Year: 1863

WEST.


My friends. if you will give permission, wish
to say that shall contend for the free navigation
OF the Mississippi against the embargo of Chase
as strongly / have contended against JEFF
Dsvis's embargo oud cheers and cries of go
oni' ''Go Cni' land don't care what position
or what power he holds or welds in this Govern
ment. ! shall discuss this simply as measure
deeply affecting the interests of our peoples and
don't believe that any argument has been raised
on the other side-I have not seen one attempted
to be raised which will justify the restrictions that
have been placed upon the commerce of this
great river. Ii is well known that since the 4th
day OF July. or rather since the 9Th day Of July.
no enemies of the Government in any organized
force have been upon the Mississippi river within
one hundred miles of either of its banks;
that the commerce, the products of the
Northwest. have been tied up here in our
midst without market, except over the costly
railroads between us and the East, have been so
taxed and burdened that it is scarcely novel to us
that the profits made by the railroads eat up the
profits that should have been made by the pro
ducer in the Northwest; and absolutely, my
friends, to show how this thing has operated,
will show to you that when Banks made his PROF.
lamation. declaring that the direct commerce
between New Orleans and the ports above should
be free, and unrestricted. and untaxed, the stock
in the New York and Erie railroad. fell from l06
10 l0l, aud it vas not noted The opening of
the Mississippi river had this effect upon this
remote road, which has enriched itself bv the
cutting off from us the free navigation of this
river As soon as Gen. Banks declared the COM
merce free from New Orleans to ports aboye-
for he had no power to make it free elsewhere
as soon as he made this proclamation we see the
result. Now, put it to this community-I put
it to any dispassonaie, to any disinterested man.
whether the Northwest has not done her full
share in suppressing this rebellion. Loud cheers
and cries ''she has.'] And whether it is neces-
sary that any discrimination should be made, or
ought to be made against the Northwest.


Our city of st Louis. in which this minion of
Mr.. Chase just now sat. and suppose he receives
a salary. probably without the slightest interest
in our city, and who was never here until sent
here by Mr. Chase to oficiate as one Of our di
rectors, where we have lived so long in this city,
whose great prosperity was noted with marvel
throughout the country prior to the war, has been
tried more than ans other city by the vcissitudes
Of war. Our commerce has been almost annihi
lated, and yet without counting the cost. and
without one moments hesitation, / know that
those merchants who have been denounced here
recently by one of Chase's organs-denounced as
copperhead merchants of ST Louis-I know that
they were among the first m,n to come forward
and clothe and arm the troops which we're called
into the service of the United States. Loud
cheers


Yet they are stigmstized, at the bidding OF Mr..
Chase or some of his minions, as eopperhead
merchants, because they have attemp' ed, by fair
representations to the Government. by nothing
improper, through a committee of their own
number, went to Washington to expostulate with
Mr.. Chase about these restrictions, and he deems
itinadvsable it to consider the wishes of the great
interests of the Northwest, but prefers rather to
keep up their restrictions. and keep in the field
army of his people who do great deal of trade
q the sly, but who think it very improper for
any body else to trade with the enemy, yet who
have been suspected of having done good deal
Of it them elves Laughter and applause