Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1844-06-15


u measure Of the sort has been before III
d senate for action, Cor three years pas
g A resolution calling Tor Information .
u the subject was adopted IN lB4l, on wAic
y no report has over been made, That ! on
4 advised OF. -
j, On tho 30 March tB43, Congress pas
0 sed an act which originated In tho llous
2 OF Representatives aud excited no debat
IN tho Senate, authorizing survey o
b. ~ harbor OF Memphis to ascertain it's tlt
twss for a Navy Yard and Naval Depot
Il This measure seems 10 have been adsi
sed and specded onward under LegIsla
tive resolution from the four River State.
Of Louisiana, Mi ssissippi, Arkansas anC
4 Tennessee. ....sa- l4a 4
The Executive Message in December
! asst communicated favorable Report o.
The Commissioners appointed TO the sur
vey; and this part OF the Message wa:
referred TO the Naval Committee (o
which am q subordinate member) on
nth December On the 10Th December,
Mr. Foster introduced bill in relation to
the object which was referred also to the
same committee. For several weeks the
subject received occasional discussion in
the committee, and with but little appro-
baton from the individual opinion of any
OF its members. All concurred that one
or more of such establishments should
be located in the South West: but neither
appeared to be convinced that Memphis
was the place best suited to the porpose,
But the legislative opinions OF the four
circumacent States recommending it,--
the exploration of the Commissioners be,
ing favorable tothe object, aided by com
mandatory suggestions from several res
pectable sources--aud with the measure
prominently before the country for more
than year, without opposition or protest
from any quarter; the report which The
committee should make seemed made up
by the eountry--they yielded their ac-
quiescence, and the bill, somewhat amend :
ed was agreed to. Gould they have rea-
sonabIy done o,herwisel a,e4 IL. ID, s.a
Two months after the committee were
in possession of the subject, and after they
had made up their views upon il, the mem-
oriaI Of the citizens Of Natchez was re-
celved (oh 18Th February and referred
to them. Shortly aiterwatd, that from
the citizens Of Vicksburg was also receiv-
ed; and Mr.. Breese, Senator from llIi-
nois, moved resolution to have the
claims Of Cairo considered OF, tor the
same purpose. Upon these additional
suggestions expressed in committee my
preference for Natchez-giving 1t as my
opinion thai even the locality Of Natchez
was farther up the river than the Navy
Yard should be, for every important con-
sidoration, excepting perhaps the con-
structon Of vessels from iron. But the
committee in view Of The whole subject, -
and the vast preponderance OF opinion in
favor OF Memphis, adhered TO the bill
previously agreed on, and so reported. o2
For several days near the period at
which the Bill came up for action, was
but little in the Senate from reasons OF a
domestic afiiiciion, alluded to in the re.
marks Of the Courier. While the bill
was SO pending the suggestion OF Mr..
Breese, and at the instance Of Mr.. Wal
ker, the proposition of the citizens oil
Natchez, were both tested by a vote oil
the Senate, was not present when these
propositions were before the Senate, but
learn, that though each was advocated
with zeal-by the movers respectively,
neither received any conside rabls favor
with the Senate. la fact, public opinion,
in degree more potent than is usually
upon subject of no greater
public interest, had in the hen existing as
pect o. the case, ALREADY settled the question.
| was present at the passage oil the bill
in the Senate, and voted in It's favor, and
am satisfied on review Of all the facts, |
could not with propriety have done other,
wise. would further remark too, that
if the bill should not become law this
session, yet to overcome the conjolnt vote
Of the several States upon the river, and
The influence they exert upon the, opinion
Of legislators from other States; much
mo re extended efforts must be made, than
hat OF single city meeting, however
Bile; and however well advised
is opinion, in Preferring The advantages
IF its own locality. sstaansrr IN g.,
In respect then to the resentmeats
lave incurred, submit whether more
las not been required, than under the cir
was REASONABLE y to be expect
ID. No zeal on the part Of Mr.. Walker
md myself could with the facts presen-
ed, have reclaimed Legislative opinion in
avor Of another place, which had been
% much possessed in behalf Of Mem
his. And unconscious OF any Delinquent
" in the matter, shall trust this simple
statement Of facts, as my vindIcat'on,
rom VIVA, regard unmerited censure II
1as .als aae JOHN HENDERSON, u