National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-06-12

DmvER's GARDES-Eniertainment
SWIMMING sCHooLN. Y. ave, bet. 18Th and 18th SITS.
Protection of the Mississippi Valley.
The report of the Committee on Com
merce of the House of Representatives,
which accompanies the river and harbor
bill, makes the following reference to the
appropriation for the Mississippi:
For tho improvement of the Mississippi River,
from the head Of the Passes up TO Cairo, the bill
approprlaes all that the Commission ask for, tile
committee believing that this Is work of such
vast national Importance and of such peculiar
and intricate character that hc Commission should
not only be lcf uRhGmpcred By conditions Of any char
actor rhGisoccr but that 1t should also have abun-
dant means for the completion Of this great work
at tho earliest possible period.
This is the broadest craftsmanship.
The subiection of the great Father of
Waters to the uses of commerce, and the
protection Of the Mississippi Valley from
his destructive power OH the scale now
projected, is the grandest measure, affect
ing merely material interests, ever pro-
posed by any President of the United
States since the Louisiana purchase by
Jefferson. Indeed, it supplements that
masterpiece of statecraft by virtually
adding to the present territory of the
United States the strip of valley 500 miles
long and an average of sixty miles wide
which is now dedicated annually to
the destroying floods and rendered
well-nigh uninhabitable. In vain did
Jefferson's foresight give us the
Mississippi River, in vain did the
valor of Union soldiers cause its waters
TO "how unvexed to the Gulf" if the
great and powerful nation which has ex-
elusive jurisdiction over it shall allow it
to be curse and destroyer instead of n
servant and blessing.
"To locate and deepen the channel, and
protect the banks Of the Mississippi River,
improve and give safety and ease to the
navigation thereof, prerent destructive
floods, promote and facilitate COM
merce, trade, and the postal SER
vice these were the stated objects
for which Congress created the Missis-
sippi River Commission three years ago,
with only eleven dissenting votes in the
House and four in the Senate. Now il
is proposed by some that the appropria-
tion to be made shall not be used to
"protect the banks" or to "prevent des-
tructive floods "-as originally provided,
and with SO near an approach to unan-
Unity. President Arthur says:
The constitutonalty of law making appro-
prntons in mid of these objects cannot be ques
toned. While the report of the commission sub
mitted and the plans proposed for tho rivers i'm
proyement seem justified as well OH scientific
principles as by experience and the approval of
the people most interested, desire to leave it to
the judgment of Congress to decide upon the best
plan for the permanent and complete improve.
ment Of the navigation of the river and tor The
protection Of the rdNtg. The immense losses and
the widespread suffering of the people dwelling
nrar the river induce me to urge upon Congress
the propriety Of not only making an appropriation
TO close TIE gaps IN The iepeCs oCcasloncd by the
recent floods, us recommended by the commission,
but that Congress should inaugurate measures for
the permanent improvement of the navigation OF
the river and security of the valley.
How can plan "protect the banks "
which leaves portion of them washed
away, thereby leaving the river free to
pass through them and to maintain a
sea of waters inside of the banks? How
can plan prevent destructive foods"
except by confning the mighty river be-
tween its banks? Shall representatives
of the Republican party-the great
National party-burn the midnight oil to
find in the works of Calhoun, and in the
teachings of the Virginia Abstractionists,
arguments against the power of Congress
"to provide for the common defense and
general welfare of the United States
"to regulate commerce among the sew
eral States" land prevent its suspension
by Aoods), "to establish post-ofliccs and
post.roads" land save them from destruc,
tion or obstruction by hoods), and tc
snake all needful rules and regulations
respecting the territory or other property
belonging to the United States" land save
government offices and records from an
nual inundation in scores Of cities and
towns?
The law requires every man to enjoy
his property in such manner as not to
prevent the like enjoyment by his neigh
Dor Of his property, Shall the United
States violate this plain principle oj
justice by narrowing the channel of the
Mississippi for nearly two hundred miles
in order to make q swifter current, which
shPll dig the channel deeper, and by SC
doing back upthe waters ofthe riverwhich
would otherwise uninterrupted to the
Gulf, and force them through breaks IN
the levee above, which it refuses first tc
close? If the people along the banks o.
the Connecticut River or the Hudson
were subjected to such treatment, j
like circumstances existed how lonl
would itbe before they would turn ou
ofpower the party which had done tn,
wrong2
Not generosity, but justice; not senti
ment, but wisdom not extravaganza, bu
economy in the long run ; not loose view
Il 4 ! L.