Year: 1871

by the gentlemanly officials Of theSt. Louis
and Southeastern Railroad Company and
placed in an elegant sleeping coach,
provided for our special use. General
Winslow, President Of the road, was PRES
ent and warmly assured us that every effort
would be used to promote our comfort. and
on our return we could have q special car
or a special train as might best suit
our convenience. The morning Of oGr
arrival at 81. Louis, a meeting Of the COM
mittee was had for the purpose Of instruct
ing our delegates as TO the invitation to be
extended. Upon being duly admitted to the
National Board Of Trade, our delegates,
through the Hon. Mr.. Able, Of st. Louis,
cOnveyed the information that a COMMITTEES
of citizens and merchants from Nashville.
were in the city for the purpose Of urg-
ing upon them the selecting of Nashville
as the place for holding their next annual
meeting Upon receiving this Information,
the National Board, by unanimous vote, in
vited the visiting committee to seats in the
hall. During the next morning our dele
gates presented formally and earnestly to The
National Board, the great interest our peo-
pie felt in having them meet IN our city, and
not being content to rest it simply upon the
special instructions given by the Nashville
Board of Trade to its delegates, commit
tee of some thirty citizens had come 10 add
their influence in inducing them to bold
their next meeting in the capital city OF
Tennessee. The invitation was received
with much enthusiasm, and referred to the
Executive Council We regret to report
that New York was finally selected, but We
had every assurance that it was because the
Board at its last meeting largely committed
itself to the New York delegation, which
was numerous and influential. We greatly
feared this before our invitation was offered,
our delegates having previously informally
presented the subject to the President, and
were informed that, while the delegates 70
the National Board would most highly
appreciate the cOurtesies Of Nashville, yet
tlev had so far committed themselves to the
city of New York, that it would be quite
impossible for them to accept our inVt-
taii0u


In returning home it was our sincere de-
sire and positive intention to stop half a day
at both Evansville ard Henderson, being
fully assured that it would be a source Of
pleasure to the good citizens OfthOse places, as
wei! as ourselves. Our only disappointment
Cbut il was great one was our not being able
to ocarry out that part of the programme. Re
turning, we received the same constant and
courteous attention from the railroad Of1-
ciais, and were most strongly impressed
with the many advantages Of that route.
On reaching Evansville we were met bya
delegation from Henderson, accompanied
by a band Of music. Here our diSappoint-
ment was greatly increased by the inteni-
gence that the city authorities had been
making ample arrangements to entertain
us in the most hOspitable style. Capt.
Cunningham, on behalf Of the city OF Hen
derson, expressed in the most compliment
ary terms, the regret felt at our not being abs
10 spend at least one day with them. Afer
a suitable response to his addresses, Maj.
j. D. Lockhart was presented with hand
some cane by the delegation from this city,
who desired to testify their appreciation OF
his unwearied efforts for their comfort


The committee feel that they have gone
much more into the details than they would,
under ordinary circumstances, be justified
in doing, but We would be doing injustice 70
YOU, and to the feelings Of our entire dele
CATION. if we failed to convey to you, as far
as possible, the great efforts used to promote
our comfort and pleasure, by those gentle
men we have introduced in this report, which
is respectfully submitted.


]. Z. WHELEss,


J. L. WEAKLEY,


j. w. THOMAS