The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-04-19
MESSAGES
From THE PRESIDENT TO CONGRESS.
OAs ia Regard to the nlal,,lppl Rl,srl In.
prOvsRsnt, and the other Relative to
tbs COnIbs Peace Congress which
Meets at Ws,hlnVtOn City.

WAbHlNuIVNS april lo,-4ne lulluWmk
Is the Presidents message to Congress
Recommending an appropriation Of 5000.
900 for restoring the Mississippi rivel
levees, instead Of sl,0lO,OOO, heretofore
recommended for that purpose by the
Mississippi Commissions;
To the Senate and Rotge Of Representatives:
transmit herewith a letter, dated The
Goth ultimo, from the Secretary Of War,
enclosing cory Of communication from
the Mississippi Commission, which com.
mission recommends that an appropriation
may be made OF Sl,Ol0,O 600, for closing ex-
isting gaps in the lOvees, in addition to a
like sum for which the estimates have
already been submitted.
The subject Is one Of such importance,
that deem 1t proper to recommend an
early and favorable consideration OF the
recommendations OF the commission, hay.
ing possession OF and Jurisdiction over the
river. Congress, with u view Of improving
It's navigation and protecting the people OF
tho valley from floods, had for years caused
surveys OF the river 10 be made, for the
purpose ot acquiring knowledge OF the
laws that control it, and Of It's phenomena.
By act, approved June 10Th, 1870, the
Mississippi commission was created, com
posed Of able engineers. Section 4 OF the
act provides, that it shall be the duty Of
the said commission to takei into considera-
ton aud to mature such plan or plans and
estimates US will correct, permanently
locate and deepen the channel and protect
the banks Of the Mississippi river; improve
aud give safety and ease to the navigation
thereof; prevent destructive floods and
promote and facilitate commerce, trade
and the postal service. The constitu.
tioHalily Of the law making appropriations
in aid Of these objects cannot be ques-
toned,
While the report Of the commission sub.
mitted and the plans proposed Tor river
improvement seem justified, as well on
scientific principles as by experience and
the approval Of the people most interested,
] desire to leave Ii to the Judgment Of
Congress to decide upon the best plan
Tor the permanent and complete i'm
provement Of the river, and for the
protection Of the valley. The immense
loss and the widespread suffering OF the
people dwelling near the river induce me
TO urge upon Congress the propriety not
only OF making an appropriation to close
the CUPS in the levees ocCasioned by the
recent floods, as recommended by the com.
mission, but that Congress should inaugu
rate measures for the permanent improve.
ment OF the navigation Of the river and
the security Of the valley.
1t may be that such system Of i'm
provement would, US it progressed, require
IN appropriation OF twenty or thirty mil.
lions OF dollars; even such an expenditure,
extending as it must over several years,
cannot be regarded rs eXtravagant in view
Of the immense interests involved. The
safe and convenient navigation OF the
Mississippi is matter OF concern to aII
sections OF the country, but to the North
west, with its immense harvests, needing
transportation, and the inhabitants OF the
river valley, whose lives and property de-
pend upon the proper construction OF safe
guards which protect them from floods, 1t
is OF vital importance that well matured
and comprehensive plan for the improve
ment should be put in operation with US
little delay Us possible. The cotton product
OF the region subject devastating floods is a
source Of wealth to the Nation and OF great
importance in keeping the balances Of
trade in our favor. II may not beinoppor-
tune to mention that this Government has
imposed and collected $70,000,000 by tax
on cotton, in the production Of which the
population OF the lower Mississippi is
largely engaged, and it does not seem inc.
4uii9ble 10 return n portion OF this tag 10
those who contributed it, particularly as
such action will also result in important
gain to the country at large and especially
so to thegreat and rich States OF the North.
west and the Mississippi.
lSigned) CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
EEeetaire Mansion, april 18th.
MESSAGE no. 2--ABoUr THE PROPOSED rEAcE
CONGRESS OF AMERICAN NATIONS.
The following message was also sent to
Congress to-day by the President:
To The Senate and Lo'se Of Representatives
I send herewith copy Of the circular Of
invitation extended to all the independent
countries OF North and South Anerica 10
participate in general Congress, to be
held in the city OF Washington, on the
22d day Of November next, for the purpose
OF considering and discussinga method OF
preventing war between the nations Of
America.
In giving this invitation, l was not un-
aware that there existed differences be-
tween several OF the Republics OF South
America, which would initiate against the
happy results which might otherwise be
expected from such an assemblage. The
differences indicated are such as exist be.
tween Chilli and Peru, between Mexico
and Guatemala and between the States OF
Central America. 1t was hoped that these
differences would disappear before the
time fixed for the meeting Of the Congress.
THIS hope has not been realized.
Having observed that the authority OF
tho President to convene such Congress
has been questioned, beg leave TO state
that the Constitution confers' upon the
President the power, by and with the nd.
vice and consent OF the Senate, to make
treaties, and that this provision coniers a
power over all requisite measures to initiate
them, and to this end the President may
freely confer with one or several Com.
missioners, ordelegates, from other nations.
The Congress contemplated by the invita-
tion could only effect any valuable results
by its conclusion eventually taking the
form OF treaty Of peace between the States
represented, and, besides, the invitation to
the. States OF North and South America is
merely preliminary act, OF which the con.
stitutionality or want Of it can hardly be
affirmed.
1t has been suggested that, while this
International Congress would have no
power TO attectth rights OF the national.
tiles there represented, still the Congress
might be unwilling that tho subject q the
existing treaty rights OF the United States
on the lsthmus and elsewhere on the Con.
nentshould be clouded and rendered un.
certain by the expression OF the opinion Of
a Congress composed largely OF interested
parties.
/ Lam glad to have itin my power to refer
TO the Congress of the United States, as /
now do. the Dronriety of irOnvaninn ,ho