The weekly Louisianian., 1874-08-01

AA o. HA T. IT,
EW LO
to be told that one man from Lou
isiana could stand there and para
lyze the whole West, and by hi
single will set up alone to dictat
such action on the part Of Congress
as would tie up the granaries o
the vast agricultural regions con
tributing to the Mississippi and
prevent the farmers from getting ar
access to the sea, you must know
that such is not the fact.
As some confederation of what
I say I would like to read you a
letter that was rendered to me on
the eve. 81. my departure for this
city, or, rather, at the close Of the
session of Congress. It is dated
from the United States Senate
Chamber, June 22th 1874, and is
from my colleagues on the Senate
Committee on Transportation:
UNITED STATES SENATE CHAxBER.
Washington, June "a, 1874
Knowing the very great interest taken
by the people of New Orleans, in the vari-
Gus projects for opening the mouth of the
Mississippi river, we believe that it would
be desirable for you to have an assurance
from the Committee on Transportation.
that in their Judgment you have labored
earnestly and ~zealously for the success Of
some practical measure which will best
secure that Indispensable Improvement
The action of the Committee on that sub.
ject has been controlled entirely by their
own judgment, and, we may add with a
desire to secure the adoption Of such
measures as will most speedily and effect
ually meet with the great demands of
commerce.
Representing that locality, apparently
a great responsibility attached to you
than to any other member, but We do not
hesitate to say that we individually regard
ourselves equally responsible with you for
the result.
When the committee was considering
the Fort, st. Philip Canal bill and the
Eso1c hill ry0,r sopc-rcnS that n ca,n -onr,-
mittee should be appointed to examine the
the subject, but the committee directed
you to perfect the Eads bill and report it
back to the committee, which order vas
complied with and the bill subsequently
reported to the Senate.
Sincerely yours,
w. WINDOW,
JOHN SHERMAN,
JOHN H. MITCHELL,
S. B. CONOVER,
T. M. NORWOOD,
81. G.. DAVIS.
Gen. J. r. WEST,
Washington, D. c.
And tho following memorandum
is at the bottom:
Senators Conkling and johnson
are both absent from the city.
WILLIAM N D
Now. it will strike you at once,
gentlemen, that there is a Committee
of Congress to accomplish the OBJ
ject which you all hold so dear, and
you must understand that in pas
sing q hasty judgment upon either
my action or theirs, it is not good
to run counter TO that body
Of men who really under the direc-
ton of the Senate, hold this matter
in their hands. That Committee is
so organized that without the volun-
tary withdrawal Of some member
Of it, it cannot be disturbed for the
next three years. So the opening Of
The mouth Of the Mississippi is in
of these men, whom # you
me, you condemn also.
Now don't understand me as
anything in bar Of judg-
ment. What I wish you to under
is, what has actuated that
Committee -what has influenced
Them, and I can most briefly state
Il in just these words 1T was
welded to no plan; it was, welded
10 surrender its prejudices. and had
never formed any opinion as to the
best method Of opening the month
IF this river. Those who are here
expecting me to advocate
The case OF the canal are mistaken.
I was for water; it made no differ.
ence how we got it; End when II
found that by the very report of the
board of engineers-which report
has never been allowed to see the
light in this city-when I found
that the very authority to whom We
l. l.H e.. &Lo |