The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-12-06
THE COMMERCIAL CONVENTION.
IMPORTANT MEASURES TRANsACTEu
AT THE THIRD DAYS SESSION,
Addresses of Jefferson Davis, John
Hogan, Duncan r. Kenner and Others
The Convention Adopts a Resolution
PavOTing improvement In tho NavI-
gaIiOn of the Mississippi River.

q. IN. Ihe calling OF the roll and the reading OF
the minutes were. on motion. dispensed with.
The following communication from the Con-
sui Of Colombia and Venezuela was then read:
Gen. Cyrus Bussey and Gentlemen:
Be good enough to forward my earnest wishes
Sr the success OF the Commercial Convention.
sad be assured of my duty In acknowledging
the government which represent at New Or
leans. the full reports Of this convention In be-
halt OF closer friendly and commercial relations
with al countries South Of the United States. i
enough TO have started certain number of
steamship lines; and lot the United States have,
with her 49 100000 OF people, an export trade OF
81 600 900 900, which England, with only % 100000
people and with very small territory, has ex-
ceeded OF that amount, mainly duet the power
full aid OF subsidies to all mail steamships leav-
Ing ner shores. Yours, very respectfully,
Consul for Colombia and Venezuela.
December 8. 1873
The communication was ordered to be spread
on the minutes.
By B. Il. Lenehan, OF Iowa:
.Resotped, That this convention recommend a
liberal appropriation for the improvement Of
the Dubuque bar and that In our judgment the
use OF dredgebOats for the removing OF sand
bars and deepening the main channel In the
Upper Mississippi Is most beneficial. and that
liberal appropriations be made for this branch
Of the service 10 future that these, vessels may
be kept constantly In commission for the pur-
pose Tor which they were built
BY Mr.. Cave, of Texas:
That Congress be memorialized In regard Il,
the silver dollar, requesting such Legislation as
Will increase It to its full value and be received
as q legal tender.
The first resolution was referred to tho COM
mittee on improvement Of the navigation Of
the Mississippi river. and the second to the
committee on foreign commerce.
Gen. Cyrus Bussey presented copy OF bill
now before Congress. relative to the improve
ment In the postal system.
REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON MISSISSIPPI RIVER.
The following report Of the committee on the
improvement of the navigation Of the Missis-
sippi river and Its tributaries was then read By
Mr.. Eugene Underwood. OF Kentucky, chair
man Of the committee:
Tho committee appointed on tho improve
ment OF the navigation Of the Mississippi river
and its tributaries. and the confinement Of it's
waters within it's banks. resi- spectfully submit the
following report:
Whereas In view OF the magnitude of the in
terests Involved Ia the improvement OF the Mis-
sissippi river and It's tributaries so as to fur
nish commercial communication between all
their ports and with foreign nations and to
protect the inhabitants on its banks from over
flow to the extent Of their practicable improve
ments and the wants of the population ON their
borders now and in time to come; and
Whereas, the vast interests that may be thus
subserved have not been advanced acc riding to
their lust requirement nor in any degree COM
parable to the improvement Of other CONNER
ctal avenues OF no greater material fmpOrtanee
by the Federal government. which alone has
same therefore be 1t
kesotued. That this convention recommend to
the Governors of the respective States bordering
on said river and its navigable tributaries to
appoint commissioners to represent the res pee
tive States In q board Of commissioners which
shall be permanent, and continue so long
as thers Is necessity for the same This
board OF commissioners shall inquire into all
matters n >, apPertaining 70 the improyement Of
tributaries. and OF the Improvement Of their
banks so ss to prevent their overflow. aud of
fe ana f q sba ne b valley Icy Of the Mssis
commission to disseminate from time 70 time
through the press or by address TO the public
and in any suitable mode. such intelligence
among the people. so vitality interested as to
them may seem desirable on the subject of the
improvements here proposed. And 1t shall be
tho further duty OF said commission to gather,
collect and embody such Information and facts
as to them may seem appropriate, and com
mun'cate the same to the Congress Of the UNI
ted States by way Of memorial or otherwise for
the purpose Of inducing that body to make the
appropriations for the improvement here pro-
posed.
That 1t is the paramount duty of the general
government. under It's special direction and su-
pervision, to construct and maintain embank-
mens or levees along the Mississippi river and
its tributaries. wherever the same may bs need
ed to prevent crevasses and the inundation OF
he people who have their homes and folds On
dangertd.
Resoioed That it Is equally the duty OF the
general government to make such appropria-
tions for the Mississippi river aud It's tributaries
as are required. to so deepen the channel Of
these ryers as to affo-d cheap easy and unin-
terrupted transportation at low water to the
to the adjoining States or to foreign countries.
kesotued. That the deep channel already
had at the mouth of the Mississippi river by the
means OF the jetties. saving In the year 1877 the
first year Of their partial completion, mora
value in frelghts to the commerce. Of the coun-
try than the sums paid as yet for the improve
in the opinion of this convention the call on
Congress to speedily grant any additional legis.
and final completion OF these works.
Resotuph That In order 10 give force and
effect to the recommendations made 10 the first
resolution. We request the president ~ this con-
vention to appoint Mr.. Eugene UL Ee wood OF
Louisville. Ky. q committee OF one 70 address
tho Governors Of the States bordering on the
Mississippi river and its tributaries. and urge
them to comply with the recommendation made
In the said first resolution.
of the committee: W. NJ. Boysdale, Of Georgia.
Cameron. Nortal Carolina; ]. Gnnter Texas:
Cowardin, Virginia Reed Jones. | liDois Philip
P,endleton. West Virginia; G. N. Blackman.
straiphf' if," Mlssissippl; % b. F. KennfDN Touisi.
ana: X. P. Dorr. Iowa.
Mr.. Wheeles. of Tennessee - I move the
adoption Of the. report
Mr.. Wilson. Of Texas-I most chee-t1Ily sec
ond It's adoption.
Mr.. JEFFERSON DAVIS.
Of Mississippi. amidst great applause, spoke az
follows:
Mr.. President--As representative Of the
State that bears the name Of the mighty river to
which this report refers. and as one feeling tne
deepest interest in all that 1t concern ssnot onlv
the welfare OF the river. but in all the inhab
| ants that dwell upon its shore and all me Pc
| Die that live within the vast empire Wnlch ina,
| river and its tributaries cover, take especial
interest In. tApplause.l Therefore all propos-
itions which direct themselves especially TO the
9f that river require g1s extrse rem d de
Judgment, II Is one OF the problems which has
occupied the civil engineers Na. q b, the United
| posit sediment moro than the Mississippi river.
The first resolution seems to me TO coyeE the
whole ground thought it bad everything es-
sential and / don't think 1t necessary THAI any
thing should be added. IL anything shonid be
added. / fear, from the good Il would seem to
| do evil would be the result. therefore am op-
posed to The second resolution. II uEderstand
the proposition In TIE second resolution it looks
toward the estab, ,ishment of a continuous line
! Of levees along the Mississippi river away Nd
fEt -