same which |
would offend ST. Louis or expIe Ss any hostil- |
ty to Colonel Tom Scott.
colonel Moses White, OF Knoxville, said it |
vas not worth while to disguise the feelings
4 the members OF the convention. Memphis |
vas the point for the eastern teFminus-the |
My proper terminus. He, as a member of |
he convention, would insist that both Vicks-
urg and st. Louis be cut of as to being
amed terminal points. Memphis was the
roper point for the eastern terminus; its To- |
alton was the only one that could be Justly
tven the eastern terminus. He would attend |
he st. Louis convention, and would there adj
ocate what he had just expressed, viz: to |
lake Mempl is, and Memphis alone, the
astern terminus of the road.
On motion, the convention adjourned to |
alf-past nine O'Clock this morning.
o m e hing About Railroad
ShOVeis and Memphis InVen-
tons.