New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-12-30
GENERAL SHELDON ON The LEVELS

General Sheldon's speech on his bill
asking government aid in building the
levees Of the Mississippi river and its
tributaries. published in Thursdays Re-
PUBLICAN, should not escape the careful
perusal OF every one interested in the
prosperity Of tie South. L. is an able
and eloquent effort, and proves his earn
est desire to perform his whole duty to
the people.
We frankly admit that We oppose his
| plan Of accomplishing the mucI-needed
work. We think the interests Of the peo-
pie III this respect are safer under the di-
rect control Of the government than in
the hands Of a soulless money-making
corporation, Notwithstanding our repre-
sentative declares that, under govern
ment supervision, our levees are too apt
to be extensively and defectively con-
structed. The restrictions and oblira-
tons on corporation may he stringently
drawn, but experience Las taught how
easily they can be ignored with the aid Of
wealth and legal talent, which, to quote
Mr. Sheldon again, can make ''tliyoious
technlcallty more potent han justice in
the decision of cause.
But while We may differ in regard to
the means, General Sheldon has our
hearty appreciation and thanks for the
forcible manner in which he pleads the
justice of the demand for all. He over
turns the plea Of unconstitutionalitv and
the objections of those superficial object
ors, who, from the most cursory investi-
cations declare that whatever plan NAV
be submitted is impracticable, and adds
know. too. that in the presence of this
the national purse strings will |
be strengthened and tightened-that the
Dondholders will make haste TO examine
the latest foreign and domestic bond quota
tons, and the Treasury Department vii!
calculate how much longer it will take TO
pay OF an addition of fifteen or twenty
millions at the rate Of $50. 900 00O per an
mum.
see. also, the selfish and niscrly sLrug
thelr shoulders and assume looks of aston
and local interests and prejudiccs
pat on the face of Indifference. while many
thousands Of our fellow citizens are making
preparations to fly before an inuudation
,hey are powerless to successfully resist.
rom SOIL more fertile than that in the
ancient valley Of the Nile. and the cultiya-
ION OF which will contribute immensely to
he wealth and happiness of the nation
To destroy the last vestige Of an excuse
or Withholding the proposed aid, Mr..
sheldon shows that out Of the thirty-two
Millions which the nation has appropri-
ted for the Improvement Of rivers and
arbors, less than five millions have been {
lven to the South, while she had more t
ea-coast than all other parts Of the t
ountry before our territory was enlarged
y the acquisition Of our Pacific possess {
ons; and now in number and magnitude t
er rivers exceed those Of all other sec {
ons. In regard to appropriations for V
ubIic buildings, he shows that the North
as received TIVE ntythree million dollars,
id the South but eight and a quarter
illions, while sin lands donated to rail c
'ad companies the disparity is still Il
eater. We cannot here review Lis Sta h
sites showing the Importance Of South ?
Il productions il the national wealth. c.
I'd the many other interesting points "
ocu5sed, but again commend his speech g
the attention OF the public. Sc