, 1859-04-07

About the time Of the adjournment Of the
last Congress, committee from tho Chamber
Of Commerce Of New Orleans made their an
pearancc in Washington, and asked that the
balance (S71,o0o) Of the uncxpcnded appropp-
ation Of S330,o0o for clearing out the mouth Of
the Mississippi, might be placed in their hands.
They alleged that political favoritism and the
ualfeasancc Of those who were entrusted, br
contract with the expenditure Of tue arpropri.
alton, had been so marked, that, although,
thrcc-fourths Of the sum had disappeared, no
good had been accomplished the mud
banks were just as high and just as difficult to
get over as cycr, and that commerce was
seriously endangered by impedimeuts in tllc
channel, which Government, though spending
profuscly, had failed to remove. Congress,
tho members Of which cannot fail to know how,
slEce Nr. Buchanan came into power, the way
the money goes, passed resolution authorizing
the tra,lfer Of the funds TO the hands Of the
petitioners, for expenditure under tic direction
OF the very respectable and responsible body
that sent them on their crraud The sum re-
manning was not large, but it was, they
thought, equivalent in their lands to half a
million disburscd Under the old system, and
they were willing to engage that for every
dollar paid ont dollars worth Of good should
he done for the object which they had in view.
The resolution came into Mr. Buchanan's
hands Just ut the close Of llst session: hu. that
venerable old fttgy, wi1hilis usual wrong-tcad-
cdncss: could see no rropricty in spending
money i'll such way that tho commercial in-
1crcsts Of tile country might be bencnttcd
thereby, low7E;1clsoerer Of liberality lie ,nav
lie accused Of when partisan schemes are to be
advanced hence lis signature WAS refused
According to his view Of the matter, tic con-
tract system worked well enough Ii dug IN
votes if it dug up 10 mud, 1t opened way
for Ills friends to fat Offices If it opened no
channels for ships Mr. Buchanan was con-
tent So was Slidcll. So was Benjamin. But
tue people Of New Orleans arc not. Their
s'Iips. outward bound aud i!o,newarsl bound, are
sticking IN the mud bars 1y tiics, and o},sti-
1lattly refuse to float Or to he tioatcd of. De-
lays they find to lie rexatious and costly
trying alike to the temper and tic purse. Thc
Government scowS are, in the meantime pok-
ing around, laying bol, lcre and sticking
pole there, but really serving no other purpose
tlEln that Of Ill iniirnlary f,r the politicians
who tnan them. Thu evil that the large am
preparation was intended t, correct, las rot 10
be 80 serious and dangerous that the n,er-
shants and others who arc the im,nct!Ac SUI.
!ercrs. are preparing to intcrposc, ~ by pri-
ratc subscription do what the Government is
100 careless or corrupt 10 accomplish
There arc thousands Of o..r readers in Til.
,lois and the other States Of tic West, WHO
will this year lie heavily taxed fnr Mr.. Buc},an-
an S obstinacy. Every article of produce sent
:bEoad or .nastwisc hy the Mississippi, must
l'ay tribute tn Executive laundering: every
pound Of sugar from Cuba 1o New Orleans.
must lr faxed that Slidel and benjamin. u,ay
thrive. We commend the subject to their
consideration.