Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-08-06

by the different States bordering upon Its banks,
authorizing a system of leYees. Hundreds and
thousands Of dollars have been expended in the at
tempt and it has resulted in the ruin Of many and
the destruction Of millions Of property. Suppose a
ivee could be built 50 broad and high as 20 resist
the action Of the waters and confae It to The main
channel Of the waters. What would be the insvita-
bic result TAe eOarser particles that are now car
ried cut and elevate the banks and bottom lands,
would by the force Of the current be carried lower
down The stream. The consequence would be arspid
elevation of its bed for every atom Of matter de-
posted displaees 50 much water and there wsuld
have TO be consequent elevation Of the levess until
in the process Of time (sRd not great length Of
time ether the bed of the stream would be higher
than the banks at present, and would ultimately end
in the destruction Of the planters Of the lower Mis-
sissippi and perhaps the City Of New Orleans.
l. is idle to suppose that the cuTrert would carry
out the heavier PARTICLES to the Calf Ills only the
finer particles Of matter that are nos carried out,
for the Delta at the mouth does not increase more
than mile in q century.
The plan proposed BY some Of strengthening the
stream through the bends or curves would increase
the velocity ofthe current, but it would not afford
relief Tie fell Of the river from the mouth Of the
Ohio 10 the Gulf does not exceed three inches per
mile, aud at ordinary stages Of water the current is
not over p miles per hour. Suppose it could be
increased 10 four miles per hour il would not les
the evil, The heavier psrlieles Of matter would
only be carried doFa the stream and displsee the
water consequently the levee would have to be se-
vaied. From q personal examination Of the river
and its banks, an satisfied the only seeurity for
the planter is the local leyes. By agreement on the
part Of the States bordering the river the outlets
ought to be kept open, leEes extending from the
river 5aek as to protect particular sections Of the
country, and alternate on each bank 50 to leave
an outlet fer the water.
The waters Of the tributaries CT the Mississippi
River duriag the past year we're not 50 high as in
years past. The Tennessee, Cumberland aud Mis-
souri, at DO time at high water mark nor within
fifteen feet Of it, the Ohio was net within eight feet
Yet we see the whole country below Memphis sub
merged. Why is this? Isit not in consequence Of
general system OF leveeiDg that was carried out
during the years Of SO and 81? But it wiz be said
that there was Dolsvesing above Cairo, and the
waters we're higher than they had been for years.
The answer is plain the great basin of the alluEial
plain that heretofore received the waste waters vas
not permitted to be 6lled they were confined to the
channel, hence they were net so rapidly discharged,
and there consequently an elevation. Is it not
reasonable to suppose, if there had been an outlet
there would not have been large volume Of water
in the Mississippi and the Ohio would have discharg
edits waters more rapidly there being about fifteen
feet fall from the bank Of the river to the base Of the
hills. Whenever it rises to that point at which it
begins to FL the loWlauds, It's fact within the OBJ
servaon Of every onefamiliar with the country, the
waters cut with great velocity, thus promoting
rapid rise and an accumulation Of waters within
the bank, and thereby the lower part of the river is
relieved. Yet with this great outlet and waste Of
waters before the leveeing system was adopted the
river often flled the aluval plain from bluff 10 bluff
Yet men believe they can stay the waters Of river
that drains half a continent and say, thus far shall
they 20 and no farther. Il is very much like the
story Of Canute whose eourtier said to him, he had
the power to stsy the waves, and he was foolish
enough TO try it. These who contend for the gen
ernl system Of levesing viii find IS Canuto, that
nothing bat Hin who created can stay His action,
but We can improve upon the principles Of nature BY
opening the outlets, and where lands are suscep-
ibe of cultivation protect them By leveeing around
them aud leave nature to her task Of eeVating The
IoRIands for the use OF future generations.
have, Mr. EIitor, given you my views; some Of
them are founded in theory, but based upon facts
It is question Of great moment to the South, and
one in which every Southern man feels deep in
terest The bottoms Of the Mississippi are the best
lands in the Union for our great staple, and viii
become in time, WhatIOld Egypt was to Rome, the
granary Of the Union. MESToR.