Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-12-08
NATIONAL BOARD OF TRADE,

- ~ A.-4 - ss.l.1ssss. ~
Lively Discussion Of the Mississippi
Hsnv~F4r LeTees. rFAEgrE
ST. Louis, Dec. THE National Board
of Trade continued in session this MORN
ing. Constitutional amendments were
adopted allowing one additional delegate to
each three hundred members added to a
local board, and appointing the third Tues
day of October as the time for the annu al
meeting Of the Board. : AZ -
canadian Annexation.
Hon. John Young, of Montreal. Presid-
ent OF the National Board of Trade of the
Dominion, was presented to the meeting
and welcomed by the President, who ex-
pressed hopes that from this fusion of the
commercial elements of the two countries.
some proposition will be adopted and sent
to the Government of both countries that
will tend to the promotion of a thorough
commercial alliance and such as will meet
with unanimous approval Of both coun-
tries and political annexation.
Mr.. Young warmly responded, arguing
in favor of free interchange of commodities
between the United States and Canada.
The Mississippi Levees.
The resolution proposed at the last an.
nual meeting, asking Congress to guarantee
bonds issued by the States of Louisiana,
Mississippi and Arkansas to tie aggregate
amount of $500, 900 for the purpose of
defraying expenses Ofleveeing the banks of
the Mississippi river within their limits, was
taken up and discussed at considerable
length by VIM. G. Burwell, of New Or
leans, Monroe, of Dubuque, Opdyke, of
New York, Wetherill, of Philadelphia, Ed
ward Atkinson, of Boston, and others. The
original resolution was amended so as to
pay tax on the counties within the limits
proposed to be reclaimed.
Mr.. Wetherill said the State of Arkansas
was pledged already to debt of eleven mil
lions of dollars, and he was opposed to
saddling them with an additional debt of
five millions.
Leroy Shryock, Of st. Louis, said the
question ultimately was this, that not only
should the State of Arkansas and Mississip-
pi be redeemed from loss caused by the
war, but the whole country should be BEN
ehted. When the government can see her
self clear she should step forward and grant
her aid in producing of the great staple of
these States.
Atkinson, of Boston, said he had learned
that this was not an act Of private benefi-
cence, nor to help in the navigation of the
MISSISSIPPI river, but an act to put the gov
eminent in the cotton business. 1t was a
question among scientific men whether the
system of leveeS was the right system to
pursue, whether it did not tend to fill up
the mouth of the Mississippi and obstruct
navigation, he therefore moved to strike
out all that portion of the resolution that
referred TO bonds, so as to ask assistance of
Congress whenever these States shall be
ready to proceed with this work.
Mr.. Stanard of st. Louis, did not doubt
that navigation will be benefited by the
construction of these levees. Cotton, sugar,
rice and the other staples of that country
cannot be raised to as good advantage in an
other portion of the South as on these lands,
which are proposed to be reclaimed and
which were reclaimed before the war.
Mr.. Opydyke of New Ysrk, though. Con-
gress was justified in assisting in the con-
struction of these levees by the present
state OF the case and by the uniform
past conduct of the Government.
Mr.. Roper Of Boston, thought there was
something mOnstrous in the overflow of
these creyases, but did not believe the enter
prise possessed such national character that
the Board could bring it before the Govern
ment. He believed it should be referred to
a committee who could present the pro-
position before them in such a shape that
all could vote for it.
Barton Able, of St. Louis, said the sys-
tenn was not destroyed during the war, as
had been stated, but was inaugurated many
years ago. The system was good really,
being brought to perfection when the war
came on. Before the war the levees were
subject to overflow, but the people were
able to repair the loss. The war took away
this power. Almost the entire country
south Of Memphis is subject to overflow at
any moment, and he asked, in all Justice,
why the Government should not direct its
aim to country so rich and beautiful as
this is?
Mr.. Atkinson, of Boston, then offered a
substitute, asking that such improvements
as may be necessary shall be considered a
fair subject of legislation by Congress when
ever these States, or any one of them, shall
provide by law for the levying of the banks
Of the Mississippi within their respective
limits. Lost. -...
On molten of Mr.. Roper, of Boston, the
whole subject was referred to a committee
Of three to report tomorrow morning. The
chair appointed Messrs- Roper, of Boston,
Burwell, Of New Orleans, and Clark, of
Cincinnati. The resolution, as referred,
asks Congress to aid in the preservation of
.he sugar and cotton lands subject to over
flow by the Mississippi river, and in the navi-
CATION of said river, whenever it is conve-
nient that such aid can be safely and ad-
extended.
Direct Importation.
The chair appointed IWetherill, of Phila-
Cook, of Cincinnati, Burwel, OF
New Orleans; Opdyke, of New York, and
Kirkland, of Baltimore, a committee to re-
port memorial to Congress, setting forth
such alterations and amendments to the
law of July IA, in reference to direct impor-
tatiOn, as may be necessary to the carrying
into effect all the act referred to.
Adjourned till tomorrow morning.
From Labor to ReTreshment.
The delegates Of the National Board of
Trade visited Shaw's Garden and various
other places of note, this afternoon, and
this evening levee was held at the South
ern Hotel, at which a brilliant throng of
gentlemen and ladies were present.