New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1852-05-08

bands Il The present proprietor has been steadily
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OFFICIAL JOURNAL
on THE CONSOLIDATED CITY OF NEW ORLEANS.
SATURDAY MORNING, MAY 8, 1862,
~ For sherih't Constable's and Public Auc-
tioneery Hales zee Third Page.
The Improvement Of the Mouth Of the
Adississippi.
We have already suggested the propriety OF
our citizens moving in regard to the improve
ment Of the mouth of our great national Gin
land sea, as it was tersely, but appropriately,
STYLED BY Mr. Calhoun. One of our greatest
statesmen large in his views generally, though
somewhat narrowly contracted by sstrict con-
struction theories, he was yet man too tho
roughly honest, too intelligently appreciative,
too directly and nationally appreciatiye, to do
any thing which might work even the remotest
injustice to any great national interest. We
believe John C. Calhoun may have been, and
was, wrong upon many points of legislative poll
oy Wehave never doubted the earnestness, the
sincerity, and the cautiously concluded charac-
ter Of his views.
He called the Mississippi river s. great in
land sea" He did SO justly. and with remark
BILE felicity Of view and use Of terms. 1t drains
all the waters Of eight great States, and some of
the wealthiest sections Of others. Now, and
prospectively, its trade is one Of the most i'm
nense known in the history Of the commercial
world In this view, if in none other, it should
command national appreciation and national
favor.
What are the facts For the pettiest light
house, the paltriest harbor improvement, the
most unimportant buoy, even Western members
vote liberal appropriations. The great granary
Of the world at least, of the civilized world
Of Europe, and that portion Of America South Of
us-is totally neglected-is absolutely treated
with Indifference and contempt by the larger
portion Of the members of Congress from the
West. By this course, NewOrleans annually
loses certain thousands and probably millions.
Hence it is, that the imposts upon our commerce
are SO enormous 1t is all nonsense to complain
Of the charges Of the Towboat Navigation Com
pany, when it has to drag vessels over 10 to 15a
feet Of water, and to keep four or five of their
best boats Costing each some $60 per day. for
four Or five days, to drag vessels Of 16 to 20 feet
draught through such an average of water.
The complaint should be made against the lib
eral and unjust policy of our national legisla-
ton.
A meeting las per notice in another column)
is held tonight, to influence the action Of Con-
gress in reference tothe establishment of navy
yard at this point. 1t may be unpleasant 1t
certainly will not be gratifying to g hurrah
gentlemen, but let us candidly ask and consider
the question: can United States war ships come
over 13a to Is feet Of water !
Now, what difficulty is there in deepening the
outlet Of our g great inland sea " 2 The cost OF
an Eastern-an Atlantic Ocean light house, per
annum, would do it. Is an Atlantic State
more national than Louisiana, Or any other
Western or Southern State' Let the strict con-
structionists answer this question lift be, if
the commerce at any point on the coast Of
Massachusetts every thing allowed and every
thing considerable more national than the
world supplying trade which floats down the
Mississippi, we have curiously misealculated in
our dductions.
To accommodate this trade, to give free in
gress and free egress, the great commerce Of
the Mississippi Valley, we ask, upon the sugges-
ton Of practical men, but the preliminary APP
preparation of $4,000, to be succeeded by an
annual appropriation not exceeding 1925, 200.
We ask it in behalf Of a national commerce Of
many millions; commerce not less certainly
than $50, 100000. Is the claim unreasonable; .
We might write popular editorial, full Of
fine defamation, in behalf Of the establishment
Of a Navy Yard at this point. If we suggest
any thing practical, if we recommend essential
preliminaries, however disagreeable the realiza-
tion Of facts and their relation may be, we be-
Geve that we do more useful service, than can
be found in nicely rounded sentences.
In a national point of view, it is essential
that a navy yard should be established in the
immediate vicinity Of NewOrleans. Our city
is the great emporium Of the valley of the Mis-
sissippi 1t is by nature the commanding point
Of the Gulf of Mexico. That it is few miles
inland from the Gulf, makes it all the more a
safe point for the establishment of source of
national defence We have suggested the en-
ployment by the United States Government of a
dredging boat Such boat, we have no doubt,
would make the entrance to the Mississippi nav
igable for vessels Of twenty or even twenty five
feet draught.
1t has been suggested to us, in view Of the
operations of Mons Maillefort at He'll Gate,
near NewYork. that some such process might
be successfully employed in rendering the mouth
Of the Mississippi freely and uninterruptedly
navigable. The suggestion comes from a prac-
teal man. May it not be worthy of the con-
slderation Of the meeting held this evening at
the American Theatre, Our bar--the bar Of
che Mississippi-the partial veto upon the in
calculable commerce of our valley--must be
steadily worked against, or it is idle to speak of
projected enterprises and city progress.
SECOND JusrIcE's CoURT.-Judge Jonte has
already reopened this court, temporarily closed
IN consequence Of Judge Winters resignation
Inc court is now prepared to do business in the
regular course. With the assistance of his eff
cient Constabulary, Judge is prepared to do
all that may be brought before him with as
much practical dispatch as possible. The court
is located at 65 Common street, opposite the
City Hotel.