The New Orleans daily Democrat., 1877-10-18
THE NEW oRLEANs DEMoORAT THURsDAY ooToBER u.s.

Subsequent TO delfberation and dis
cussion, at Q little after B.. O'Clock
| in the evening, the convention adj
pose, as understood. OF listening to an ad-
dress by Gen. John Hogan, OF St Louis. 1t
was thought then that all the business of the
convention had been transacted, that the full
objects had been attained and that the con-
vention would adjourn sine die after
GEN. HoaANs Address,
plimentary. resolutions passed. Fully i'm.
pressed with this idea, Gol. Bush left
by the 7% O'Clock train. and my col
league, Mr.: Walpole, and myself would
have done the same thing upon :. the faith OF
treaties" but that we wanted to lay over and
see something Of St. Paul. 10 our surprise
motion was made at the opening OF the
evening session that when the convention ad-
journ 1t would do SO to meet at the Chamber
OF Commerce on the following morning. This
deliver his address. which was very able
and eloquent one concerning
THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE MISSISSIPPI
RIVER.
1t SO happened that on that evening, before
going to the convention, ! met at the tele-
graph Office Mr.. Charles 8. Slaybaek former
ly Of New Orleans, who was Q member OF the
st. Louis delegation, and had during the day
claimed acquaintance with me on the ground
Of former citizenship, to which cordially re-
sponded. In the. course OF our conversation
he taunted me with having saddled the levee
scheme upon u.s. as he said, by strategy,
adding that motion would be made
whole action of the day, and that 1t
would result In our leyee resolution being
set aside. | told him that such an antagonism
came with very bad grace from him, but that
did not much care and hoped he would do
his worst This had prepared me for the
worst / the vnrct for I kraty that IN
sentiment Of our Western friends was not
sympathetic with the resolution that had
beer. passed, and very much dreaded re-
consideration and further discussion.
AS ! expected, the first motion made on the
morning OF Thursday, the 18th, was for
RECONSIDERATION or THE VOTE
adopting the resolutions. Several delegates
from Minnesota, St. Louis and other sections
arose thereupon and spoke In favor Of recon-
sideration. | then got up, and In q few words
told the convention what / thought of their
present action. They knew that the chair
most relied upon, had gonerpn the night
previous, carrying In his vali0 all the doctl-
ments and data that could help us In further
argument; they knew that half of the dele
CATIONS, confident that the business Of the
homes. | charged them with want of fairness
and faith, and said that was neither pre-
pared nor willing, under the circumstances,
to argue the question any further at this time.
PROF. FoRsHEY
came in, and depending upon his extensive
knowledge. and information, my colleague,
NE. Walpole, and myself felt strengthened.
The discussion then opened, and furious were
the onslaughts upon the levee resolution
made by almost every good speaker in the
room. We eannot say. however. that we were
without friends. Mr.. Rice, president of the
vt, Paul Chamber Of .Comfnerce,. though he
ffld nat hAtt,, L.. Az
wishes OF his delegation, sustained our cause
by strong and foreible argument. A young
man OF remarkable powers and eloquent
diction, Mr.. W. II. FL. Russell, of ST. Louis
fully informed on the case in hand, under
much energy and enthusiasm as II he him
self was son OF sLouisiana. Mr. Russell
was the braver In taking this generous posi-
ton, In that it was antagonistic to his whole
delegation. and eloquently and nobly did he
maintain IT, Out in the far West and lighting
against such odds as were arrayed against
us, it caused our hearts to beat with high inn
pulse to see such brave champion showing
his fearless brow and welding his eloquent
tongue in behalf Of his hitherto unknown
friends of the South.
OUR POSITION
on that day. was very difficult. The recon-
sfderation OF the question showed that the
anfmus against our resolution was strong
The fact is, that the two weiyhtiest and most
delegations were those from st.
Paul and st. Louis, and the prevailing idea
was to take notice of nothing else but the
Improvement of the river from st. Paul to ST
Louis Everything that was proposed i'm an
other line was spoken down by able men,
who evidently knew, what they were about,
and voted down by delegates who certainly
knew the worth of preconcerted action. It
was, in a few words,
ST PAUL AND ST LOUIS CONVENTION.
and Ii we obtained anything, it was, making
Q due allowance for the courtesy of our West
ern friends, principally. because they feared
that If we were refused everything we would
retire in dudgeon and put to end the alliance
and, as we know, needed by them
selves.
AS my kilograms have previously informed
you, neither Memphis, Cairo nor Vicksburg
were represented, else our position would
have been much stronger. As it was, the
whole interests of the Northwest were con-
1entrated against us, save a few friends,
whom we had ingratiated or whose interests
were fortuitously allied with ours
You know very well how 1t all ended, the
resolution first adopted was voted down on
reconsideration, and another one adopted in
ts place, the words of which / sent you by
telegram.
saThe important conclusion to be deduced
rom this experience of the Louisiana dele
gates in the far Northwest is that the intelli-
gent men OF these States, especially those di-
rectly interested in the Mississippi river, are
aIiye l to the fact that we are their natural
allies, commercially. In the present circum-
stance the convention was to q certain extent
packed. and as | do not want my Western
riends to think that use the word injurious
y, ! explain: They had a pet scheme on
land, In which we concurred heart and soul, |
,ut they were afraid that our little plan |
should spoil their little plan, and they |
lad everything fixed to defeat us as far as |
hey decently could.
The first step, however, Is made, and Lou
siana and Minnesota, with It's sister States, |
ave Joined hands A good deal has to be |
lone to further and cement the alli- |
nee, but 1t is great and good work in in
,piency, and | hope that it will not be |
allowed to remain without progressing. It is |
mutual interest and mutual friendship, where |
10Th parties are willing, that is to be nursed, |
ult one.
l cannot close without giving this just tri- |
'ute to the members of the convention which |
las Just closed, that have never seen ASSEM- |
,led together ! more intelligent, courteous. |
llgnlf1ed ana business-like set of men. They |