The American patriot., 1855-03-14
SENATOR Coorrs ON THE Cosy4cr AND PAU

purpose an inquiry, by the requisite authori-
ties, into the convict and pauper immigration,
as carried on by foreign governments towards
this country The subject coming thus before
the Senate for discussion, Mr.. Cooper proceed
ed to make an able, eloquent and forcible
speech, during which he shew conclusively
the enormous system Of immigration Of con-
victs and paupers to the American shores,
directly through the hands of foreign govern
ments He urged with mastcrliness of logic,
based upon incontrovertible statements, the
necessity of stringent laws to prevent this out
rage He closed as follows:
Against the admission Of these, and the
admission of paupers, declared such by law,
and sent to this country by the compulsory
agency of the governments to which they be-
long, object in the name of the American
people and here to-day, IN my place in the
Senate, ask that measures may be taken to
prevent it for the future l ask it in the name
of the naturalized as we'll as Of the native
citizens. ask it in the name and on the be-
half of all who have stake in our institutions,
and who desire the preservation of social order,
who value the purity Of the public morals, the
freedom of the elective franchise, and who are
interested in transmitting to posterity unim-
paired the heritage Of liberty which our fathers
left us. But the preservation of this heritage.
glorous, benefcent, as it is is impossible, if we
permit it to be invaded by men, trained to
vice in the warehouses and prisons Of Europe,
and sent here to propagate disorder and crime.
This class of foreigners, taught at home to re.
pudiate everything venerable in human insti-
buttons, have already raised the standard of
Atheism and irreligion in our cities, and declar-
ed war of determination against the dogmas
of every creed-against faith which supported
man in the past, and the hope which animates
him for the future. If these apostles of vice
and disorder are to be reinforced continually
with recruits from the prisons of the Old
World, we will find that our statistics Of crime
will need revision mobs, riots, MURDERS will
be multiplied our courts of criminal jurisdic-
ton must be increased in number, and our
warehouses and penitentiaries require extern
as it is possible, that ask the interposition of
Congress and of the State Legislatures within
their respective spheres"
IMpEDED NAvIcArIoN.-Th following extract
from the report of the State Engineer, will be
found of general interest to the planters. We
have it from the best authority says the Plea
yune that the amount of cotton kept back from
the city for want of means of transportation
is from 100000 to $50, 900 bales, the value of
which would be from S1O,OOO,O0o to $13, O0O,.
900. At Shreveport there are said to be 75.-
900 bales in the warehouses awaiting removal.
Last year, Lake Bisteneau alone thus far mac
cessible this year furnished 22,500 bales.
In connection with this subject, we invite at
tention to the following extrrct from the report
of the State Engineer for the last year lately
presented to the Legislature:
''The truth is, that we ale doing nothing for
the streams in proportion to what is required.
Almost throwing away small sums to keep
them passable this year without any regard to
the next and all this because we are unwil-
ling to give sufficient means to bestow upon
them the labor which their Importance demands.
Most of the productive wealth of this State is
located along the rich borders of our natural
streams. Our produce Is Of heavy character
which we wish to ship from our very doors,
and would not haul it one mile to q railroad
even if it were the cheapest means of transpor-
tation; and besides, how many Of this class Of
planters will any road touch, when compared
with the whole number? Perhaps one in a
thousand Whenever road crosses any Of
our small bayous, too small or otherwise in
adequate of themselves to afford the means Of
transportation to market, but even sufficient
for keelboat navigation, the State will be call
ed upon to open and place them in the best
condition to carry the produce to the railroad.
Additional work will be called for upon the
Bayou Crosse Tete, whenever the Baton Rouge
and Crosse Tete shall be finished. The same
will be required upon the Marranguin when
this road reaches that far.
The same may be said of the bayous in the
parish Of Terrebonne, where the Opeleusas road
ates necessity for the other; but for interior
communication Louisiana must mainly depend
upon water-a means bountifully supplied us
by nature, and with which art has not thus far
been able to compete. Let us then 60 to work
with energy upon our water courses, SO that
while our railroads are progressing and will
advance the interest of that portion of the peo.
pie who cannot avail themselves Of the chear
facilities Of water, the other, and far the larger
portion will be also benefited. Let us employ
means adequate the ends to be accomplished