New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-09-10

which are offered in behalf of reason and
common sense, overridden simply because a
| majority have promised their votes toward
| this measure. And, sir, in order that rea.
son may have an opportunity of swaying
this Senate to some extent upon this sub
ject. / now move to postpone indefinitely
the further consideration Of this bill.
Mr.. Bacon: l hope you will withdraw
that motion, sir, for the time being.
Mr.. Braughn withdrew the motion.
Mr.. Bacon: Mr.. President, ! ask the priv
ilege of speaking in no desire to de.
feat this measure. / am not opposed to the
internal improvement of the city of New
Orleans even if individuals derive benefit
from 1t, and some more than others. am
not opposed to increased and improved
means of inter-communication with the
outside world. am not opposed to canal
or to locking the waters of the Mississippi.
On the contrary, l am in favor of it, and
have no prejudice against the parties in
terested in this project, More than that,
have had communications with them, and |
have received with pleasure much Of their
information. To a great extent, sir, my OBJ.
jections to this bill have been relieved-not
altogether relieved, sir, but in great
mersure they have been, and if this bill
| were properly guarded, and the public were
sufficiently secured from danger in its
clauses, don't know that should oppose
| it. There are dangers connected with the
enterprise if undertaken. There are other
| dangers in chartering an enterprise which
will not he undertaken. All these dangers
are such as Senators upon this floor
| especially representing the city of New Or
| leans and its adjacent villages, should take
pains, and great pains to guard against.
| Now, sir, it is this that desire to do, and
nothing else.
There is, it is true, another project-a pro.
| iect which has long been in existence, and
| InOer 11rOp1--a nrOippf fO DnqEa a. canal nv a
| shorter route, aud of more easy construc-
| ton. But, sir, as to that, except as to the
| impression upon my mind as to its feasibili-
4 ty, / have not the slightest interest. If !
have prejudice, sir, it is rather in favor of
the project proposed by the bill before the
| Senate. l have attempted to get informa-
ton upon this subject, simply with desire
to promote the interest of the people l rep
resent. That has been my entire motive,
and my examination has been greatly assist
ed by the gentlemen on whose behalf this
bill has been introduced, and so far as have
completed it it has resulted in the conclu.
sion, in my mind, that if this measure could
be properly guarded, that l could, and
would support 1t. But, sir, if these gentle
men contemplate granting to five or SIX men
a perpetual charter to build this canal
through the heart of this city and the city OF
Jacksonville, leaving them to fix the tolls as
they please, l hold tito be monstrous pro
ltGL. GU lL tbo W CIl 81 dHt VI
taking all the wharfage in front of this city
without limit. 1t is a monstrous project
We have railroad charters. but we have
taken pains to guard against any such thing
as this. And in granting these charters We
will have great difficulty in properly guard.
ing them so that they can not be perverted
into instrumentalities of oppression. There
is proposition to give these parties the
right to construct a canal through the cen
tire of this great city, and those improved
portions of the adjoining parishes which
will soon become portions OF it, and to hold
it for ever, and to grant them the right o
holding the same wharfage there that !;
held in the front of the city. More thar
that sir, as we go on with the discussion o
this bill YOU will see additional privilege
aud rights granted in it which are wrong
But if gentlemen begin at the outset witt
| refusing to amend where perpetual privii
ege is given of this kind we may expec
every other abuse proposed by this bill t
be authorized.
Look at this canal in the city, now tn
property Of the State of Louisiana, and ye
the Canal Bank built it and used it, and en-
ioyed it over twenty-five years before it wa
/ taken from them and returned back to tn
State; and yet we are to make this canal tn
perpetual property OF tbese men. This bill
says they shall have the right 10 lease tn
canal at present existing, and of courst
they will state their own price for it Now
sir, ask Senators if they can sit here an(
legislate away in perpetuity such privilege
as this to company who, however excel
! lent the gentlemen may be who are con
cerned in it, they are only individual cit
: zens, and ought not to be granted the bes
t privileges and rights of the city of New Or
, leans.
There is another thing. These men VIII
are perseveringly proposing to get up thi
canal of twenty.eight miles, as steamshll
man told me to-day, would have insuperabl
difficulties to contend with after leaving tn
| Rigolettes; they will have to go through
place where a twenty-five foot pole would G.
through mud and not stand up or touch bot
tom. If this company gets its charter, and
goes to New York, and proposes to get as
! sistance there, it will have the effect 0
! either breaking up or seriously impedin!
the success of your other company, whlc
has been organized, and in Which DT
Noyes, Mr.. Durant, and Others are con
cerned with $4,000 900 investment, becaus
| it is to do inst as much for the benefit {
, the commerce of New Orleans as thi
| proposed canal of twenty-eight miles
J for what these six or seven gen
| tlemen may have the means of going o
with lerge project, sail very finely throug
5 the financial world, and at last leaves a
D immense pond through that portion of Je
1 ferson parish where they commence digging
or commence digging down here in the cit
: of New Orleans aud leave q ditch here; or
they are successful they will have the enjoy
3 ment of this channel OF communication fol
| ever. When the State of Louisiana ha
never none this for q company before, an
has refused al this very session of the LeglS
lature to grant a charter to railroad t
! Sabine-a charter for fifty years.
Now, think that if Senator'S will reflect
D and really wish TO benefit the commerce c
the city. they will consider this matter witt
- | t1,ar lur 1aag the
2 lection of this bill, and take away what
Objectionable, and then, if they desire it t
| 90 through now, pass it; but not make
e such that if it ever succeeds it will ride thi
CITY, like the old man OF the mountain
throughout its entire existence. A practic..
/ survey should be made of the difleren
routes, to see which is the most practicable
! and expedent.
fit be really true that this is a practica
BILE route, the parish OF Jefferson
and the city of New Orleans ough
to build this canal themselves
} for if there are advantages to be deriyeC
from this project they can not be equally
not legislate here for the benefit OLA, B, G, o
D at the expense of the State.
We sit here as Senators of Louisiana and
not as Senators of John Smith and JohI
Brown, and we should not come here to hell
them.
/ trust that Senators will give more re
iiection to this subject and consider tht
injury which they may do by too hastl
and inconsiderate action upon this bin.
believe the result of this bill, if it should
become a law as it now stands, would be tt
utterly ruin the commerce of this city
Gentlemen may tell me that this canal vii
add so much to the trade; SO 1t may If 1t i
constructed. hope it will. But we giv'
these persons unlimited control over .thii
trade; We give to them "a privilege which
| has never been granted before and whicl