The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-03-12
A "Constitutionaln Rahnl.

A letter-Uritsr, before VicksburR, tells
tho following amusing dialosus:
A gentleman who was present at this
locality during the siege in July last
tells an amusing story OF an intsrview
he witnessed between General Williams
and half dozen residents Of the psnin-
sular and vicinity. 1t was iust as Gen.
Williams commenced the digging Of the
famous ditch, and the object Of the visit
was to dissuade him from his design.
The following dialogugo ensusd;
"lst Oitizon-Are you aware, General.
that there is no law OF tho State allow.
ing you to make cutoff here ~
Gen. Williams-I am not paying much
heed to the laws Of Louisiana al present
Your people were among the first 10 rebel
and throw OF all allegiance. You have
40 claims upon as now"
ed Citizen--YoG nav not ramember
General, that you will subject the parish
of Madison, in the State Of Louisisna. TO
an expenditure of $50 00o for new leyees.
"Gen. Williams-The parish Of MAdi-
son, in the State Of Louisiana, win know
how much II costs 10 support treason. /
believe you gave large majority here in
favor Of secession"
Sd Citizen--If this cutoff Is made Il
will ruin the trade OF YicksbuTg. Boats
will not be able TO run up there, but will
find the whole current Of the river through
the short route. Vicksburg has been a
iine city for business, bat yeur ouI-oir will
spoil H.
"Gsn. WilliamS-We are digging this
canal for the very purpose Of going up
and down the river without passing near
Vieksburg.
"4th Citizen--If you make this cut.
Of, General, You will ruin the prom
erty Of many loyal men living here.
All these plantations will be carried
away.
Gen. Williams-Loyai men will be
paid fer every cents worth that we des-
troy for them, the moment thoy prove
thsirloyalty.
Goth Citizen - Tho charter Of the
Vicksburg & Shreveport Railroad is per-
petual, and so declared by the ACT Of
the Louisiana Legislature. No ous has
sny right TO cut through tho embank-
ment.
"Gen. Willams--If the officers Of the
road de not think / am acting properly.
Lot them send a State official here 10 ar
rest me. Louisiana has seeded, and /
am not paying much attention TO her Lo-
gislaturs."
The delegations here found that they
had exhausted their arguments without
accomplishing theis point. Aeoordiag.
ly, they very properly concluded 10 with
draw, and executed the movemsnt Ia fine
style.
The argument OF citizen number five
may need little explanation 10 make Its
full force appreciAbls. For many years
the people Of Louisiana have contain
plated making the eut-o of In question. and
1T one time il WAS only an accident that
prevented a legislative enactment for that
purpose. The Yicksbmgians had ox-
pended large sums Of money on the no.
tofiously- corrupt Legislature AZ Baton
Rouge TO thwart measure % ealamiious
70 themselves. Finally, they biz upon
the plan Of railway with . perpetual
charter, said railway 10 extend from the
extremity Of the peninSula, opposite
to somo point In the interior
Of Louisiana. Much money was required
10 Eecure the passage Of The bill but the
capitalists Of Vioksburg and itR snyirons
came promptly forward, aud furnished
the material aid Tor lobbying the matter.
AZ well az fer commeu, ing The road. The
& Shrsyeport Railroad thus
became a hEed fact, and 10 ths arrival Of
.he Yankees there was a certainty that
DO hand of man could ever legally turn
.ho channel Of the Mississippi river.