Columbus Democrat., 1838-02-03
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.

4 GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
r, The legislature cf The Slate Of .N'ssiss'PPH |
submit 10 the consideration OF the LeglSia-
,,,c the report of the commissioners appointed TO
contract for and superintend the opening OF Inc
ya7oo and Cold Water Pass, from which It aP-
nears that the work will not be comp lctcd IN the
stipulated time. From representations am III
dn,ed To believe that the work was commenced IN
an iniudicous manner. The contractor began
his operations at the upper end ct the Pass ana
n .Il not cut up the trees unul recently, when the
Il Mississippi rose and the water commenced run
II ning lhrourh the Pass. The trees drited into
a compact masses and greatly injured the hayisa
lion Inst year. The commissioners also apprc-
hend that die logs now cut will DRIFT into the Bay
NJ on whenever they ,eaye the Lake, and again OBJ
struct the navigation OF the Pass.
The vast Importance of this Improvement TO
the whole Yazoo Valley commends 1t to the IA
Avorabc consideration Of the Legislature, and the
required appropriation, trust will be cheer!ully
made.
Experience has fully demonstrated that the
contract system will not answer for the improve
ment of the navigation of rivers. Contracts are
sought for with avdlty by individuals, in order to
obtain the usual advance--tne funds OF the State
are often perverted to private purposes, ana con-
tracts rarely executed according to stipulation. 1t
requires the constant supervision OF competent
engineers to effect internal improvements Com
missioners seldom possess the requisite knoWl-
edge and vii! not give their personal a''eruoh LOT
III the usual compensation.
N Having lately traverscd every portion OF the
State. can safely affirm that the Chckasa~hay,
II Leaf. Pascaaola, Pearl, Big Black, Yazoo, TAT
lhatchje, Cold Water and Tomhlgbee rivers
could be greatly improved al small expense
By extracting the logs from the beds OF the yaTi'
Gus rivers, and cutting pendant trees IRON Inc
banks and points, navigation would be made prac-
" tcabe for great distances up the several streams
Ill portion Of tie year for steam boats OF l'shl
NJ draughts, aud keel boats could ascend nearly to
their sources
An expenditure Of two hundred thousand dol
lars, judiciously applied, would ANNUALLY save &c
the people ofhe State nearly that sum, now eX'
pended in hauling merchandise and the staple OF
the culniry great distances over bad ROADS.
The surplus revenue apportoncd to M!ssssp'
ri is unappropriated feel confident that 1t VII
novei be called for by Congress, and ltt should
8 be- it can, by the terms Of the act, only be de-
mandcd in gradual insaIImen.s. We should
however, be prepared to refund the deposltc shouI'
ii be unexpectedly required.
portion Of the fund could be safely invested
in the purchase of slaves. That species OF pro
pery is now low and could be used with great ad
vantage in len.oyng distractions IN the vafIon
0 naylgablc streams, if placed under the control 0
suitable engineers and competent managers
s When the works are completed the slaves ca
be sold, perhaps, for as much as they would nov
cost The fund could then be applied to tn
promotion Of education, opening roads and sue
other purposes as the interests OF the State mlgt
require.
This scheme has been prosecuted with en-
hent success in several of the Southern State
Bayon Boeut, in Louisiana, was opened by slaV
iabor-not a single slave died during the prose
cuon OF the work, and they were alterwarc
sold for more than the original cost. White !;
boT, Nn our rivers, could not be procured Tor les
than thirty dollars per month, and would be dill
cut TO obtain III the summer season-the only p
rod at which much of the work could be dom
being fully convinced that the fund would |
sqnandered fpaced under the control OF con
mlssIoners and contractors, and also that It wou
8 DO impossible 10 specify in contracts the WORK
bepeHormcd by the contractors, respectful
recommend to the Legislature the adoption oi Il
plan suggested II would also be advisable
organize corps Of engineers to survey and mar
# estimates for various other internal lmprov
ments. The rapid increase oil The state IN veal
Z aud population, demands well digesed plan
improvements TO be made at the pnblIc expen
DOR the general good.
A. G. McNUTT.
Executive DEP,RTMESr, Jan. 13, 1898.
CoNGREss.-On the 10Th ult controversy
avery angry character arose between Mr.. Gh'
son OF this State, and Mr.. Wise Of Va. The re
uIar aud authentic report Of the proceedings
the House on that day has no, reached us. 1
following account Of the matter we take iiom
correspondence Of the Baltimore Republican.
WAsHISGToN, Jan. Is, 1898.
The House was to-day cast into state
deep excitement by the calling up of the Miss
spp Election. MIR. Claiborne one Of the {
ting members was absent, confined TO his bed
sickness, and Mr.. Gholson, his colleague,
Just been able to drag himself into the Hou
Messrs. Prenss and Word, the gentlemen "
elaun the seats Of Messrs. Claiborne and Gh
son, had been allowed 10 take temporary pac
Mr. Howard OF Maryland, then asked the lioI
% direct the Clerk 10 send letter, which
been received from Mr.. Claiborne, containing
statement of all the facts in relation to the CT
tested election.