New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-07-21
WHOLE NUMBER 2239.

liable to such criticisms W. thisf The Sen.
ate Committee on Transportation saw that
clearly and distinctly, and when that ques.
ton was to be -. have actually got all
my notes amending this bill.
When that question was put on the bill
being reported back to the Senate 1t had
but two votes in its favor. Now, had
made minority report it would have been
an amendment to the bill that would have
been contested by seven of the nine in the
committee, any one of whom, when the bill
came up in the Senate. could have arisen IN
his seat and said Il object"
There are gentlemen in the Senate who,
in times like that, if we had a bill before the
Senate to prevent your honorable president
| from being hanged would have objected,
and it could not have been heard within
seven days of the close of the session.
Should then go forward with minority
report, that would have been Importing
and jeopardizing this enterprise am not
| for bunconb. Had l reported that bill
back with amendments, you would have
been without the survey that has been
awarded you by the Congress Of the
United States. You would have had no
chance to get it; you would have had no
prospects. / know my duties better than
to lmperil your interests in that way.
Now let US come back to the naked fact
of what the difference is between what
we have done and what is claimed in
some quarters should have been done.
| For that purpose mentioned In this
bill, of making this canal the Secretary of
War is to cause to be made . survey. Has
he not then to commence al over again!
Would he not, under that very bill, have
had this TO dot Not as efectuslly, to be
sure, as now; but would he not have done
so! Would he not have done what the
board Of survey is doing today in New
York; Would he not have been required
! to examine into this question before he
| could let out the contract! How long
| would that have taken? Could he have
| done it more quickly than the scientific en-
| glneers have done? They went to work
| for three years to bore and paddle
ut the mouth Of the river, and
| they want more time. So that there
lie NO more delay under this measure
| than there would have been under that bill
There is only this difference, that the bill
approprlates money 70 construct the canal;
but ! tell you, gentlemen, that Congress
stands ready, the moment this board of
survey says that that canal is practicable
which has never been said by any board of
engineers before-srands ready not only to
give $8OOO000. but have the assurance
that $l5, 1000 is 1t your disposal when
any plan Is honestly TcCOMucuuCus
1t is not pleasant thing to occupy the
attitude l have occupied. But I have
made it a rule in my life never to turn to
the right or to the left under any senseless
clamor, and never TO notice any attack on
my reputation until the proper time comes.
Were l to pay attention to all that is said
of me. my time would mostly be taken up
in answering senseless clam0r and chasing
down shadowless Islander.
rhnvr Nhnun 20 ut
breath in my body that is not loyal to
your interests, and l tell you that exer-
else my judgment according to the best
light before me, and have submitted to
you my reasons for doing SO. Now, not
one moment would ! dare to stand
before you and say, II will have my
way and you shsll not have yours"
am only there to obey the
behests of those who sent me, exercising
INV right of Judgment according to the
lights that are before me, and l do not
think that, after this statement which l
have made to you tonight, though some of
you may doubt my Judgment, sOme of you
may be wiser than /, some of you know
better what can be done in Congress, out
you must pardon me if l look upon it diff
ferently.
THANK you for your attention and your
courtesy, and only hope that when this
SUdlUUSr utAI NlsCusbCo tbie PkoJCSu VI
opening the mouths of the Mississippi river
that it will be simply in the way of rejoic-
ing and congratulation that something has
been done at last that was q success, and
which warranted Congress in appropria-
ting the money. And whenever such a
statement is made by the board of engi-
neers, you may rest assured that Congress
will not be backward in appropriating the
necessary means.
One thing more. The attempt to identify
those who differ with the advocates Of this
bill with any particular scheme, is part of
that narrow minded bigotry that prevents
your community from prospecting. Take a
man if you can, and Judge him by what he
has done for you, and accord to him the ex
erciee of the same free opinion that you
claim for yourselves.
believe, furthermore. that if this board
of engineers that convenes to day IN New
York shall recommend the jetty plan, that
the government of the United States will
undertake it, And if they recommend the
canal plan, / am certain the government
will undertake it.
don't think that any very great harm
has been done because d more sclentlnc ana
more elaborate, more enlightened board
has your interests in charge than has had
it before And / hope to see them recon-
mending to Congress some plan for opening
time for you to hold me accountable for my
actions.
At the conclusion of Senator Vests
speech, Mr.. Highly said:
l see our representative Mr.. Sypher
present, and would like to hear from him,
now that we have listened to Senator
Vests account of what occurred in the
Senate, what he can tell Us OF the action OF
the House.
Mr.. Sypher advanced and was introduced
by President Sandidge, and spoke as fol
lows:
GENERAL sYPHER'S SPEECH.
Mr. President, and gentlemen OF the
| Chamber of Commercials whatever
shall say on this subject differing from the
| honorable Senator from Louisiana. and in
whatever may differ from him in judg-
| ment or in the management OF this great
measure in Congress- l shall not, in the
| least respect, impugn his motives. will
| first notice the history OF this great measure
| in Congress, before l attempt to make
! answer to any OF the points Wnlcn ne hae
| made in this matter.
The first action taken by Congress or
the subject of this canal, and on the i'm
provement of the mouth of the Mississippi
river is found in the first part of the first
session of the Congressional Globe for the
forty second Congress.
1t was the resolution under which the
survey was made. | will say it was my
own resolution introduced by ,unanimou:
consent, as follows:
| Resolved, That the Secretary Of War be and HI
| is hereby requested to cause an examination ant
| survey, with plans and estimates Of cost, to b.
made by officer of engineers for . ship canal Il
connect the Mississippi river with the Gulf OF Mex
| leo OF the navigable waters thereof, Of suitable
! location and dimensions for military, naval ant
commer6 ial purposes, and that he report upon tn
feasibility of the same to the House of Representa-
| tives.