New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-05-02
Chamber Of ComInerc

Honorable ". N. Barwel: i.
DEAR SIR have the honor to acknow
edge the receipt of the resolutions OF thu
Chamber of Commerce in favor of the shi I
canal across the Isthmus of Central Amer i
ca, aud in compliance with your request
will present them to the House. must
say frankly to you that in the present tenn
country, so full of distress and burdened
with debt. there is not any likelihood of q
smeasure involving such vast expense being
favorably entertained. Both political par
ties are going before the country on the cry
of reform and economy, especially the party
having control of the public purse.
This is one OF those gigantic works indis-
pensable to the trade and commerce of the
couatry, and which, when completed, will,
as sure as that the law Of cause and effect
is operative, coupled with other undertake
cities of the world. have for many years
turned my attention to this interest g
subject, and believe the day is not far dis
tant when ship canal will be completed
across the isthmus. In the meantime there
are other enterprises Of less magnitude Of
more immediate Importance, and which we
can accomplish by united and persistent
effort. We have, / trust, secured deep
water at the mouth of tho river. This
Is one of the mightiest triumphs Of human
genius, and must place the name Of Eads
among the greatest benefactOIs Of the race
The next measure Indispensable, l was
going to say, to the existence of our city
and people, is the completion of the levees;
or. in other words, the protection OF the
Mississippi bottoms from overfows. Now,
the very first resolution offered in this Con-
gress was one constituting Committee on
Leyees q standing committee of the House,
giving it thereby weight and dignity it
never had before. And of the first bills
offered was one making suitable appro-
priatiOn for this purpose. AIN happy to
inform you that the bill will be reported in
few days by my colleague. Mr.: Ellis, who
has given this matter energetic, anxious
and untiring attention. Our whole delega-
ton, in fact, have contributed in every way
possible-each in his sphere, and accord
ing to his sbility-to create sentiment in
the House favorable to the levees. We are
going forward with the bill, l must confess,
In the face of adverse circumstances, but
we have felt that under no circum
stances could we permit any delay, no
matter upon what grounds it might
be urged. We have all felt not
less concerned about the vast importance of
the Pacific railway. Uht this measure at
tracts more general interest, and the
political parties have concluded that it had
better 90 over until next session. l am
persuaded, however, that this pOstponement
will not be fatal, but is wise and necessary,
and tina. in q few short years we shall well
come at the banks of our river at New Or
leans the iron horse from the Pacific. But
next in importance to the lovees and Pacific
rail way is the command OF the commerce
and trade of the countries south OF US
Mexico and Central America to begin with.
Suitable bills for this purpose have been
introduced and are under consideration
now by the appropriate committee. l am
gathering all the facts / can from every
source TO Law before this committee, and
hone to accomplish something, # not all We
could desire.
/ fear we ehall not succeed in obtaining
an appropriation to start the Mint, that has
been 30 long idle, but believe we shall at
least get the establishment OF an assay
office, Next session We shall secure the ap-
preparation for the Mint.
The building the levees or in some way
our people from oveffows, a1d
even appreheusons of oyeri3wE, from the
Mississippi river, the completion OF the rail
way Immediately and at any cost to Texas,
and. "a soon as may be possible, TO the
Pacific. the success Of the jetties and tie
ast hlishmept of close relations OF trade and
,ommerce with Mexico and Central Amer
ca are parts. and indispensable parts, of
hat system of Southwestern development
which will necessltate ship canal across
the isthmus. 1t may be asked, il our dele
cation be in favor of these various meas
ures, why have you not succeeded with
them, or at all events made more noise
about them!
I answer that we found, on coming here,
the channels of legislation already gorged
with measures, and veterans in service At
the heads of all the important committees,
giving them absolute control OF the House,
and that both political parties had taken
IN the crv of reform, reform, economy,
dollar to be voted tor any
purpose bat to protect public property and
to carry on the government. we were new
men-lOoked upon, too, with no particular
favor, because our poor State was, to say
the least. in an unsettled CONDITION. ANA
then again, important as our matters are to
Ms. when here, YOU find nearly 800
men in the House, each one of whom is
pressing bills equally important to him and
his constituents. At the outset nearly a
month was lost, including the holidays, IN
perfecting the organization. Then there
were political discussions, shutting out
business; and finally, the appropriation
bills for running the government ltselt.
army and navy, and all the departments,
have absorbed the time and are doing so
yet.
Everything is done now, not as before
the war, in the House, but as in the British
Parliament-in committees. And 1t would
be we'll if our people appreciated this more
fully. They have been so long practicaliy
uut of the government that they are IN
cl;ned still, as before the war, to look to the
debates and proceedings of the House,
when in point Of fact it may be said IN
general terms the House merely records the
decisions already made by the committee.
with regard to all matters OF
business. Our delegation, composed OF
new men, were necessarily assigned to com
uittees without particular reference to
their fitness or the want of their constituents
|, for instance was placed upon the Com
mittees on Mining and on Banking and Cur
rency, and the work in these committees,
" whatever the result, is absorbing.
would respectfully suggest tn the nOnOr-
orable body of merchants, OF which You are
secretary, that they endesvor to induce our
leading business men to appoint commit
tees from among themselves TO Visit wash
ingtor and appear before the standing com
mittees whenever any measure'of interest
to our city is under consideration. Such
gentlemen would be received with the
greatest respect anu Nstenou u WIN uoiSi-
ence. The time is passing away when mere
political strikers can carry measures or ad-
Just business. On yesterday, for more than
three hours, our Committee on Banking LIS
tened to leading bankers from New York
and Boston, and must confess that while
we were instructed, We we're consOled some
what by seeing that they differed in their
views quite as much as to the remedy for
our financial difficulties as the public men
here. Now, had Our merchants taken
up the question OF opening the Mint,
appointed select committee to
gather the facts and visit Washington,
they could have had, before coming on, a
day assigned them to be heard, and their
presence and views would have had great
weight, and the same may be said with re-