Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-02-24
THE MISSISSIPPI DELTA.
Its Improvement Of More Importance
10 the South than the Texas Pacific
Speech OF Hon. W. G. WhiffhOrne
on she Eads Proposition.

Congressional Record, Feb. %.
Mr.. Whiuhorne-Mr. Speaker, thanking
the gentleman from Michigan (Alr. Con-
| ger) for the courtesy which enables me to
| occupy the floor at this time, have, in the
brief space allotted me, hurTiedly to give
| the reasons which induce me to give my
support to the Eads proposition Tor the
| opening Of the outlets Of the Mississippi
river.
Al the last session Of this Congress I
voted for the ship-canal project, which bill
now lies in the Senate ENACTED on. And l
| also voted for the organization Of the COM
| mission under which q "sUrvey of the
mouth Of the Mississippi river" was direct
| ed to be made with view 'to determine
! the best method OF obtaining and maintain
| ing a depth Of water sufficient for the pUr-
| poses Of commerce, either by a canal from
said river to the waters Of the Gulf or by
| deepening one or more Of the natural out
| lets Of said river"
The report Of that board Of engineers has
| been made and now lies upon our table,
| and taken in connection with the report Of
| the Committee on Transportation in the
Senate, together with the non-aCtiOn of the
Senate upon the bill passed by this House,
makes it morally certain that unless the
| jetty system improvement is adopted moth
ing viii be done to open this "MediteTane-
an sea" Of America 10 the commerce Of the
! world.
The constitutional question has been
| heretofore ably and in my opinion Satisfac-
torily answered. Long years ago the strict
est constructionists Of the powers possess
ed by the Federal Congress conceded that
the Mississippi was such a channel Of
| commerce, confined to no section, tTayerS-
| ing in its course States and dividing in its
sweeping march commonwealth, gathering
its power amid climes Of snow and ice, and
losing its strength under the influence Of
the tropics, that it was national in all of its
relations. Upon its bosom is borne an an
nual commerce in excess of the entire
foreign commerce Of the United States,
estimated to be in excess Of 3, 600, 100000.
Duty to the States that are bOrdeTed by it
and its naYigable tributaries, and whose
products are dependent upon it for their
value in easy and cheap transportation to
market-these considerations, which might
be elaborated and amplified, clearly de-
mOnstTate that the improvement Of the
Mississippi river is not only within the
power but within the line Of positive duty
upon the part Of Congress.
hcteilLlN. SIT. the lltElSldillG VI DtfttGs
the State Of Tennessee, instructed her Sen
atOrs and requested her Representatives in
/ Congress to support the project now before
one OF our committees known as the South
ern Pacific Railroad. While not now yield
ing assent to the particular measures to
| which they request my support, yet l am
sufficiently acquainted with that honorable
| body to know that the motives that under
1oiv and
development Of the material and political
prosperity of our common State, and with
| that the entire country. may be permit
ted diferenlially to say here that in the i'm
prOvement of the Mississippi River and its
| tributaries, more than the Pacific or any
other railroad, there is wealth, prosperity
| and commercial freedom to the people Of
Tennessee, the West, the South and the
entire country.
In the very nature of things it cannot be
| a monopoly; it must be an open highway,
| free TO all who choose to avail themselves
of its freedom, power and privileges. 1t is
| one that cannot be controlled by 'favOred
| few" in our own country or subjected to the
dealh-grip Of a foreign bOndhOlder. Neither
| the sUperCiliOusness Of Office, the fraud Of
| agents or reckless issue of stocks can EN-
| barrass the free course Of trade thereon.
In these and other aspects of the prOpO-
| sitiOn it becomes more important than any
| pending measure before Congress. And
why? The importance Of the Mississippi
| Valley in its present resources and its ca
pacity Of production and support Of pOpu-
lation in the future can hardly be esti-
mated. Traversed by the important rivers
of the Ohio, the Missouri. the Illinois, the
| Tennessee, the Cumberland, the Arkansas,
the Red, and others, it presents a river nav
| igatiOn which, years ago, drew from that
| eminent statesman Of the West, hon.
Thomas II. Benton, the following graphic
words:
The river navigation Of the great West is the
most wonderful on the globe; and since the appli-
cation Of steam-pOwer to the propulsion OF YES
sells, possesses the essential qualities Ofopeu nav
igatiOn, speed, stance, cheapness, magnitude
Of cargOes, are all these, and without the perils
of the sea with storms and enemies. The steam
boat is the ship Of the river, and finds in the
Mississippi and its tributaries the amplest theater
for the difusiOn and display Of its power. Won
derful river! Connected with the seas by the
head and the mouth; stretching itS arms toward
the Atlantic and the Pacific, living in a valley
from the Gulf Of Mexico to HudsOu's Bay draw
ing its first waters not from the rugged noun
tains but from the plateau OF the lakes, in the
centre Of the continent, and In communication
with the sources OF the st. Lawrence and the
streams which take their course north 10 Hud-
sons Bav draining the largest extent OF the
richest land. collecting the products OF every