Washington telegraph., 1849-03-14
MR.. O'NEAL'S LETTER.
LEwIsvILLE, March 5th, l049.
Mr.. EDITOR:


Mr.. EDITOR:
Dear Sir-In your paper of the 20th of Febru
ary, see an editorial article upon the Red River
Raft, and the project now on foot for It's removal
in which consider you have done me and others,
who are taking an interest in the removal of the
raft, great injustice You, in the first place,
sumo that it is a national work, and one that
comes legitimately and properly within the Pur-
view of the Constitution of the United States, and
that as the party now in power, have always ad-
vocated the internal improvement system, that
we have right to expect that the next Admins
tration will Garry out the doctrine OF the Wing
party. Well, suppose it is national work, and
that the party now in power should endeavor to
carry out the principles for which you contend, is
there any certainty that they will be able to do
it? Is it not probable that the Indebtedness OF the
Federal Government, at this time, and for years
to come, will prevent and render 1t impossible for
the Wing party to carry out any thing like gem
eral system of internal improvements We have
but small representation in the Congress of the
Unitod States, and whatever our rights may be,
the chances are that they may be overlooked
But the stirring up and agitating political ques-
tions, in connection with project that is strictly
private--an undertaking between n myself and the
citizens interested in the removal of the obstruc
tions in Red River, without distinction of parity
is calculated to thwart and foil me in an attempt
to do work, which thirlk should meet the ap-
probation and approval Of every man who is in
terest4d in the removal of the raft.
If should get tho requisite amount subscribed,
and go on to carry out my contract, it would not
prevent Congress from making an appropriation F.;
but, the contrary think the subscribers to the
articles of agreement, are laying the foundation
for getting the control and management OF any
appropriation which may hereafter be made A
Board of Commissioners would be more likely to
be selected from among those who are interested
! i'll the removal of the raft, when the Government
sees that they have already engaged in the enter
PRISE, than if they were to lie still and do nothing
The execution of the work, under appropriations
which have been made heretofore, was under the
direction of men who were not interested in it
at all.
In the next place, you say that the amount
which ask for removing the raft and keeping the
river open and free of raft Instructions for fIve
years. is too high. l think it more than probable
if you had been with me, last spring and summer,
when removed seventeen hundred yards OF the
raft, that you would change your oplon There
are more men who say that it is worth s O,OOO,
than will say that it is worth under SoO,O0O; and
AS have to incur the trouble and risk of collecting
the subscriptions, would be unwilling to under
take it for less and think it worth every dollar of
the amount ask.
You say that it is one-sded contract that
there is no forfeit on my part. In this you are
mistaken. For the subscribers to pay me
nothing, until remove one-hth part Of the raft !;
and then but a small portion of the amount sub
scribed To enable me to prosecute the work, l
will have to incur very considerable expense, III
getting boat and tools, with which to operate
all of which would forfeit, if failed to prosecute
the work, In addition to this, if fail at any time,
for the term of months, to act in good faith, in car
rying out the contract then the Commissioners ap-
pointed by the subscribers, have the right to enter
into contract with any one else, or employ hands,
or take any other steps for carrying out the con-
tract that they may deem necessary. AS to my
ability and character, it would not become me to
speak but have letters and statements about
my character, from Ex-Governor Conway, +.
Herndon, Andrew Lawson, Of Louisiana, and John
CockrelI, and others. to whom respectfully refer
Very respectfully,
H. ONEAL.