Year: 1861

certaintes and perils TO commerce resulting from
civil war, and the possibility Of other conpica
lions while they strengthen the desire OF tho American
merchant TO be relieved OF condition Of dependency on
foreign Power for the transmission Of hs correspond
cnce present the most cogent reasons for urging upon
Congress the measures referred to- . means of pro-
lection as well as source OF convenience TO our COM
merce An increasing rac in merchandise, in treasure
and In passengers and from Caornia-to be greatly
enlarged when line Of semi monthly steamers ID ss-
tabshodwould do much TO sustain such enterprise
but 1t cannot be nauguraed and maintained without the
cooperating aid OF government The Peninsuar and Oren
tai line, connecting England and all the European States
with China and other nations OF the East requires imperial
support and this would be powerful competitor 10 the
American enterprise whenever Is undertaken. There
fore tho Chamber OF Commerce Of tho state of New York
ask " the Congress OF the United States to give TO TINS
subject such early attention as is due to great naona
Interest which necessary to proper development OF
the national and to the qualification Of just ma
tional pride. Respectfully submitted.


General WElMoaE moved tho adoption OF the memorial
and the transmission OF copies TO the Hon. Fred A. Conk
ling Senators Latham and McDouga Of California, the
Oregon Senator'S and the Chambers OF Commerce OF the
cities Of Philadelphia and san Francisco


The following memorial WAS presented for adoption


CHAMBER OF CoAMEack, NEw York, Dec. b, 1861.
To The SENATE and HousE REPRE- ESrAlyE or lhs UNIT


ED STATES, IN Cosoks.s AssEsEIlD-


The Chamber OF Commerce Of the State Of New York
would call tho attention OF your honorable BODY rs
the representatives OF tho people OF the entire country,
70 the imperfect, ncOnycnent and unsatisfactory state
Oh the leading postal between New York and WASH
ngton. This line Of postal commercial traf
nc and travel comprises, within distance OF two hun
dred and forty miles, the capital Of tho nation and the





and most important link of postal and commercial com
m,incatoa between tho Northeast and tho Southwest


Tho entire population Of ilvo or six millions in all
.he Eastern states, and large portion OF the
States OF Now York and New Jersey including this city,
with ast larger population all the States south Of the
Potomac and the Ohio, under the necessity Of using
ths line oi conveyance IN oil OF teir intercourse with
tho opposite region aud this communication includes the
varied operS Of commerce, postal affairs and travel
from the nexorabe circumstances Of geographical posi-


oithe direction Of the shore lne the position Of the
bays and rivers and the locality Of the cities and towns
unpn an ao xfn0
tho jurisdiction OF this line Of communication hold the
postal ccmmercal and travelling facilities OF the people
completely under their control they would In the
possession OF mountain pass. We would beg leave most
respectfully TO represent to honorable body that
this jurisdiction has boen used for purposes OF local profit
70 the ions continued and serious detrmcnt, ncOn-
vcnenco and expense OF more than twenty millions Of
people, who are residents Of least twenty ve States Of
our common country. We believe they deprived In
ust and libcral of Of the most
rights Of free pcopcthc right Of afrec and
highway for the transaction Of every description Of
c0mtuIica ion and public traffic. There be, in the
opinion Of your memoralis,s but reason advanced
for the principal broken links in this limo OF conveyance
that reason being ungastonaby the local profit derived
by the large towns The route from the delay forced
travellers by compulsory stoppaSe at these places
we WOMB ciii me attention n your honorable oody 10
the fact that these delays and pconvencces occasioned
by ,he stcppage OF the railways do not exist at other
cities and towns any other leading route in the entire
country and yet this particular route between New York
and Washington is By far the most important postal,
to.a and public line OF conveyance in the United States
IL instructive fact that Inconvenience like these
from such Gauge, are unknown throughout the most
dcsotc countries Of Europe We assert without fear of
contradiction, that wherever railway system exists
there IS not arother locality in tho civilized world where
there is not continuous line Of railway either through
by places OF Larger size and inpDr than those
On this. We would hum5ly represent that consider
such state Of things dercgatoy to character and
position as an enlightened people, and anasoDitic to the
progressive spirit Of the age. While the different States
possess certain in the chartering Of railroads. II
fully COM eient TO Congress to take any that
may be deemed advisable TO establish pest military
roas the use OF nution at large The commercial
pt litiZ q n
country and residents OF city that has at least
half Of the foreign commerce of the nation have right
To- protest against any sca restrictions to commercial
Intercourse ana pondencc from one extremity Of
the country to the other These restrictions exist
and have existed tho most important line convey
a'ce III the country for nearly quarter Of century In
addition to tie Importance Of the road between Now York
AMI Washington os postal and commercial route, the
present war has shown its Indispensable necessity
military highway This topic need not be enlarged ucon
lie fact that the capital Of the nation was one limo in
imminent danger capture and for tho sole easo that
bese mpcri ccns in the railroad communication Of
which complain exist and the inconestb!e fact that
at tho present day the successful prosecution OF be-
comes almost solely question OF transportation will
Niace your honorable body that the importance OF this
ne o conveyance i'll antonaI point OF view scarce
y be overratad. in conclusion would respectfully re-
present TO your honorable body that tho time for the
veyanc3 OF the mails between Now York and Washington
is now on an average not less than twelve hours while
with first class railroad the time consumed need ey
ceed six bours This acceeraon Of The mails we would
beg represent would be Of vnst advantage the COM
lnercia interests Of this city and to tho entire country





pie and thc nation AZ large demands public highway Of
the irst class between th,se important points, ard that
every year viii increase its value and Importance we
would respectfully petition your honorable bady ako
immediate foi the construction OF double track
railway for postal military and other purposes from New
York 10 Washington. Wo d. not wish to enter into de-
tails TO the mode and manncr Of accomplishing this OBJ
cc b. leave entirely for thc consideration Of your
honorable body And your petitioners will ever pray.
Referred to the Executive Committee, with power to
forward memorial to Washington.
Mr.. CHARLss II. MAspAL called the attention Of the
Board TO the burning OF the Harvey Birch by tho rebel
late Nashville and offered the Following resolution
The subject
whereas, commerce with Europe is very much ex
posed to tie dcpredntons Of rebel pirates there being
armed na,oral verses on that coast at This time
Resolved, That the President of the Chamber OF Com
mprcc be requested o appoh! committee to DRAFT
spectiu memorial to the executive government quest
ing the speedy despatch Of two vessels to that
coast nr the protection of marine interests and TO
present said memorial with little delay az d acicabc
NJ Washington for favorable consdMaiiCn.


The resolution was adopted and the President appoint
ed tho committee Mnssrs. Marshall, Tios,oa and
Inticrs.


After the transaction Of other unmpotant bust
ness The Chamber adjourned TO the rst Thursday OF
Jacuay.