Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-12-05
COMMERCIAL CONVENTION.
Second Days SessiOn-Address by the
Permanent President, General Fitz-
hugh Lee Various Matters
- Brought up Before the
Conventions
The FrancO-American Treaty-ImprOve-
ment of the Mississippi-A Connect
ing Line Of Railway from the
Mississippi to the Pacific,
ETC., Etc.

New ORLEANS, December 4.-The COM
| mercial convention was called to order at one
| O'Clock by Hon. f. d. Holden, of Milwaukee.
The roll of delegates was called by States.
| General Fitzhugh Lee, of Virginia, perma-
nent president, was escorted to the chair by
John l.. Eubank, of Virginia, and John Eo-
| gan, of Missouri, and introduced to the con-
| ventiOn by the temporary chairman. General
| Lee then addressed the convention. The off
| terence between the time present and time
| past was referred to peace and war. Now,
| the speaker said, thank God he was in New
| Orleans, joining with representative men
| from all parts OF the country, who had as
| sembled together i'll peace and joy and love
| for the advancement OF the commerce OF this
| great country, then he arrived III New Or
leans with a body of a troopers when this
land was divided by civil war. The pail OF
| that dark cloud had been removed, and the
| great heart of the nation, north and south,
east and west. now beat responsive to the
| hest interests of the whole people of the
| United States.
| The following were offered and referred to
| appropriate committees:
By Mr.. Underwood [Ky.l: A resolution
| relative to the Improvement of the Missls-
sippi river and its tributaries.
| By Mr.. Hatch La i: Favorng the aboli.
! ton of all freight quarantine laws.
| By Mr.. Mallory [Ky.l: Relative to the
national system of quarantine.
By Mr.. Bush [La.l; Relative to the con-
| 6nement CT the waters of the Mississippi
| river within its banks, etc.
| By Mr.. Rawdon Ky.l: Relative to con-
| gressional action with respect to the jetties
! By Mr.. Burch Tenn. |: Relative to the
purchase of foreign built ships.
By Mr.. Aubrey [Texasl; Relative to re-
duction of the tariff.
Mr.. J. B. Lafiitte, chairman Of the COM
mittee of thirty having in charge the Franco
| A 10 krot to bot hot
| listed no commercial treaty between this
country and France; that there was now an
effort being made to bring about such trade
| treaty, and that for the city of New Orleans
a committee of thirty had the matter in
charge. He stated that delegates had
been appointed by the committee of thirty,
who attended the Franco American trade
| convention, which assembled in Paris on
! August last and had made report. The re-
port was received, read and referred to the
| committee on commerce.
Seventeen States are represented. The
| following was unanimously adopted, with the
| exception OF three votes from southern Texas:
| WHEREAS, The commercial interests Of
| our country imperatiVey demand as a neces-
slty competitive line of railway connecting
| the waters Of the Mississippi river with the
| Pacific ocean by the most practicable route
along or near the thirty-second parallel
! Of north longitude; and whereas, IN Or
| der to secure cheap transportation over said
| line, cheap cost OF construction Is absolutely
| necessary, which can only be secured by such
! measures as will secure cheap money upon
| the securities of the Texas and Pacific rail
| way company, now seeking to complete its
| liue on the thirty-second parallel as an open
| highway, free to all railway business, with ITS
earnings subject to the regulating power Of
congress; a failure in the proposition of that
company, which clearly shows that it
has recognized the duty and i'm
| portance of applying the best laws of
| economy In the commerce of the world, in
| its application to congress for national
| aid; and whereas, a government guarantee
| of low rate Of interest on bonds Of tha
] Texas and Pacific railroad company would
| seem to afford the most certain means OF OBJ
tanning the funds necessary to complete this
| line; and whereas, what is known as the
Texas and Pacific railway bill now pending
| before congress to complete said line from
| Fort Worth, Texas, to San Diago, California,
! is one which conhdes III no person or charac-
| ter connected with the enterprise, but incul
Gates wisdom of d suspicion and jealousy Of
| those who are to receive the national trust
| by its provisions, which have reduced the ap-
! plication OF the company for government AID
down to the extreme OF harmony with the
| interests of the people, government ard COM
| pany, and IS bill which seems best adapted
! to secure a speedy completion Of such line
| and to enable the company to obtain modey
at low rate OF interest; therefore,
ResOlved, That this convention recommend
and urge upon congress to take immediate
favorable action on SAID bill, to the cad that
the Texas Pacific read may be constructed
at the earliest possible moment, that conpe-
tition by an independent competitive line of
railway may be secured, and that the labor
ing and manufacturing interests of the coun-
try may be stimulated.
Secondhand whereas, competing lines
north and south OF existing roads are essen
tlal to the welfare of the whole country; be it
ResOlred, That the aid already granted by
the general government to the Northern
Pacific railway company should not be with
drawn.
Third-And whereas, unless the Union and
Central Pacific railroad companies are he'd to
the strictest accountability, the benefit Of
competing lines will be lessened or lost;
! therefore
ResOIred, That the Union and Central Pa
ci6c railroad companies should be held to the
strictest compliance with their charters and
laws regulating them,
Alter adopting the preamble and resolu-
tons favoring the Texas Pacific railroad, the
convention adjourned until tomorrow.