New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1861-01-28
Neb Orleaus Duilu GresteIrt.
NAVIGATION OF THE MISSISSIPPI.
MONDAY MORNING, JANUARY 28, 1861.

Some Of the people of the Northwestern States
making themselves very silly about the naviga-
tionof the Mississippi river. The Legislature OF
Indiana, the other day, passed series OF " blood
and thunder' resolutions about it, declaring that
they would not consent, under any circumstances,
to arestriction of the right of free transit upon the
bosom of the Father of Waters. So, also, tho
papers of the Northwest are clustering and blow
ing about this matter, and getting oil vast guam
tty Of unnecessary indignation.
E Now, the truth is, no one has ever proposed, IN
fhe-sightest degree, to interfere with the naViga
Ton Of the river for any legitimate purpose OF
trade and commerce; nor has any one, IN our
opinon, any idea Of proposing such thing in the
future, On the contrary, everybody who has
mentioned the subject, every newspaper which has
referred to it, every popular speaker, and every
Convention or assembage of the people, since
the question has been rnised-oH agree that the
free and unrestricted navigation of the river, tor
commercial purposes, must be maintained and VIII
be maintained at ali hazards and under all crcum-
& stances.
The action of the Governor Of Mississippi, which
has been referred to in terms Of earnest renon-
STRANGE, has been very much inexperienced. A
report had come that the United States Intended
sending troops down the river to retake the
arsenal which Louisiana had seized at Baton Rouge.
The Governor of Mississippi, in spirit OF sympathy
andfriendship for our State, determined to arrest
the proposed expedition. For day or two, only,
watchwas kept on steamboats-but none were IN
iufed, none were detained and there was no inter-
rpption whatever Of the course of trade. And as
soonas il was ascertained that the rumor was un.
founded the surveillance was abandoned That
was all.
re i,fir
themselves SO much unnecessary anxiety about the
navigation Of the Mississippi, will only reflect
moment they will see that it is not our interest to
interrupt the navigation Of the river, even if we
were disposed to do such thing in the presence
Of that consideration. Restrictions upon COM
merce, here, would have the effect OF reversing
the current of trade. and cause it toiow up instead
ofdowu. Breadstaifs, and provisions for instance,
which constitute the bulk Of the exports Of the
Northwest, if driven from Southern markets by
our own policy, would only seek markets upon the
Atlantic, as in fact is already the case to d very
great extent. But as it viii be the interest of us
ail-both those who live upon the Lower and those
upon the Upper Mississippi, and its tributaries,
tbgt commerce should be free and UNRESTRICTED we
areunabie to see why the Northwest should be
working itself into q passion over tho mere con-
iectnre Of an improbable, it not an impossible, &C.
currence.
The Convention of Mississippi, so far from con-
templating anything of the sort, has given utter
ance to its opinion that the river shall be free.
Resolutions have been introduced into the C0nven-
tion Of Louisiana to the same effect and, instead
Of encountering opposition, will doubt COM
rland the unanimous approval Of that body. More
over in the Address of the late Representatives Of
Louisiana in the Congress of the United States, ad-
dressed to the Convention Of this State, these
gentlemen say emphatically, I'VE invite you to
pass, in such form you may deem proper, re-
cogntiou that the navigation Of the Mississippi
shall be free to the citizens Of every State whose
waters find their way to the Gulf Of Mexico by the
great river and its tributaries, and declaration
that all agricultural products Of its valleys shall be
received by free from every duty or imposition
that all foreign products may pass through our
State without any other restriction than such as
may be necessary for the security of any revenue
system We may adopt, and that no other restraint
orregulation shalt be imposed on our intercourse
than such as may be absolutely necessary for mat
ters of internal police
We think all these various proofs of our inten-
tions ought to be satisfactory. We get along
peaceably with the neighboring provinces of Great
Britain and Spain, and with Mexico, though we
impose duties upon their shipments. We see no
reason why the same may not be done with the
United States of the North, when there will be no
restriction upon the navigation Of the river and
burdens upon the agricultural productions OF the
Northern States.
P. S.-Since writing the above we have received
the resolution on this subject, adopted by the Con-
yention, which we copy below and which, we pre-
sumo, will remove every doubt of the position of
Louisiana upon this question:
Resol1ed, That we, the people of the State Of
Louisiana, recognize the right Of the free naviga-
tion Of the Mississippi river and its tributaries, by
all friendly States bordering thereon. And we also
recognize the right Of egresB and ingress Of the
mouths OF the Mississippi by all friendly States and
Powers: and we do hereby declare our willingness
to enter into any stipulatons to guarantee the cX
ercise Of said rights.