New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-09-27
MORE 1MpoRTANT THAN poL1TECs.


of Louisiana-so he learns from a correspond
ent-st are about to give significant hint to
politicians that something else must forth
with be attended to in lieu of political agita-
tons" The correspondent may be right in
assuming that we have before us for consid-
Grafton and decision questions of far greater
Importance than any growing out Of the dis
cussion of the right of representation in Con-
gress, or of the right or wrong of the theories
of government entertained by the various
political parties Yet our people will not,
and cannot cease to feel deep interest in
those questions, because, in the settlement of
the problems arising out of them, our ma
affected, if not absolutely determined. There
is no doubt, however, that the helpless politi-
cal condition of the Southern States, the
growing conviction that they are absolutely
powerless to determine, OF even to influence
| those political questions in which they have
the most direct interest, and the knowledge
that such questions are to be resolved by the
public voice of another section, have greatly
modified the direction of Southern opinion,
and have turned it, more than ever before,
| towards local questions over which the people
of these States may, perhaps, exercise some
control They have resolved to do all in their
power to remedy the material evils which
have befallen them by persistent energetic
industry, and by adapting themselves to the
new circumstances by which they are sur
| rounded.
| In this State, however, we are unhappily
situated. During two consecutive years our
rich and productive alIuvion has been in
undated by the devastating waters Of the
Mississippi, and now, on the verge of another
food season, the levees are still broken, and
our renascent agriculture is threatened with
another catastrophe. The measures taken at
the last session of the legislature did not
prove effective because, in the first place, even
when that body met, the leyee-building sea
son was over; and, in the next place, the
funds which could be placed at command of
the levee commissioners, were totally made
quate for the purpose in view. The commu-
nication to which we have above referred, puts
the case thus
Throughout the State Of Louisiana one thousand
six hundred and forty miles of lineal and lateral
leves require to be strengthened, repaired and to
considerable extent reconstructed or rebuilt, to
protect efectually from overflow of the waters of
the Mississippi the agricultural districts of the
State. Appropriations of inadequate supplies of
money, to be applied to patchwork at detached
sections and separate points, so far as protection
to leyees for the agricultural districts are
cerned, are worse than useless, because where the
levee works are not continuously and connectiyely
carried out so as to establish perfect and unin-
terrupted Gordon of leyee embankment around
the districts to be protected detached or dscon-
nected lines of leYee works would be quickly
washed away, and the money expended thereon
irretrieyably lost. Hence, the totally inadequate
amount of $500, 900, which commissioners con-
ceiYed to be available aid in its application to the
carrying out of the leyee works required through
out the etate, so far as any real or substantial
benefits to be derived, without immediate and
further supplies to considerable amount, would
confer no benefit whatever upon the State as a
means Of repairing or rebuilding efectually its
dsmantled levee works.
Since much of the destruction of our leYees
was the act Of the United States military Off
GERS, it was supposed that Congress would not
refuse to replace such as had been thrown
down through this agency. It was presumed,
too, that the immense interests dependent on
a reconstruction of the levees, would influence
q body who boosted SO loudly of their desire |
to protect all sorts of industry. This hope
appeared to have been ilI-founded. The ap-
preparation was lost on account of the maleyo-
ent opposition of men who openly declared
hat to drown the people of Louisiana and to
destroy their property, would be just retri-
button upon them for that objectionable sin
Of "rebellion. There is, therefore, nothing
to be expected from the federal government
as long as the dominant party remains in
power.
What then is to be done? Something
might, even now be accomplished, if theIegis-
lature could be called together in time to act
before the rising of the waters shall make
effort Intellectual. But, unhappily, we have
governor who denounces his own people-the |
people who elected him by vote approach
ing unanimity-as ''rebels and traitors who I
ought to be disfanchised. 1t is not too much I
to believe that he thinks likewise that they
ought to be drowned out, or got rid of in
some effective manner Here is the problem
to be decided. The flood season is coming
on us. The levees are still broken. Another
inundation is imminent, and the COVER
nor, it appears will not call the leg
islature together to provide for the
1t is a grave position. It de-
mands thoughtful consideration and effective
action. But what can be done That is the
question. The governor has openly declared
his enmity to the people of the State He
attempted to subvert the very government of
which he is himself apart, and to replace in
office and power by fraudulent and illegal
means, a faction which he had himself de-
nounced as essentially debased and corrupt
and whose reign constitutes the most melan-
oholy epoch in the political history of the State,
1t is the natural sequence of this course that he
should now try to prevent the people of Louis
lana from taking measures to protect them
selves against impending ruin. Yet Governor
Wells may, involuntarily, have taught us one
good lesson--not in future to trust men whom
we know to be unworthy of trust
ss---
TENNESSEE.
An important election is to be held in Ten
nessee next month, for governor, members of
the legislature and other State officers. Prepar-
,L.,,- - II, Il, LIZ. II.