New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-08-01

of the pockets of the American people,
50, 7O9, 759 70, for river and harbor i'm
The Hon. Salisbury then
files plea utterly inconsistent with the
doctrine as applied to the Mississippi.
It is that breakwater and ice harbor,
though within the territory OF Delaware,
are national works, and as such, proper
objects of national aid. Wilmington sis
almost the Clyde of America, where iron
ships are being built" and repaired.
"These are not works of local import
ance." Now, if Mr.. Gibson should tell of
commerce of millions land-locked for want
of adequate outlet, he would be told
that where there was no navigable way
Congress had no power to make one.
Should Hon. E. John Ellis intimate that
the lands upon which fifty millions gold
exports were annually produced were en-
titled to "a breakwater'' in the way of
levee, he would be at once answered that
the sugar and rice interests of Louisiana
were local interests, while the building
and repairing iron ships was national.
As to the bubble of Mr.. Salisbury, that
ssscarcely dollar had been appropriated
to streams within the State Of Delaware,
it is only necessary to look at this Duchy
of Geroldstein to see that no navigable
river could be accommodated within its
shrunken and shriveled jurisdiction.
In the same debate Mr.. Maxey rustled
nm another of the old Romans. MIR.
Thurman was called to account for two
millions of dollars appropriation for the
rivers and harbors. MIR. Thurman justi-
fies the improvement of rivers because
they are part of the harbors of Ohio.
Granted, and is not the Mississippi or the
Sabine or Buffalo bayou part OF the
Gulf harbors, into which they respectively
discharge their waters? Mr. Thurman is
compelled to admit that this bill of i'm
provements, originated in Democratic
Congress:
This bill breaks over all party lines; that
is the truth about it. It is stronger than
the resolutions OF 1898 by a long way; that
is perfectly clear; and it is stronger than
suy Interpretation Of the constitution that
ever was given By the most latltudlnarian
man who ever held seat on this floor.
That is true. too. 1t breaks through every
thing. 1t is like great freshet that carries
| every thing before it, bots out all lines,
scatters desolstion everywhere.
And yet Messrs. Salisbury and Thur
man will accept and palliate their share Of
this with a latitudinarian construction Of
| the constitution.
The late Senator Caperton rose to com
plain that no appropriation had been
allowed to the improvement of the New
river in West Virginia. He was an
old line Wing, and could not answer why
Democracy should always have discrimin
ated in favor of certain works of improve
ments while they pretend to deny the powel
to appropriate national money for tina
purpose. Mr.. Caperton contrasted tn
progress of New York and Virginia. HI
attributed the relative decline Of Virgins
to the ascendency of Democratic hostilit.
to progress. The commercial equality o
these States continued until about 1873
His words are worth quoting.
| Unfortunately about that time our illus
trious men became politicians and ceased
to look after the commercial interests
the country. They attached more conse
uuence to the political condition OF tn
country. About the tins the doctrines
1898 and 1899 were coming, this retrograd
movement took place. It took place whe
there was no reason for it; when, so far a
al! the elements necessary to constitute
great, rich, and a powerful State are COZ
cerned, Virginia was far ahead OF Ne'
York. She had more within her borders @
all those elements which make the tounda
lions of commercial strength and greatnes
than the State of New York. But the
we're neglected: and history will bear II
out in it, because our great men instead c
| pursuing the important commercial caree
which was pointed out by the great man c
New York. De Witt Clinton, devoted then
selves only to politics and let the comme
cial interests of the State die.
say do not want to be brought bac
| to the ideas Of the past. do not desire
!, see the fathers, whom the Senator froi
| Marylan0 relies upon. and tnat class I
politicians reinstated il order to put anothf
obstacle in the way OF our advancement.
He is right. The obstructive policy
the Southern Democracy first bound tt
South in industrial dependence, the
| agitated a war which forced the Soutl
without one attribute Of financial, con
: merciaI or industrial ability, to wage IL
war.
The Democratic Representatives
Louisiana have received nothing. tt
} cunning old Democratic rats who hay
) retired from further concern in appr
priation will be found snugly curled |
} in the centre of abundant appropriation
! and try economies by teaching abstinen
to their younger political progeny WI
, have not received anything. Mr.. Make
has illustrated the economy of the gre
States and cities of the North and West b
, the notorious borrower Of other people
{ kettles who, when she had kettle of h
: own had 'smade her rule that she wou