New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-11-18
H. = OFFICIAL JOURNAL Or sTArs Of loulsIAnA. r9
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER is, 1871.
GRANTS OF MONEY 10 THE SOUTH.

GRANTS OF MONEY 70 THE SOUTH
A Letter ffsn General shelAs.. ,a
NEW ORLEANS, November l6, 1871.
EDITOR kEPuBLIcAN:
The remarks made BY the Governor
yesterday, as reported in your issue Of thi,
morning, do injustice to the gentlemen re
presenting Northern constituencies, and
inferentially may be construed into q crit
cism upon those representing this State
While l do not believe the Governor in.
| tended any injustice, his remarks indicate
mistakes as to the facts. The North out.
numbers the South in both branches OF
Congress. Men are selfish at best, and
numbers and interest will lead to ad
vantages IN legislation as we'll as in other
things. To make q sectional issue between
the South and the North would result in
injury to Us, for they have the power to pass
anything they desire without our votes.
Whether Southern representatives have
accomplished all they could, will not
assert, but the facts should be known
and judgment formed upon them. -.
Louisiana was readmitted to representa-
tion within ten days of the close of the
long session Of the Fortieth Congress. Our
delegation had but three months really to
work. and it is well understood that meas.
ures introduced at 60 late day have very
little chance of adoption, and all bills not
passed die with the Congress into which
they are introduced. Practically, then, the
State was unrepresented until the Forty
first Congress. ..-~
Now, what did that Congress do for Lou
isiana touching the development of her re-
sources?
Tariff laws have direct effect upon the
industries of the country, and l am pre-
pared to demonstrate to any intelligent
mind that in the reductions made in the
act remodeling the tariff, the interests of
our State were treated as fairly as those of
any other, and perhaps more literally, 30
far as sugar is concerned, considering
the fact that it is an article of uni
versal consump ion, as one of the
necessaries of life. But let US look
at the money appropriated by the For
ty-first Congress to forward our devel-
opment. Two hundred thousand dollars
were appropriated for the Customhouse in
this city, and an act passed agreeing to ap-
pr0priate in future six hundred and twenty
thousand dollars for its completion. Mucu
prejudice existed against the CustOmhouse
as . structure, as it had been represented
as settling into the earth, and as a man.
moth, ungainly concern, which. as the
architect stated in his report, raised the
question whether it ought to be treated as
no other public buildings, except the
Marine Hospital and the Mint. With much
difficulty, the recommendation Of the Sec
retary of the Treasury, to repeal the law
establishing the Mint was defeated, there |
being little or no bullion received |
to be coined. The proposition is
now pending to sell the Marine |
Hospital. because from the report Of |
physicians it is badly constructed and un- |
to health in the location, aud to |
purchase ground elsewhere near the city
upon which to erect building more suita-
Bile for the sick.
The last Congress appropriated, to be
wholly expended ON the rivers in this State.
b52l 800. One fourteenth of all the moneys
appropriated for rivers and harbors In
thirty-seven States was given to Louisiana.
"
Tor surveys of rivers, etc, and for remOv-
ng enags from the Mississippi river and
and other similar work. There
was appropriated by that Congress for the
of rivers and harbOrs little
more than 81 ,OOO, 900, and $4,000, 900 were
given to the Mississippi river and tribu-
aries, every dollar of which directly bene-
its the State of Louisiana, and especially
he city Of New Orleans. There were
kQ00 ~so<n g. |
of which Louisiana had her
ull share, which is not included in the
g3, 900. 900.
A law was passed establishing water
,auges on the Mississippi and tributaries,
which it is to be hoped may be of some
PRACTICAL value in forewarning our people
f the coming high waters, and the govern
nent pays the expenses of maintaining
hem.
The Forty-first Congress passed four acts
ranting lands to railroad companies. The
rst was to railroad in Oregon about 200
niles in length; the second was to the
'orthern Pacific. The act chartering that
and granting land subsidy, was
assed before Louisiana was re-admitted to
When this company COM
leted its surveys and plats, it was dis
Overed that the government had disposed
some of the lands granted it. Congress
,ade up the deficit and authorized it to
hange its route. 1t was maintained on one
de that the land grant was increased
00O, 900 acres, but denied on the other, and
sserted that the act only made up the de-
cheney.
l do not know what the fact is, but at
lost it was grant of eight million acres ,
The third was the revival of a grant in ,
labama which lapsed during the war.
he fourth was the Texas Pacific act which
ave lands from New Orleans to the Texas
ne and from Ell PasO to San Diego. The
Overnment never had any lands in the
tate Of Texas, and consequently none I
,uld be given in that State.
never heard Of any sale to General Fre-
ont or Mr.. Roberts.
There were one handred and twenty-four
in the bill; the Governor was
ne Of them. They were authorized to or.
anize the company. II Fremont and Rob-
.ts acquired the franchise it must have
cen from the incOrporators, although be-
eve the Governor took no part in the or
anizatiOn. l am not aware that I ever
Nv Mr.. Roberts, but he is reputed to be q
an OF high character, large means and
lergetic and able in business, and can
,ly express the hope and belief that he
i'll build the road.
Let me say q word in regard to the feel
z of Congress. There are many gentle
en- representing Northern constituencies ::