Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1881-11-05

lnerce is already one.half that of the whole
United States, more than twelve times great.
or than the total foreign commerce. Of
the nation and larger than the, total
foreign commeIce of the world, but
upon whose industry Is this year
levied, by the obstacles to the safe and easy
navigation, of the Mississippi River and its
nayEable tributaries, Il needless direct tax,
byway of increased freights and insurance,
demurrage, wrecks and repairs, of not less
than Sl0,O0O,000-it is the imperative duty OF
Congress and the right of the people for whom
this Convention is authorized to speak, that
the legislation thus wisely begun be made Ell
fectual and permanent by enlarging the pow
ers of thelRiver Commission to ihcltide the
active pro ecution OF the works already re-
commended by them; and by the regular and
separate appropriations from year to year OF
such sums as said Commission, acting under
the reasonable supervision OF Congress, snail
report as necessary to that end, 20 that this
great and indispensable work, national i'll ev-
cry sense, should no longer be delayedj ana
be it furthef
Resotted, That the scientific and compte-
hensye, system OF river Improvement by .
compe; ent Commission this fnaugutated
should be applied 10 the complete and perma-
nent improvement and maintenance of all the
nayigable tributaries of the great river; and
ResoIoed TlIat0this Convention recognizes
will great satisfaction the benefits already
resulting to the navigationof the Mississippi
River, and its principal tributaries, by the eX-
tension of the lighthouse system thereto, and
expresses the earnest hope that the partial
lighting of those rivers may be speedily en-
larged by increasing the number of districts
and lights to such extent as the Lighthouse
Board, in consultation with the River Com
mission, shall find necessary to render such
service completely efficient; and be II fur
ther =. 'itsi s..
Resolred, That the President of this Conven-
ton be, and he is hereby, authorized and re-
quested to appoint at his earliest convenience
n committee of twenty one, who shall be
charged with the duty of preparing, as soon
as practicable after the Convention adjourns,
a memorial to the Congress of the United
States on behalf of the delegates composing
the Convention and the people whom they
/ represent, in support of, and i'll accordance
with, the foregoing resolutions, embodytng
such statistics and information as said com-
mittee may deem eNpedient; that they cause
to be printed Il sufficient number of copies OF
said resolutions and memorial, together with
the proceedings of this Convention, for wide
distribution, and that acopy thereof be placed
in the hands OF each member OF the United
States Senate and House of Representatives
as soon rs practicable; and that said COM
mittce be, and they are hereby, authorized 10
take such further action touching the proper
presentation OF said resolutions and memo
rial to Congress and procuring the due con-
sideration thereof as they may deem best.
SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT,
Mr.. Kenner also presented the following as
n supplemental report of the Committee on
Resolutions:
MIR. PRESIDENT: Your Committee on Reso.
| lutions have also instructed the undersigned,
its Chairman, at the request OF the member OF
the committee from Iowa, to submit to the
Convention, without recommendation, the
| following resolution,
RESOLVED, That in the interest of cheap
transportation, and to afford a choice of water
| routes to the seaboard, we regard connec-
| tion between the navigable waters of the
Upper Mississippi River and the great lakes
as of great Importance; and that Congress- in
making appropriations to improve the nav
igation OF the Mississippi River aud lis tlihu-
| taries, ought not to overlook OF disrC gard the
establishment of free water communication
between the valley of the great river of the
W est and the waters of the East.
- Thisresolution was declaredrejectcd though
| III the confusion that existed there were some
.who declared that they did not understand
the vote, and motion to reconsider was sub
seluently adopted
Mr.. Geo. f. Shields, of Missouri, then Of
4
ing out the words "to improve the navigation
of the Mississippi River and its tributaries"
The amendment as PIT to vote and was
adopted. Then the resolution as amended
was adopted by vote of 2l0 to 70.
A RESOLUTION REJECTED.
Mr.. Roberts, of Pekin, ILL.,, offered as an
amendment or addenda to the committees
report the following:
Resolred, That it is the sense of this Conven.
tion that the future policy OF the Government
of the UniTed States for the Improvement oi
the Mississippi River and its tributaries should
embrace the enlargement and deepening oi
the Illinois and Michigan Canal ana the i'm.
provement of the Illinois River, 80 as to afford
deep water navigation from Lake Michigan tC
the Mississippi River
The resolution was rejected by a decisive
majority.
The Secretary produced the following dis
patch from Secretary of State Blaine, which
was read:
WASHINGTON, d. O.. October 81, 1881. Tic
Michael McEnnis, President: / sincerely re-
gret that can not visit st. Louis ut this time
and take part in the procee dings of yourCon
vention. The measure wich you assemble tC
consider is one of great national importance
and is entitled to prompt and favorable con
sidcratiOn by Congress. Official engagements
imperatively detain ME here and deprive mC
of the privilege of enforcing my views bypub-
lie address. JAMES g. BLAINE.
Concluding addresses were made by Con
gressmen Shellenbcrger, of Pennsylvania
Willett, of Kentucky; Springer, of Illinois,ant
other gentlemen, after which the Convention
adjourned
Chairman Dunnell lannouncedhi his determine
ton not TO appoint at once the twenty on
members Of permanent committee provided
for in the resolutions adopted by the Conven
ton. Hewil prepare the list upon his return
home and forward the same to Secretal.
! Wright.
A barge excursion on the river followed
, dinnerbeing served onboard with the usualaC
, compartment of toasts, after dinner speeches
etc, etc. IS rrn