The weekly Louisianian., 1874-08-01

$780, - .'rf 81. 49, t. reg -.
...1sr.yr -.
TO- be here. because they did nc
choose to come without an invita-
ton. As they are here. il it shout
be the pleasure Of. this Chamber o
gentlemen here to hear them, Or j
there should be an occasion TO
them to address the Chamber, why
then, they might be expected to So!
something; but they are not re
quested to come here to speak un
less upon such an emergency 81
that
Senator WEST
Without any further prelude, ]
will embark in what I have to say,
I shall not object to any :interrup.
tions courteously put. Although
shall not invite them I shall do my
best to reply to them; 1have asked
this opportunity to reach the com.
munity Of New Orleans. It has
not been accorded to me of late
that I might be heard-not that ]
desire any particular self-vindica-
ton myself, because time will JUS
tify me in what I have done, but be-
cause I believe that in the further
ance Of the great object that we
have in view, the opening of this
great highway, unvexed to the sea,
your judgement shonld be unbiased
and unprejudiced, and that you
should be lightened as well from
one side as from the other as to
what is best to do in the premises.
You could readily understand
with how much more qualification
I could meet you here tonight, were
I prepared to tell you of success
achieved and that the work would
commence on this great project to-
morrow. That indeed would de-
light me. That is what I have stri-
ven for in my own way, and in my
own direction, and I think when I
tell you why I failed, you will JUS
tify what I have done.
Iregret very much, Mr. President,
that necessarily, from the v,ry at
titude which I occupy in this mat
ter, my remarks must be so greatly
of a personal character. I arr not
DESTROYS of standing up here tonight
to tell you what I have done or
what I have not done. But you
must understand that when a COM
mittee of this Chambre solemnly
submit q report for your considera-
ton and adoption, that the humble
individual who stands before you is
q great obstruction to the naviga-
ton of the Mississippi; necessarily
that humble individual must show
you whether such is the case or not.
furthermore, a commission appoin-
ted by yonr honorable body 10
represent you at Washington makes
) report to the Chamber, in which
about the same ideas are enuncia-
ed, and l am bald up as being the
n1;;,idual that obstructs the Com
nerce of the Mississippi, ana tv.o:s;;
the industries of New
)oleans. Sirs, had I the power
hat these individuals desire to as
ribe to me, it might be a reputa-
ion and q fame that. would seduce
any politician or statesman.
L I could stand alone, one man,
the whole Commerce of the
Mississippi, and all the great indus
and agriculture interests Of the
'ast Vest, and by the single power
# my grippe hold them in suspense,
!. have achieved then q power Of
which any man might be proud
res, proud, unless that power had
,een acquired by the betrayal of
hose who had confded in me, or
" the loss Of their respect and The
or6ture of my own. We're it not
,r~eposterous to assign such attri-
,utes to me-, would I not be the
vest representative that Louisiana
yer had; because no man, with
|uch power as that ever exercised it