Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-08-31
CALHOUN AND DAVIS.
INTERESTING "REMINISCENCES OF AN
olp-T,Me vIRGINlAN.
striking Characteristics Of Ante-Bsiium
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Gathering st
Mcmphis--Csihoan's Enthusi-
sstic Reception.
,cn.riestoa Is. c., News and oourisri


sone associated matters.
Theoli-time southern commercial con-
yen,ions were important, imposing, ana
influential gatherings. II was my privi-
lcre to attend two Of them as delegate
from this city. At Memphis / had 70
stand alone because nay appointed sssocl-
ntoS were unable to attend. But AZ hnoA-
yillo our city had large and most worthy
REPRESENTATION. ono of whom had been the
pros dent OF the proviOus convention,
which had met in Savannah. -,
As soon as il was known that MI. Cal
houn would be at the Memphis conven-
ton sentiment concentrated upon him as
It's president, and lie was.
fAsIY RAILROAD BUILDING.
When | reached Charleston on my route
th:ther found very dcepand general IN
tcre,t prevailing there, and met with sey;,
eral Of her chosen delegates. VINO were run
nj enthusiasm. For besides the more gen
pral objects interesting TO them. which
were 10 come before the approaching as.
temhlage. theyinteDded 20 put through "
he Memphis and Charleston railroad.
Al that stage aud period IN railroad buiid.
Ing this was really an enterprise OF vast
magnitude. and Cardinals CONNIE lsurste
heads and hands took hold OF 1t, that ~
MIGHT be the more surely accompnsneu.
When il was completed the relative posi-.
tons Of Memphis and Charleston-aye, or
the seaboarl and the mighty West-were so
changed that Il might justly be styled the
railroad hegira of the epoch.
In order TO better understand the coun-
try through which the great railroad was
destined TO pass, Colonel James dadsden'
Iudce Black, and others of their co-deie-
Gates determined to make the whole jour
ncv bv stages direct TO Memphis. ] took
Tho southern route ria Atlanta, Mont
eomcry, Mobile. etc.
Mr.. CAIHoUY's PROPHETIC SOUL.
Atlanta was lust starting, andyet heard
Nr CALHOUN predict the very future for
her which has 50 rapidly unfolded, ana
That She would be the centre of retlcu-
lstlon of numerous railroads. what
prophet he was and IN 30 many directions
Ihere was then a short piece OF raIIroad
in Alabama. OF which Major Pollard, an
excellent Virginia gentleman, was presi-
dent. Upon reaching Montgomery DIS
uetch was necessary, lest there should not
he time to reach Memphis before the open
inc Of the convention. A steam voyage
20 Mobile was very desirable, but not a
sincle boat was advertised for an early
start. Therefore q resolution was speedily
formed 20 travel all night by stage, so that
about breakfast-time next morning ths
cattle transfer-boat from Blakely landed
the weary aud hurryIng traveller IN MoOle,
eager to get onward. Fortunately TINS ne
was able TO doona ilnegult steamer WHICH
bore him TO New Orleans in :" the very nlcK
u time for II placed him on board oil the
very noble craft that was about 10 trans
port Mr. Calhoun and large number Oh
Other delegates up the Father OF waters,
and she had not much time TO lose.
PLEASURES AND PERKS OF RIvEB TRAVEL.
Thus from dav TO day there were in the
various coie1icS, often changing in size ana
constituents. numerous antepasts OF the
the coming convention. and from time 10
time heard Mr. Calhoun pour fortn some
Of his matchess intellectual treasures.
The venerable General l.. =. Games was
one Of the party, aud he was accoinpahIeu
by his attractive and vivacious WIFE, the
lndomitaDle and nj last successful litgant
with the city of New Orleans for her pa
rental inheritance.
Our steamer was an elegant one and per-
formed her part admirably; but, perhaps
al length She came to feel overburdened
blythe combined weight OF greatness whicI
was freiehting her. In any event, one OF
her shafts became disabled ana her pro-
Cress very materially impeded.
DAVIS WELCOMES CALHOUN TO NATcHEz.
This accident prevented the people Of
Nat chez from carrying out up Wlthlh her
own precincts their very liberal programme
for the suitable reception of Mr.. Calhoun,
who might have been there. as they ex-
pected in the forenoon Of pleasant au-
tumual day. As it was he did not ar
rive until some time after nightfall.
Still her delegation, headed by their
spokesman. the Hon. Jefferson DAVIS. came
on board. accompanied by goodly mum
Der of other prominent citizens, and an IN
formal reception with appropriate greet.
ings and Acknowledgements was held IN
the saloon. The Captain delayed for thou
sskes as long ~ he could venture, and Mr..
Calhoun and Mr.. Davis. seated side by SIDE
held considerable converse, listened to by
quite a number OF unobtrusive auditors
and there was also quite a lively inter
change Of thought amongst others VINO
were in different parts of the saloon.
This was tho first time that i saw Mr..
Davis. / was prevented from seeing him
during his presidency of the COnfederacy,
but afterwards paid my most cordial re-
spects 10 him in q very pleasant interview
in his business-ofiice in that very city To
which he wished his illustrious friend
God-speed" that night at Natchez
When our captain gave signal for de-
psrture Mr.. Davis and his comrades babe
farewell, and our steamer resumed her i'm.
peded course against the strong current OF
the great inland sea"
HAN. TO THE oHIEF.
In tho mean time the people Of Memphis
who had made their preparations for be-
coming reception, grew anxously uneasy
ab1u, the long delay Of the expected boat
which there WAS no telegraph there then
60 solve. They chartered fine steamer Of
about he same grade with ours, and several
hundred OF them, including many ladies'
ami with an excellent band of music, came
down the river in search of the behind
timer. How Joyous was the recognition
when the two steamers first espled eact
other, Such whistling and bell-ringing
And when they drew near enough what
cheering. ! do not recollect whether there
was any cannon-hrlng but 1t IS probable
that there was.
As soon as practicable the two boats
were made siamese twin sisters; safe
walk-ways were arranged between then
and streams of eXuberant people were con
stautly flowing, COMMISSIONING, and Goa
lescing. The waters of the Mississippi anC
the Missouri DO not mingle as freely a.
they did. for these living currents did mol
take so much time, aud there was no muu
dy clement in them.
That ioint excursion party was about thu
most remarkable and memorable. one IL
which ever participated. Dancing ais,
was highly enjoyed by those who WISHED
q engage in II. OF course, everybod,
showed all honor and respect TO the here
Cf The occasion. At length, but betor'
Ntf i tNlNk. We were III sale III our iOus
desired haven, and the delegates were al
distributed 70 the hospitable quarters u
which they had already been assigned.
THE cHIEr MIN or THE SOUTH.
Next day. 18th OF November, 1855. tn,
convention assembled. 1t consisted Of So
members from sixteen States and one Ter
ritory. most OF which had, like South Car
DINA. sent some of their chief men. but tn
cage OF Fort Hill was fdclIe. pr'noeps. III
was unanimously selected 70 preside
Having boen honored with O plac
upon the platform | had every, op
poriunity OF observing and OF hear
ing him. and was thus not far iron
him when. with his noble and command
ing attitude. clear and distinct enuncis
ton, vivid and penetrating glance. tiers
aud forcihls language. conveying stron
and logical thought, and energetic manner
amounting ia all 10 his own rare sort 9
eoquence, he delivered his opening &C
dress. in which among other things,
brought the Mississippi river, by way
analogy under proper congressional urea
fuaps 90 a .,.aat INLAND sAa