New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-06-14
Considering the Levee Question.


Yesterday morning there gathered in one
of the St. Charles Hotel parlors one Of the
most remarkable bodies of men that has
assembled in convention in Louisiana since
the war. It was composed of gentlemen
really representing the interests of our
State; men of great experience, wealth and
social position and such as have materially
and directly suffered by the recent over
flows and crevasses. One of the principal
objects of the convention was to consider
the subject of broken levees and to place
blame where it belongs. Some Of the del
egates entertain the belief that the Louis
lana Levee Company is responsible for
much of the devastation to the agricultural
interests OF our section, and if it is possible
they hope to see the cOmpany's charter for
feited by due process Of court.
Mr.. +. S. Goode, of Terrebonne, was
called 10 the chair and on assuming that
position made a few remarks. He an
nounced that the convention had been
called into existence to exchange opinions,
and to arrive at some conclusions for future
operations-not to mourn over the bad
past. He desired to see something done for
levees in the country parishes, to protect
us from overfows hereafter. Propositions
have been made which this convention
must debate. The disasters which have
nearly ruined us in the past must be pre-
vented in times to come.
Ex-Governor Baker made o motion that
Governor Kellogg be invited to attend.
Messrs. Baker, Claiborne and Minor were
appointed to inform Governor Kellogg, and
ask him to attend. The committee shortly
afterward returned, and announced that
the Governor would Immediately appear.
Mr.. Winder was elected secretary. Gen.
eral Gibson asked that the managers of the
Louisiana Levee Company be invited to be
present, and make such statements for
themselves as they could. He did not wish
that corporation condemned without a
hearing, and moved that a committe be
appointed to invite them.
A committee was appointed which brought
Mr. ID. f. Kenner, Bradish Johnron and j..
II. Oglesby.
Mr.. Walsh opposed the motion, condemn.
ing the company for gross neglect in its
operations. He said that when the bill to
create that body was read to him he declar-
ed it an atrocious document, SO full of
badness thaS it was incapable of being
amended. Planters condemned it, and
recent results prove that his estimate was
correct He wished to find relief from
some other source and asked that the
ATTORNEY General be called on to have the
company's charter annulled.
Mr.. Kenner being present was invited to
speak. That gentleman advocated the
company's interests with such arguments
and assertions as be could command. 1t was
evident that he did not make an lasting
impression on the delegates.
He was followed by Mr.. Bradsh johnson,
saying that the company is prepared to
repair the levees and in fact at this moment
had laborers hard at work.
A delegate inquired of Mr.. Kenner if the
lsvees could not be built and kept in repair
tor less sum than the company is obtain.
ing. Mr.. Kenner replied, Eyes" To a
question as to what amount of taxes would
be collected for the year 1873, Mr. Kenner
replied that he could not say, but said al
would revert to the Levee Company.
Mr. johnson further said that in break
ing up the company we could only look to
Congress for assistance. What do you pro-
pose to do! 1t will not answer to again
turn over the Ievees to the police juries
Those bodies are sometimes very corrupt
and lately some of them have been indicted
for grave crimes.
General Grant once said that he hoped to
live to see the day when all the rascals in
ouII ha in fha papitaOf9rv and
say the same thing. Let Governor kel
logg wipe out the names of such from the
list of honorable men, fellows who actually
stole levee money. Let gentlemen join us
in asking Congress to make our levees a
national work.
Mr.. Cranwell desired to know what Is
proposed. He believed that the general
government should assume the work. He
asked Mr. Kenner if the Levee Company
was in a position to mend the bad levees
and close crevasses. The response was in
the aHigmatiye.
President Goode called on Governor Kel
logg for some remarks. b.
Governor Kellogg stated that he was
glad to meet the convention, especially just
at this time, as he was about to 60 to Wash.
ingtOn in the interest of the levee and canal
questions and would use all the influence
in his power to obtain aid for Louisiana
He suggested that this convention would
do we'll to send delegates to Washington
and urge the proposition to give the $500, ,oO0
appropriation for levee purposes; to so ap-
ply that additional appropriation that while
none unable to work should be lett
destitute, those able to labor should be
given employment on the levees and fed
out of. the national grant. Mr.. johnson
said something about rascally police jurors
of Plaquemines. If any document will be
produced to prove that such officials or
others are rascals and have been indicted, l
will instantly remove them and appoint
any good men who may be suggested. If
you will only join with me in looking for
the States interest, we will next fall elect
/ none but the cream of property owners aud
taxpayers. who will do something substan.
| tial for suffering Louisiana. l can suggest
nothing better at this juncture than for
this convention to Immediately send dele
gates to Washington and represent our
case. When there 1 will do all in my
power to assist your projects, but as Con
gress will soon adjourn, we must acl
promptly. Already we have begun the
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