New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1877-03-16
THE LEVEE APPROPRIATION DEFEATED
BY THE DEMOCRACY.

see how the levee appropriation was de.
feated, we deem it a duty to present some
of the particulars to such as may be dis.
posed to read them. 1t will be, at least,
one means by which Republicans can be
furnished with the evidence that Democ-
racy will do nothing for the relief Of
Southern necessities. We had noticed
the absence of Messrs. Ellis and Gibson
upon the test votes to SO prolong the dis
cussion as to defeat the Electoral Com
mission. We find them, however, on the
next day after that effort at anarchy was
defeated in their places, when the Record
shows the following March Az:
The question then required on the motion
of Mr.. Ellis to suspend the rules and pass
the bill to repair and rebuild the levees of
the Mississippi river, and to reclaim the al
luvial lands thereon, to improve its naviga-
ton, and promote and protect its COM
merce.
Mr.. Holman called for the yeas and nays
on agreeing to the motion, and they were
| ordered.
Mr.. Mills-I desire to know the question
| we are to vote upon.
The Speaker-It is bill appropriating
| 81 200, 900 to repair and improve the levees
of the Mississippi river.
Mr.. Ellis-This appropriation Is to be di'
vided between six States.
The vote upon this motion resulted:
Yeas 70, nays 113, not voting los.
Remembering the promises ofthe Demo
cratic press that the railroad and levee
bills would both pass upon the promises
of the Democratic Congress, we have care
fully analysed this extraordinary refuta-
ton of this pledge. Of the seventy-two
votes for the appropriation, forty-three
were Democratic and twenty-nine Repub-
licans. When it is known that the Re-
publicans in the session just closed num-
bered one hundred and seven, while the
Democrats were one hundred and eighty
one, with three Independents and two va
cancies, it will be seen that the Demo-
cratic party had majority of between
sixty and seventy votes. Now, of the
whole number of Democrats, less than
one in four voted to redeem the pledge
given for the levee bin. It will be found
that every Republican member of Con-
gress from the South, except one, was in
his place voting for the appropriation.
Of the nine Democrats from Georgia, but
one voted for the levee bill OF the
six Democrats from Alabama there were
but two, from Arkansas two out of four,
from Louisiana two out of three, from
Mississippi two out of four, from Texas
three out of six, from North Carolina three
out of seven, from Virginia two out of
eight, five out of thirteen from Missouri,
and four out of ten from Kentucky. The
six Democrats from Maryland were solid
against the bill. We suppose nothing
more is necessary to convince the people
of Louisiana that they have nothing to
expect from the Southern Democracy.
When We turn to the Northern vote, the
opposition is appalling. OF the eight
votes of Massachusetts there is but one vote
for the levee appropriation. That vote is
Democratic, There is no vote in its favor
from Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey,
Rhode Island, Maine or Vermont. From
Pennsylvania there are three Republican
votes. From the great State OF New York
but one-a Democratic vote-out of thir-
ty-three votes.
When we remember that Louisiana has
been on the eve of civil war for the great
New York railroader, Samuel Tilden; that
the Democratic press has been denouncing
the Democracy Of New York for want of
courage to assert the rights of Mr.. Tilden,
we are shocked at the ingratitude. One
vote out of thirty-three! Where were Sun
set Cox and Fernando Wood2 Absent and
not voting. Where Abram s. Hewitt?
Not present at roll call And Beebe, who
walked upon the desks shouting war?
Reposing from the fatigues of the fight.
And Dudley David Field, upon whose in
dictment Of the Louisiana Returning
Board the Democracy Of Louisiana hung
with such devoted admiration He was
no doubt on hand to indemnify the De-
mocracy of Louisiana for the misfortunes
of this unhappy tribunal On the con-
trary, Mr.. Field voted against the levee
bill.
The REPUBLICAN said truly that New
Orleans was crazy to inaugurate. q New
Yorker who, SO far from having any in
terest in the Mississippi valley, would
use all his influence to take the last
pound of trade from the city of New Or
leans. The bill for protecting the Demo-
cratic planters of Louisiana has been de-
serted by the Democrats Of the South.
It has been supported faithfully BY every
Republican representative Ia the South,
except one in Virginia. 1t has united the
opposition Of the Northern and Eastern
States, while the State Of New York, to
whose candidate the Louisiana Democracy
has been 70 devoted, has either receive d
the only demand pressed upon Congress
BY Louisiana with indifference or oppose
ton. Il only remains to be added that
the Democratic Holman was elm at the
death, e. almoat his last Legislative utter
ance was in opposition to the subsidy for
steam line from New Orleans to Brazil,
and to the Ievee bin As above stated. The
Democracy haye, therefore, defeated the
levee bill, and i this Or any other meas