New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-01-21

White, Whltney, Y0Qng--So: .ss
Abssat = Messts. Alaiu. Blackburn.
Bresux, Cage, Chadsourn, Detiege: Eastis,
Greene, Herwig, Stamps, Sypher-l.
Senator Goode asked and obtained unani-
NOUS consent to call up House joint resolu-
ton No. z, asking for an appropriation BY tho
Congress of the United States for the pur-
pose Of constructing levees ON the Missis-
sippi river in Louisiana, and for the general
government to assume control of all the
levees in Louisiana.
The bill was read the fret time.
The constitutional rule was suspended by
q four ffths affirmative vote, the bill was
read the second time and adopted. The
constitutional rule was suspended by four
tifths affirmative vote, the bill was read the
third time, the bill then finally passed, its
title to stand.
Senator Robertson, from the special com
mittee to investigate the books Of the Sc
cretary of State. asked and obtained unani-
nous consent to submit the following re-
port:
To the Honorable President and Members of the
Your committee, appointed to investigate
the RECORDS of the Secretary of State as to
the correctness of the certificate of the Hon.
p. G. Desl0ndp, submitted by SENATOR
Birch On January IL, 1876 would respect
fully represent that they have carefully
examined the records of the Secrt tary OF
State, and found from said records, which
appear to have been carefully kept, that
Charles j. Greene was commissioned and
confirmed "a tax collector Of Lincoln parish
April "a. 1875; that j. A. Greene was con-
firmed "a supervisor of registration of same
parish March g. 1875. and commissioned
March S, 1875; that John S. Jones was ap-
pointed to the same office and confirmed
April "a. 1875; that w. H. Greene was
elected to the office of justice OF the peace
in November. 1874. and commissioned De
cember &c, 1874; and that James B. Greene
was elected police juror OF same parish III
November. 1874, and commissioned Deem
Der 26, 1874
Your committee would also report that
the records Of the office do not show that
John s. Jones was appointed to NIL any
Vacancy, and do not chow that j. A. Greene
has resigned or been removed from office
according to law.
All of which is respectfully submitted,
w. A. ROBERTSON, Chairman.
Senator Wharton asked and obtained
unanimous consent to call up the follow
memorial:
To the Honorable Senate and Members Of the
House of Repz esentauves Of the State of
Louisiana:
Your memorialists, residents or land
holders upon the BayOus Crosse Tete. Mar.
aporuins and FOrdOche, in the parishes OF
Pointe Coupee and Ibervilie, respectfully
request that that section OF said parishes
living west of the Bsyous Fordoche and
Crosse Tete, and extending from the upper
line of the Robert Dunbar plantation to
the lower line Of the Gay g. Dsigre plan
tstion, be created special levee district
for the following REASONS:
Firet-Ssid district lies just below the
Morganzs crevasse, and in the direct path
of its waters, and is liable to lnundstlon
from anv broak in the levee from Morgan
"a to Hickey.
0econd-it contains about 60 900 acres
cultivsble lands, nearly 20 600 Of which val
ned, without movsblee, at over $3,OOO,OOO.
we're in high state of cultivation until the
crevssses of 1862, and the subsequent raw
ages of war devastated large portion ct it.
Third-It was before that date partially
protected by levees built BY private IN
dividuals, and can. by comparatively
small outlay properly applied. be perfectly
protected.
And now your mem0rialists ask aid In
completing these levees-such aid as is only
justiy their due, which they have right to
ask, and which it 10 your duty to render. Its
value makes it worthy of protection, and its
location mSkes it practicable.
Before the war our rapid increase OF pop
ulation and wealth rivaled the most pros.
porous Western State.
After the memorable flood of 1867 the
State, being impoverished and unable to
strengthen the lsvees of the lower parishes
properly, left Morganza and Grand levees
open az safety valve, sacrificing few for
the good of the many. We, thus sacrificed.
though equally impoverished. enlarged our
Ievees, and saved most of our inds through
1868 and 1869 In the fall of 1869 these
crevasses were closed Soon after rapid
immigration set in again. The combined
crevasses Of Pointe Coupee and West Baton
Rouge overlooked fourfifths of our lands in
1874 Again was the State, through her
poverty, forced to sacrifice US for the good
of the lower parishes, and again were we
in our poverty forced to protect ourselves.
We were assured by those in authority that
if We could only save ourselves in 1875, Nor
ganza would be closed before 1876. 1876 is
row at hand; the State is still unable to close
Morgans, and probably will be for several
years. We have just expended over elO. OOp,
in self protection, have saved our crops and
efforts have paid the combined taxes due
in 1874 and 1875. A portion of these taxes
are drawn from us for the very levees for
the safety of which We are sacrificed. Also
our assessments for taxes due in 1876 have
been raised in Iberville on our self protected
lands fitty-two and half per cent, and our
totally unprotected lsnds lO4ls per cent,
etc. This taxation, though Q great evil, ls,
but q minor one. Capital
ists and immigrants say that our section
has been abandoned by the State to the
waters, and are frightened away. Our
Is gone, and many of our fields
are waste. Twice in 1875, when the river
below Morgsnza was wholly within its
banks, except at very low places, has the
water been against our levees and over our
unprotected lands; twice have our main
outlets, the Baton Rouge and Red River
Valley railroad and our dirt roads to False
river and Plaauemine, been overlooked,
badly torn up and their bridges washed
away.
Now in view of the natural value of our
section, of its capsbility of protection, of it's
when protected, Of the damages
done us BY being sacrificed for the safety of
other sections, of the injustice in taxing
section thus sacrificed for the further good
of those sections for which we have already
been sacrificed, we ask your favorable con-
siderati0n of our case, and that you vii! ex-
tend such relief as can easily be applied,
and such as VIII at least give US some JUS
tice.
We further recommend that Marx Mayer,
J. s. Matthews, l.. G. Sparks, S. T. McCra-
die and H. Z. Shark, who represent the va
riOus interests of orr district. be appointed
commissioners to carry out the PROVISIONS
of such bills for cur relief as you may deem
best to pass.
The memorial was read and referred to