New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-06-10

hope Senators will scrutinize every
feature of this bill. It seems to me there
ought to be no objection on the part o.
the friends of the bill to adopt an amend
ment of this kind. This is not alone an
a0t of the Legislature. You are making q
contract with certain parties. by which
you bind the State as whole, and every
citizen of the State living in the alluvial
districts, to certain conditions. and now
you assume that this company shall have
no capital. When you pass this bill, you
bind these parties to its most objectiona.
BILE features, and you will do more to in
lure the alluvial lands of the State than by
any law you can pass.
Now, let US look to another point.
Must not this comp any be made to pay
damages which may accrue to lands, upon
judgment of court? The poor man, who
has the value of few bales of cotton, for
instance, sues the company, who can easily
take an appeal to higher court, and go
annoy him that he would rather lose his
few bales of cotton than contest it. Sup
pose sixteen families are interested on a
given plantation, and a crsvasse occurs,
each one would have to bring separate
suit, and the owner of the land separate
suit also. Will you fasten law like this
upon the poor people OF the State?
MIR. Campbell Mr.. President, am sorry
that have not the time which will justify
me in replying more closely. | have heard
so much about the enormities OF this bill,
and knowing that the Senator who has
inst spoken has been chairman of the Com.
mittee on Lands and Levees for q long
time
Mr.. Lynch: l have been a member of
that committee.
MIR. Campbell: Knowing that the gen.
tleman has been connected with the COM
mittee, living, as he does, upon the levees,
holding position of such responsibility,
and having facilities for information go
much greater than my own, | really did
fear that whatever there was in this bill
was enormous, according to the Senator'S
denunciations. But all his objections
have narrowed down to this one about
poor mans ten bales of cotton-the loss
he would have in sueing the company.
But wish to call the attention of the Sem
ator to this fact, that before the war the
tax on his own parish amounted to double
what this bill proposes to impose upon
him. That the people who are benefited
shall pay one half of what it has formerly
cost-half of what the people of
the State of Mississippi are now
paying for the repair of their
levees. We propose that this extravagant
of the public money for the
protection of the river lands, at the ex-
pense Of the whole State, shall cease-a
system which has spent seven million dol
lars in the last six years, with hardly
million to show in the way of improve
every year thrown into the
waters of the Mississippi from three hum
dred to five hundred thousand dollars of
The money of the people, shall cease, and
that this system shall be put in private
hands. And, sir, the only condition on
which l agreed, and am sorry now that
did, to appropriate, at the gentleman's
three million dollars to be ex-
pended by an irresponsible company,
whose past management has not shown
hem to be able inanciers. aHd by which
he has taxed every poor mans ten bales
If cotton all over the State.
The most respectable gentlemen in all
;hese alluvials States, at Louisville and
have recommended this scheme. |
t is the recommendation of the Louisville |
on which this bill was framed
md presented before this State; aud q
imilar bill will be presented before the
State Legislatures of Mississippi, Missouri, |
Arkansas and Tennessee, [Mr. Campbell |
lere read from the document referred tol. |
Now, sir, that is the verdict of the most |
interested and responsible |
gentlemen living in the alluvial regions of |
he Mississippi river. The only objection |
lrged by the distinguished gentleman On |
he Committee on Lands and Levees is the |
Ak on the poor mans ten bales of cotton,
nd yet he has just passed law
y which he taxes the poor mans
On bales of cotton all over the State,
nd given three million dollars to the
'oard of Public Works. Then I ask
here will be the poor mans ten bales of
otton under the present system if Gre
asses come? He has not even the privi-
'ge of travelling ten miles to sue anybody.
70 says it will give him some trouble to
ct his damages. Better some trouble
Ian no chance to get damages at all.
ope that Senators will reject this amend
ent.
Mr. Lynch: Mr.. President, the Board of
ublic Works of this State are mere ap-
l
me they do wrong. They will have a
'rporation for twenty-one years, with all
le powers given in this act. In the next
ace l will correct the Senator when be
'ys / suggested three million dollars as
le appropriation for the Board of Public
'orks. 1 offered an amendment to re-
ice it to two millions. l gave then, as
reason, which I here repeat, that was
red of the present system, and wished a
sitter one to 60 into effect. My amend
ent was voted down. The present system
believe to be inadequate, but do not
ish to supplant it by one thousand |
mes worse. The Senator asked me what
as the difference between the poor man {
ith his ten bales of cotton, not getting
images from this company, and being
xed as he is now. | tell him it is not
}, except mere local tax. But do not ,
low that there Is any use in saying
lylhing. II seems foregone con-
usion that this monstrosity will pass; !
1t l will say to the Senator, that intelli- j
mt gentlemen of the Louisville Conven-
On, who have studied this matter, repu- i
ate this bill, though they are in favor of
q principle, as | am. If you make [
10 tnaI Will Pul proper restrlctlOnS |
1 this company will support it, hand in 6
and; and, so far from myself. as an indi-
dual, asking general tax of the State
build my levees, l do not do so. n ]
ould rather relinquish all my right than
ave the money squandered as it is. Why,
lat is no reason why we should pass a t
easure which is simply damnable. l
ave quoted and given tie names of the {
corporators, who see how uujustly it
XeS the State and ranuGiata IL AndIl