New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-12-04


81 the upper lakes With canals complete 4
partially OF in fill, OF in combination with
railroads. minor rivers and projected canals
TO the Atlantic ,eabDarl. New Orlcau. aud
+ Louisiana present the Mississippi! river. SUP
p!emented bv the Fort 81. Philip canal a. q
cheap highway 0i traffic, in ONE SORT q cam-
petltor al the routes Indicated, bgt havin.,
independent merits thas-dem3nI aud Justify
national aid. even ii each Oi the other routes
should receive the same.
Congress Is already fiyorablv cousiIe.iG.,
this project. ana with united and earnest co.
operation on our part the work will be done.
When we have given prutt ,tiou and security
by perfected system otlevees. and afforded
access to the markets Of tho world for orr
products BY securing an outlet through The
designated canal, that the full benefits of
commerce VIII accrue to Us, the present OPP
press!Ve tariffs imposed upon American in
dustries in our nearest markets, Cuba and
South American countries should be removed.
To this end existing treaties should be revised
by Congress aud action taken To secure such
modIiications therein IL will place lis upon
relations with those countries "a rcciurac.ll
trade. The valley States need AMI -hnn'l
demand reciprocity treaty with the c.En-
tries south o! Us similar 10 that now czjstin-,
between the United States and Canada h.
which the Eastern, Middle. and Lake States
are so much benefited. Our opponents ~.
sumo that We have no substantial interest IN
the material prosperity Of the country. We
are supposed. because not as a rule wealthy.
nor owning large landed estates, to be indt-
tereni to the building UP of the country in
wealth, and not to feel any interest in its
permanent growth, provided only that the
simple wants of the hour are met. In my
Judgment this is n mistake. an unauthorized
Ignoring of or value in IT," va.', rr making
Louisiana great state. AMI the United
states u great nation. When l.#@#. 500 of
people were freed, 5in', "-r,".u # property
was net, as j. yracrlhy supposed hg this
class of tar r,'augujtv. 3. -trrycA; tN, the
ownership thereof was ,hlu-e3 So HAT
1000, uA1 yt ,npic >liouli own j.. ii.-.,ai Of
iUi',"tv, Is formerly.
We are not Insignificant ana aii.il1sa.iI
clements, gentlemen, ii The prosperity r
Louisiana; all its industries feel ~. !rr--
cncc and would languish without o;4 licip
We are important commercially now, more
than ever, as consumers. y honismcn We
consumed annually $50 ,opo, ooh, as frecmcr
SEQ, eco, 900, and to that extent we stimulate
and hulid up the prosperity OF the country.
BY the accepted tables upon the subject, an
abie-hodici cmigrant in the West is supposed
TO he worth $50 annually to the wealth Of
the country. We, people with muscle and
endurance, @ad furnishing a million sturdy
workers Of equal value with the Western
euligrant, brin" to lho country's great aggrc-
gate ot products, III the many forms that our
energies assume. annually, $50, 0OO, 900.
II domestic violence or foreign wars de,
minded 4 rally around the country's flag, we
couli furnish Il half million Of strong arms
and brave hearts FOX the service.
Whether rs a soldier, a consumer, or a
producer, oar value and status are fixed.
Honorable and influential, We can no more
shirii the duties e the situation !hau we can
afford 10 fnrcgo il privileges and abandon lis
rights.
An additional roasal for my claiming your
attention to these commercial questions is
that in them, directly and indirectly, IS found
the guarantee of our social, civil, and pn,iti-
cal rights. The immediate effect CT pressing
aud perlcctjmg tha commercial rntcrprisrS
particularly referred Ia, IS that the Miasi~sipli,
cutting our state anI washing the bOrI rs Of
our chief city. viii BE the channel through
which the intelligent and unprecedented mill
lions Of the West and Northwest will ship
their products to Europe and receive return
products through the same channel therefor
The millions OF values changed and inter-
changed will he followed by millions of own
ers. with large and liberal ideas.
The attrition OF thought and personal con-
tact will wear Ill AMI destroy iusenSibly bat
surely all preiudrrs founded on color, so
that we shall 10 LONGER exercise the RIGHT,
guaranteed by the constitution and the laws
with misGiyings ana under suiicrauce, but a,
freely aud fully rs though we had Inherited
the same for generations.
GentlemcIs Of the convention, permit me
in conclusion t. he somewhat personal. |
think | have reached last and sober cati-
mate relative - The IutH.e .! my race. Gar