The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1850-03-28


New orIsAns Navigation Company.
BAror Rovexs March y. 1850
~ ~ EAisprs # fAs ereseeat~-
A. tlsre appears 10 be considerable excitement
Ia New Orleans in relation 70 the New Oflsana
Navigation Company matters, Il may perhaps be as
well 20 give you some little insight as to how the
bin waa passed. Unfortunately for city affairs,
thsre has been no concert of action among the
delegation; one member has introduced bill on
one subject, and aaother on some other matter,
and so on, Throughout the whole session, and each,
without looking into the merits or contents, has al
lowed the thing TO be rushed through without ex-
amination.or argument. taking it for granted that
inasmueh as Mr.. A or Mr. B, from the city, had
brought the subject before the Legislature, land
particularly il ii was wing measure and he whig)
that was sufficient. The result was, in each and
every case ii would pass by general silence or like
az not the gentlemen would be absent from their
seats, and there would be no one to oppose it. So
was it with the Navigation Company.
! In the early part of the session Mr.. Barthe in
troduced resolution calling for the appointment
of a committee to visit New Orleans, for the pur-
pose Of examining into the affairs of said company,
with full powers, etc. Mr.. Barthe was appointed
chairman In the mean time Mr.. Dufour intro
duced bill into the Senate declaring the charter
forfeited This bill was passed, and in the regular
course Of business came up in the House, AS all
bills Of such nature are sent before committees
this bill was before the special committee on
the Navigation Company. The committee re.
turned, Mr.. Barthe made his report, and with it
the bill that had passed the Senates and received
its passage by the House. But on the same day
and only about fifteen minutes previous to the pre-
sentation Of his repOrt-this same gentleman pre-
scented remonstrance from the Louisiana State
Bank against the passage Of the bill by the House,
and instead of asking its reference to the COM
mittee, had it sent before the Finance Committee
committee that had nothing whatever to do
with it.
The bill then came up on its recond reading
no objections being raised against it by the city
delegation, it went through its third reading and
was passed. When too late, up came letters to
others OF the delegation demonstrating against it.
The answer could very easily be given; you all
knew Mr.. Barthe had charge of the whole matter
the committee were publicly at work in New Or
leans for some time; if you had not confidence in
Mr. Barthe why did you not see that the delega
ton was placed in possession of all the facts il
of innocent individuals? But here the subject doe.
not stop. Some steps had to be taken, if possible
to prevent the consummation Of the work.
Mr.. Devefges offered bill in the House to repea
the bill just passed. The Speaker declared it on
of order, and would not receive it. Mr.. Beebe, il
the Senate. succeeded, however, notwithstandin.
strong opposition in getting it through that branch
and three days before the close, we find the subiec
again before the House. Mr.. Parker in vain trie
to get it taken up out Of its usual order. MI
Sigur, Of the Senate, had been busy in the House
all attempts were frustrated by the cry of "objec
tons" Finally its order is reached and the bill
read first time. Mr.. Parker again calls upon til
good feelings Of the members to allow him to pr
| the bill through. Oh, no country members, an
one in particular, Mr.. Shannon, from Point Cor
pee tthe father of the Wilmot Proviso resolution
in the House,, who knows as much about cit
affairs as child unborn, could not think of SUI
pending the rules; and why? Because the wiz,
l workers from the Senate had been at their oil
business and this Mr.. Shannon was one of Ii
tools that could be used.
Well, the repeal bill passes its first reading. III
next day, and only day previous to the adjourn
ment, Mr.. Parker made an appeal to those gentl,
men from the country who were opposing the pa,
sage Of the bill, to allow him to take it up settin
forth the facts Of the case and explaining the iniul
tice of the passage of the first bill, etc. Well, tn
magnanimous gentlemen did allow him to take
up for Its second reading, because they knew the
could stop its third reading but it was hardly be
fore the House, before one Of the honorable men
bers from the country moved to lay it on the tabl
and by vote Of IS to SO to the tomb was