Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1852-02-21
BAYOU Plaquemine Meeting.

According to previous notice, a Meeting c
a number of the citizens of Iberville took plac
at the Courthouse in P%laquemine, on Satu1
day, the l4th inst?, for purposes expressed i
the call.
On motion, DR.. J. L. HoRNsBY was called t
the Chair, and VIM. P. BRADBuRN appointe
Secretary.
E. W. ROBERTSON, Esq, having read the nc
tice which caused the meeting, and which sta
ted its objec4, offered the following Resolution
Resozued, That q committee of three be appoint
ed to draft and report resolutions expressive of tn
sentiments of the meeting upon the subject unde
deliberatlon.
The resolution being adopted, the Chairman
appointed E. w. ROBERTSON, CHARLES A
SLACK and WIN P. BRADBURN, as said com
mittee. Whereupon, the committee retired
and in Il short time returned and reported the
following resolutions, which were ~severally
adopted by the Meeting:
1st. R~esolred, That this Meeting is organized fol
the purpose of protection, and for securing contin'
ued navigation through Bayou Plaquemine the
year round-and in so acting, it is the desire OF
this Meeting that it be understood that every por-
ton of this Parish and its interests are properly
regarded, and that no sectional feelings are enter
tanned here.
2nd. RESOLVED, That from personal observation,
and from information obtained upon this subject
from correct sources, it is the belief of this Meet
ing that the drift annually passing through Bayou
Plaqnemlne, and accommodating in the bayous on
the uaVi0able rOUtpS to fhe inferior and tho Alta
k~apas-oflate immeasureably greater in quantity
and far more rapidly than formerly-will in a
short time ut preventive measures are not taken)
form Instructions to further navigation in this d.
rection.
Sd. Resolved, That from our own experience,
and from information obtained from our oldest ip-
habitants, now living, but who recollect Bayou
Plaquemine when it was a mere branch, over
which the trunk of a tree would afford a crossing
from the rapid manner in which it has widened
of late years-from the great fall Us 1-2 feet in
the short distance of twelve miles-from the man
ner In which large and deep holes are being cut
through the thin strata of black clay which forms
It's bed-and from the peculiar curve in the river
at this point, favoring such a result-it is the opin-
ion of this Meeting that the Mississippi river will
ultimately take its course to the sea in this direc-
ton, if measures are not taken to prevent it.
4th. ReSotred, That from sources of information
10 De relied upon, 1t is believed that nearly two
millions of acres of land are rendered incapable of
cultivation, and consequently useless to the State,
the periodical flood of water passing into
Bayou Plaquemine and submerging the lands in
The direction of its flow.
5th. Resolved, That this Meeting unanimously
recommend to the Legislature of this State, as an
act of great public MISUNDERSTANDING an inn
nense quantity of public lands, securing %uninter-
upted navigation to the western interior, &C.
he p~ropriety Of Locking and Caualing the bayou,
md that our Delegation are requested to urge the
'xpedlency and necessity of such a measure.
9th. Reso1ped, Thatit is the belief of this Meet
ng that Locking and Canaling Bayou Plaquemine
would be more a work of public advantage and
to the State generally, than to any one
ectlon OF it: it would secure continued navigation
rom the Mississippi river to all the interior Par
west, besides giving to the State the benefit
f the large amount of public lands which would
brought into market through the completion of
lis work.
On motion, it was
Resotred, That the proceedings of this Meeting
e published in the Southern Sentinel, and a copy
furnished the members of the Legislature.
]. L. HORNSBY, Chm.
w. P. BRADBURN, Sec'y.