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

there IL no check Whatever upon tbs
body-a body of men holding in thei
hands about eleven millions of dollars Q
the public money, and yet from all quarter
comes the cry OF no protection from levees
Year after year have tho products of tn
country been swept away, the countr.
overaowed and the people mercilessl.
taxed and oppressed for the purpose o
supporting and maintaining these levees
and so long and state it here; I care no
under what administration it may be-st
long as the present Intellectual and incom
petent system is kept up, just SO long
will the public money exc out through
the hands of this Board of Public Works
and the people not be protected. And i
there is reason on earth why I would sup
port this bill. perhaps with Objectionable
features, it would be that we may get rii
of an incubus that is almost dreaded by
the people, and which has never beer
etfectual in protecting the lands from over
flow.
Now, sir, while I said at first that wal
in favor of the general principles of the
bill, although l do not know the present
incorporators, nor do care to know them
yet if they be substantial men who offel
this benefit to the State and throw
around the bill such safeguards and pro.
lection as meet the interests of the
State as we'll as the wishes of the
people, l certainly will advocate its pas
sage but, sir, l state again, if in the
passage of the bill, although tavoring its
general principles, l am called upon to
throw around it no check-if am called
upon to place burden upon the people
without that protection which belongs to
them, am not q legislator who will assist
in its passage. l will do nothing in my
legislative capacity, coming as do from
the highlands and not interested in the SUBJ
ject, but taxed one and half per cent to
construct the levees, to place such bur-
den upon the people, if it were not
properly guarded. For that reason I be-
lieve the amendment OF the Senator from
Ouachita to be good. hope the Senate
will SO amend and strike out from the bill
its Objectionable clauses, as to make it
satisfactory to all the people. If such be
the case, l will give my heart and hand to
its support if, on the contrary. those
are not made which think
should be made, I am forced to vote against
its passage.
Mr.. Bacon: had not intended to rise
and speak on this bill at all. I had con-
cluded to allow the friends OF the bill to
make it such as they saw fit, and leave it
to the final vote, and when my name was
called upon the roll to give my views
upon its utility or its danger. But, sir,
as the authority, and influence, and voice
of the Louisville convention has been in
voked in favor of this particular enact
ment now proposed, and as by the favor
of his Excellency the Governor,
to be one of the delegates rep
resenting the State of Louisiana upon the
floor of that convention, claim to know
something Of its intentions. deem it my
duty, sir, here to state what was the in
tention of that body in favoring the report
Of tho Committee on Levees Of that con-
vention. This subject was discussed, not
only in the convention, but before the
Louisiana delegation, composed of very
arge number of our best citizens, among
whom were Chief Justice Ludeling, of the
Supreme Court; Mr.. Kennedy, now Presi-
lent of the State Bank; Judge Baker. of
)uachita; the venerable Nicholas II. Cole
nan, a planter upon the river in the upper
'egion, and many others of ability and
'tanding aud reputation in the State, in
,luding Ex-Governor B. 0. Abel. Now,
|ir the unanimous conclusion upon that
subject was this that it was far better for
Is, in laying out plans for our levees, to
lave 1t done upon national basis--if |
possible by Congress-but if not possible,
hat the whole inundated region should |
'e surveyed, under the authority of the |
Jnited States, and that all the levees
hould be made.
rider. believe the amendment of Sena-
Or Ray is before the Senate.
The President: That is the amendment |
efore the Senate.
Mr.. Wittgeustein: think the gentleman
J not talking about that; he is talking
bout the st. Louis Convention.
Mr.. Campbell: Mr.. President, as time is |
hort, perhaps can render this discussion |
necessary by making concession. 1 |
ill accept the amendment, provided he |
ill not strike out the oher part. but add |
is amendment to the section. am will
ng, on behalf of the friends of the bill, to
ccept the amendment on that condition.
MIR. Bacon: That can be done as soon as
get through stating what was the plan of
le Louisville Convention. As | was say
lg, there should be reconnaissance and
lrvey of all the inundated region, made
= disinterested parties, and that the only
arties which can thus disinterestedly and
roperly make this survey, is the En-
neer Corps of the United States, to
3 directed by Congress and the Gen
al Government TO do this; and after
lch reconnaissance and survey was made
I'd the proper levees were mapped,
1T, and the proper dimensions given.
ut if there was anybody interested to sea
Nv they should be placed, how large or
nall they should be when this disinters
tied survey and reconnaissance have
cen made and estimates furnished BY
ese engineers as to the cost of such
wees, then to levy tax and organize a
,mpany which should have the power of
hiding these levees. 1t was never in
nded to organize company before the
rvey and reconnaissance was made.
hat was the very theory, and if they will
ad through the report furnished at the
stance of this company they will see
atlthirs econnOissance was the first sub
ct to be met, SO that no company would
, interested in seeing the levees ditched
is way, that way, or the other. But the
IL before us provides that the survey
all be made at the expense and accord
g to the plans of this company-the very
ntrary of what was intended by the
convention.
Mr.. Campbell: suggest to the Senator
ON Ouachita to add his amendment to |
e section instead of striking it out, and
the Senator refuses will ask that that
urtesy be submitted to Senators.
Mr.. Ray: That would be nugatory.