New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-05-26
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

IVY A0sO
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
Expssitisn Of the Rice and Sugar Interests
At the meeting Of the Chamber of Com
merce last evening there was an unusually
large attendance. and the audience was
augmented by others who were interested
in the Hawaiian treaty question.
w. c. Raymond, vice president, presided
in the absence of the president.
The minutes were read and the ordinary
business transacted.
Mr.. Tobias Gibson, from the committee
appointed at the previous meeting, then re-
ported the following memorial:
To the Honorable Senate and House Of Repre-.
sentatives Of the United Stat,s Of America, in
Congress assembled:
The undersigned, your memorialists,
would respectfully but earnestly call your
att ntion to the careful consideration Of
the effects Of the passage and adoption OF
the treaty with the Hawaiian Islands upon
the prosperity of the State of Louisiana
Possibly there may be advantages to be
derived By the State of California, but
while it gives Q zest and vigor to the
condition of business and enterprise Of the
Pacific coast, at the same time it will be
State of Louisiana. The precedenrs
ts be established by this treaty. if
followed up to its legitimate issue, will in
augurate @ system Of free introduction of
products of slave labor from the West
india islands, and thus stop the cp'tiva-
ton Of the main products which keep alive
the agriculture Of Louisiana. Our climate
end soil are only adapted to the cultivation
of rice and sugar. The production Of any
other staples, ex ept cotton, has for many
years proved futile; and should the treaty
be approved by Congre.'', Louisiana, not
able to compete with the islands of the West
or East, would of n cessity dwindle do II
to Q withered and distorted member Of se
sisterhood of States.
We can not conceive that the generel
government would or should legislate one
eection or State int, prosperity, ut the sac
rifice of another section or State. This, it
seems to No, would be the essence Of special
legislation. If . universal tariff bill were
passed, thus putting Us on footing with
the country at large, permitting any and al
foreign products to come into the pOrts of
the United States Tree of duty, then it world
come in bad grace from 10 to offer any OBJ
lection or remOnstrance; but a. the treaty
with the Hawaiian Islands proposes to dis
criminste in the interest of one section, to
the utter and absolute ruin of another, We
feel that . remOnstrance from us 10 we'll
taken, and deserves the consideration OF
Congress.
The enactment of . discriminating tariff
in favor Of the alien, and to the detriment
of the citizen; or all the citizens of . Stat, :,
would be simply to inaugurate system
which is as unwise n precedent 90 it is un-
Just in it's effect.
As large portions of this State are suit
able for NO other crops than sugar and rice,
and their cultivation and development have
added largely to the wealth OF the country
and the comforts of the poorer classes, j,
does seem unwise, we submit, to discrimi
nate ag ainst the recipients Of these benefits
as we'll as against those whose living de-
| pends upon the production of their labor.
The capital now invested in these
branches Of agriculture and business would
| measurably be withdrawn and the remain
der lost. Already confidence has beer
much impaired, and it only remains tt
| adopt this treaty to put an end to the
They will lapse into Q state too deplOrabl'
to contemplate if they finallysdiscover tina
their best energies are to be frustrated b.
the highest authority i'll the land.
! We therefore offer an earnest remOn
STRANGE against the passage Of the bill au
thorizing the adoption Of the treaty be
tween the King of the Hawaiian Islands
and the government of the United States
as initiating directly against the vital in
| terests of this State, ana as perpetrating al
| injury from which We can not recover II
| years to come.
We respectfully ask that the tariff OF
riceSsnd sugar remain as it now is unde
existing laws.
He also presented the following resolu
ton, which, with the memorial, was unani
mously adopted:
Resolped, That committee of three mem
bers be appointed by the president Of tn
| Chamber of Commerce to proceed to Wash
ington and lay before the Senate in tn
proper manner and urge the favorable con
sideration of the memorial as. adopted b.
this Chamber, and to urge in every wa.
possible the adoption of the memorial ant
the defeat Of the provisions Of the Hawaiial
treaty in 90 tar Is they have reference t
the rice and sugar interests OF Loulsians
That committee Of three members be az
pointed to solicit and collect subscription
to defray the expenses Of the Washingto
committee as referred to in the above gese
luton, end such other expenses as may b
incident to carry out and promoting the OF
ject of the memorial.
The Chamber then adjourned.
MEETING IN THE RICE AND SUGAR INTEREST
The meeting was called to order by Nj
David Talmage, who nominated Bradis
johnson, Esq, as president. Mr.. Davi
Talmage waa on motion elected secretary
and the following vice presidents wei
elected: