Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-05-22
overflow, are almost iuoslcuIAble there.

without reference to section or elias
would be greatly promoted BY the r
clamati on Of the rich, low lands of Il
Mississi ppi Valley, bordering on Il
Mississippi river
I'd. That we earnestly invoke th
, early attention of Congress to such legi
lation as may be necessary TO extend th
aid OF the Government Of the Unite
States to the States Of Missouri, Missil
sippi, Louisiana and Arkansas, by tn
!. Endorsement of these States in such sun
as may be necessary to rebuild in thol
ough and permanent manner the leyee
of the Mississippi river, when thes
States, by satisfactory legislation, shal
have provided for the interest on tn
bonds and for their redemption at ma
turity.
81. That q committee of one from eacl
State represented in this Convention b.
appointed to memorable Congress upor
this subject, who shall be charged will
the duty of endeavoring to procure legis
lation in the form prescribed in the fore
going resolution or in such other form al
may best secure the objects in view.
Adopted.
Mr.. Marshall, of Mississippi, moved
the following as q portion of the report
RESOLVED, That we deem it the duty Of
Congress to institute an inquiry into the
practicabiliiy of divertng the waters
tributary to the Mississippi into other
channels, by which they may be conveyed
to the Gulf of Mexico, thereby relieving
the liability to overflow.
The resolution was referred to the Com
mittee on Mississippi Improvements.
Colonel E. A. James, of Tennessee,
presented the report of the Tennessee
River Improvement Committee. Omit
ting the preambles, we give simply the
resolution
Resolped, That the attention Of Con-
gress is respectfully, but earnestly, in
vited to the facts set forth in the FORE
going preamble, and that the Senators
and Representatives from the States here
represented, in particular, be urged to
press this matter upon the attention Of
their respective bodies, without cessation,
until the distractions to navigation on
the Tennessee river, between Decatur,
Alabama, and Waterloo, Alabama, are
all removed, 10 accordance with the sur
vey and estimates made by Colonel Vim.
B. Cav, civil engineer in charge OF the
Tennessee river improvement, under the
direction of Brevet Major General g.
Weiizel, United States army, which sur
vey and estimates have heretofore been
presented to Congress by the Secretary
of War. r
Adopted, and committee of one from
each State was appointed to memorabilia
Congress on the subject.
Col. D. E. Butler, of Georgia, Chair
man of the Committee on General Busi-
ness and Agriculture, submitted an ex-
oellent though lengthy report, |hich con-
cluded as follows:
The losses by the war to agriculture in
some of the States, exclusive of slaves,
is not less than $3.50, 100000 The Lon
don Times estimates this loss at $500, 000,.
900. Would it be unwise for Congress
to supply iu part that loss by some relief
TO the tillers OF the soil for twenty or
more years on landed security, and in
some banking organization in each State
to the amount of D,0l0, 900 at sig per
cent? This would enable the rice, sugar
and cotton producers to save millions of
interest ct exorbitant rates now paid an
nually to carry on their business.
Adopted without debate.
Col. Robertson Topp, of Tennessee,
wished to knoT il he could introduce a
series of resolutions relative to the an
nexation of San Domingo. The Chair
man replied in the negative.
1t was
Resolred, That special committee of
FIVE be appointed by the President of
this Convention, whose duty it ahall be
10 prepare suitable memorial, addressed
to the Manchester Cotton Supply Assoc
cistien," OF Great Britain. and to the
National Association of Manufacturers
and Planters" of America, setting forth
the present state of the production of
cotton in the United States what crops
of cotton we may expect in the future,
under the present system Of labor en-
gagged in the production of cotton in the
United States; and suggesting the means
by which the annual yield may not emily
be prevented from diminishing but in-
creased TO supply the demand of con-
sumers in our own and other countries
Col. Lee Crandall, of Louisiana, was
appointed a member of the Committee on
Immigration.
Mr.. Davis, Of Ohio, moved that Mr. d.
T. Saunders be appointed delegate to
the Manchester Cotton Supply Associa-
ton, Of Great Britain. Carried.
General J. H. Chalmers offered the
following resolution, which was adopted;
WHEREAS, Labor is essential to the de-
velopment of the South and whereas, o
large number Of Cinnamon, the cheapest
laborers on this continent, have recently
been thrown out Of employment by the
completion OF the Pacific railroad; and
whereas, individual planters have not
the means necessary for the importation
Of foreign lsborers; and whereas, it is
believed that our railroad companies
have great facilities for the introduction
of this labor, and that when once intro
duced it can be easily disseminated
through the courtry; therefore, be it
Res0lred, Thu ell the railroads in the
South be requested to employ upon these
roads ss many ss possible Of the China
men recently discharged on the Pacific
railroad, aud that all companies engaged
10 building new railroads be especially