The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1882-06-17
communicated.

ton now pressing for. solution and
uppermoSt in the mind Of our pe0
pie is how the lower Mississippi
valley is TO be protected from or
e't1ows. 1t can not be done by
the people. They had not the
ability before the late disastrous
flood, much less now.
Has the United States govern
ment the Constitutional power to
do it, aud is it under any moral
obligation to exercise the power
if it has it? l contend that it not
only has the power but that it
ought TO exert it.
In the cesSion made by Virgi
MIA Of her public domain to the
general government, and in the
purchase OF the Louisiana terrific
~, it became poSsc>sor of vast
tracts OF wild unsettled lands lay
ing chiefly in tue valley of the
Mississippi River.
These lands were settled at the
invitation of the Government, and
the territory SO lately a wilder
| ness, is now the seat OF a great
empI'e-with Il population OF or
or twenty five millions of people.
Towns, villagers, and cities. the
center OF wealth, and refinement.
and of an enormous commerce.
are to be found in every part or it.
Great trunk lines of railway eros
sing it in every direction, have
become the arteries ct commerce
aud of Intercourse between the
Nor h and South, tle East and
the West. Mail lines have been
established between every village.
and hamlet, and the mai! car
rier is seen Oh every psblic high
way.
How were these Tail roads col,
structei3 Quietly with the pro
cpeds of pnblic lands donated by
the general government.
Did these lands belong to the
government except as the rebosi
tory OF a NAKED title, aud as il
mere trustee Cor the people of the
United States, who had acquired
them with their common blood
and treasure. And it in equity
they belonged TO the people, what
object had the government, act
ing as their agents, in donating
them TO rail road companies. Sure
~ not rs Il gift, to swell the cot
ferS. and enhance the wealth OF
private Individuals and corpora
lions. On the contrary, to tacili
(a,e the settlement. Of the coun
try furnish mail facilities. the
means OF communication, and Of
commercial intercourse.
In equity these roads belong to
the people, the builders have Ouly
the use from it tor the time limit
ed in their Charters. They then
revert to the people. Ii the GOV
eminent had the power To build
these road, or furnish the means
to do so in lands and government
bOndS-which mtaus the SAME
thing-for the purpose. and as "A
means OF conducting the internal
commerce of the country, to fur
nish mail facilities, aud haya her
armies transported from place to
place. Can she practice such
works from injury, trom interrup
ton. or from destruction Can
it take such steps. ard institute
such measures as may be nee
essary to prevent commerce. from
being interrupted, the mail from
being carried, or troops from be
ing transported.
10 state the question is to an
swer it. When Il few years since.
an army OF tramps seized upon
some Of the great railways of the
Country, and interfeftea with the
carrying Of tac u. S. Mail. the
government sent one army of sol
dierS to suppress the obstructive
element, and allow the mails to
pass. WHAT'S an army of tramps.
to the invading waters Of the
mighty Mississippi when it is
pouring its food tile uI,en MS.
Bridges are swept away, railroads
and o.her public highways are de
stroye!, the people are driven
away from their homes, the II all
cannot be carried aud all com
metce and inter course between
tn" different Secsious are cut. off.
schools and churches are destroy
ed, and the functions Of civilized
society for the time being entirely
suspended. All this can br pre
vented by rebuilding the public
levees. Can it be said with any
show OF reason, that a govern
ment, having the constitutional
power to construct such wo k.
to establish mail routes, and let
contracts for carrying the mail
over them, has no power to uro
lect them from being interfpred
wlth' or INSTRUCTED, simply be-
cause in doing so, it will involve
the building Of public levees that
may AFFORD protection to private
individuals while guarding such
works from destruction.
SO much for the power of the
government. Next as to its NOR,
al obligation to exercise it's power.
AT the time the government ac
Qulred the aUONA mnuiinnnL torx;