Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1850-11-02
The New Levee.


We perceive that the committee appointed by
the municipal authorities of our town, to de-
lineate the proper course for a new levee
around the cave, have partially discharged the
responsible duty intrusted to them. The le-
wee which is to extend fifty feet from the ter
minus of the cave, is to run in a direct line
from the lower limits of the corporation, to the
Louisiana House. Farther than this they
have not proceeded, to await, as we are INFORM
ed, the final result of the caving above. mas
much as the council is satisfied that the caving
has ceased below, they are now busiIy pre-
pairing to have the levee, as far as traced, built.
1t is to be in every respect like the old one.
We understand that the council: is yetunde-
cided, whether it has a right to force a front
road through the lands Of the riparian proprle-
tors, after the completion Of the levee. The
general State Law in regard to Roads and Le-
wees is so very plain and explicit on this point
as to lay at once all doubts about the matter at
rest. If this general law is enforced, the iaevl-
table consequence will follow, that a majority,
if not nearly all Of the unfortunate sufferers by
this sad disaster, will experience a total loss OF
their property. This certainly will be a deplo-
rable state of affairs, and none will be more
ready than ourselves to commiserate the suf-
ferings that they will be doomed to experience.
But what is to be done? Can the corporate
authorities, rs many have asserted, compromise
the matter by simply taking the space sufficient
for a levee, and using Bank street as a front
street? We must bear in mind that the gener-
al State law, which declares emphaticaIly,
@that every owner of lands situated on the
banks of this river, shall be bound to give to
the public, a highway on the whole front Of his
property" is a law OF general import, in which
the traveller, as, well as our most immediate
neighbors, are alike interested. Even admit
ting that a compromise was acceptable, can the
corporation effect it, in case that it met with
the unanimous sanction of the inhabitants OF
this town! Even then, in our humble opinion,
a compromise could not be entered into, and
for this simple reason, that the State laac, ''h'ch
governs, is a lac @general import, and cannot
be hgaimately restricted or changed, by none
other than the Legislative pouer, of which il
is the creature. Since, therefore, the intention
of the Legislature in framing this law, was evi.
IDENTIFY to give a free and uninterrupted high
way along the banks of the river, the public
at large have Alright to the benefit Of this law,
and consequently are entitled to an uninterrupt.
ed and unobstructed highway along the whole
front of this town. These are simply our nm.
obtusive opinions Of a question which bids fail
to meet with a great diversity Of opinion. If
however, any eonciIiatory measures could be
devised by our town council, wherein it would
be possible to alleviate to deep loss sustained
by these riparian proprietors, we would be
among the first to recommend and sanction
such procedure. a '.'
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