The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1882-06-28
THE LEVEE ouEsr1nn
Proceedings Of the YazOo DeHo
Convention. NeIee
Greenville Times.I


Pursuant to invitation the Yazoo D.,,
Leyee Convention, met at the Gre.D eia
Opera House on the 18th day OF Jnno A1S llle
The Convention was called to order ~. = ioo2.
+. Stokes, who stated the object NJ 4; ~
vention; and an Organization effected Con
election of Col. j. F. Stokes as Preside ne
r. J. Augent, as Secretary. aud
Upon motion, all citizens Of ,bo go.
counties present, were invited to parti.;@.1Vas
the deliberations of the Conveution ave IN
upon all question TO be cast by the acsr. zoe
delegates, and where no accredited Jooiieulled
were present, by the citizens of the kates
unrepresented, who might be present O1nNei
Upon the call Of the roll Of counties H.. p,
lowing were found TO be represented. Ri. x .o'
and Holmes. 1'"er
Mr., Sherrod, President of the Board ,ss
perYisOrs of Coahoma, was recoppi,,S ol
representative from the 9th distrfc, ~ as
county in the absence of any deleco,. So,l
thorized to represent said county h., Gl'
Board of Supervisors y Us
The Convention having been da,',rol-,
for business, Col w. A. Percy took tbs 'sS"ly
and offered the following series Of resolg,;Doy
Whereas, The floods of lSS2, have yayts;
away the levee on the river front6f tbe ysI'ell
Delta in many places, requiring heayv ey ~
ditures to replace the same; and Whereas a.
has been demonstrated that all parts - = ~
sippi river, and in JUSTICE should bear tLoIas
den incident to protection; and whereas ,h,
situation calls upon us TO decide between ~ ~
policy of prompt vigorous and concertela ..
ton for future protection and develormer, :.
the one hand, and that Of trusting 10 luct ~
the United States Government, or some olbs.
agency than our own efforts on Che o,ber.
therefore, resolved:
First-That prompt vigorous and e5pcsr,,,
action upon our part and for our own No.
lection, Is the policy which should be a5,,.,I
by courageous, seli-reliant and iutellige,,
people.
Secoud-That willis, we h ,li,ya tb,rr....
ton from overflow Of the Mississippi VaTsy
to be a subject OF National Importance ar3
upon which it would be the wisest practic,be
craftsmanship TO expeud all that might h,
necessary Of the surplus millions nov i'm The
National Treasury, especially that portion NJ
the tax on cotton collected by the United
States Government from the Yazoo Delta. snj
whilst we believe that Justice, wise polIc,
and sound Craftsmanship would all dictate -
the State Of Mississippi in the absence Of
National aid, the wisdom Of assuming in
large part the protection OF this, the fpest
part OF the territory, yet we know that We the
citizens of the Delta, have the ability, Aejp.
telligence and the resolution TO protect our.
selves, and intend TO do SO. Help will bs
gratefully accepted when the justice of our
cause shall finally eXtort il; but, until il
comes, we will help ourselves.
Sd. That in order to meet and Withstand tb,
floods Of the next and succeeding spriprs IA
is eNpedient necessary and Just that tbe entire
Yazoo Delta should, as speedily as practicable.
be organized by law into one leyee district
embracing all of the counties and paris al
in this State liable to overflow hom
the Mississippi river.
4th. That the law organizing said district
should levy and assess for the construction
and maintenance of leyees tax upon cotton
and a moderate al valorem tax upon all other
property, equitably apportioncd and gradua.
ted among the counties of said Della; the
maximum of said tax not to exceed onc-iourh
Of one cent per pound on cotton and five mills
i'd valorem.
9th. That for the control and management o.
said district said law should provide Tor A
Board of Levee Commissioners to be selected
upon fair and equitable basis from the sew.
The same, and should endow said Commission
srs with ample authority to raise sufficient
unds for the protection Of said district; with
'ull power to treat with the River Commission
" other United States agency so as to secure
National aid; and generally with all powers
for the end in view.
9th That said law should provide. in the
went Of its being necessary to issue bonds,
hat the same should be long time bonds, bear
ng as low q rate Of interest as is consistent
With their successful negotiation, in order
hat the tax be as light as possible, and
aid bond ~ be more readily negotiated,
md a. that at sharing in the future benefits
development may bear part of its burdens
9TH. That committee of three be appointed
y the chair to draft bill embodyinr tho
oregoing views, and present the same to the
ext Legislature Of this State and urge its
assage.
EXTRA SESSION PETrTIoNED FOR.
Immediately after the reading of the fore.
Ding, the following resolutions were offered
v Colonel w. A. Percy.
Re5olVed, That whilst we are aware thata
pecial session Of the Legislature entails a
considerable expense, is dstastefnl TO a large
Ody Of our fellow-citizens, and would not be
'arranted except in cases of great emergency,
ct we respectfully submit that such an
Emergency now exists; because,
First-The foods of the Mississippi riverRre
nnual, varying only in degree.
Second-The creyasses in the line Of levee
trough which the water of 1882 poured car
wing widespread destruction, stand open 10
eceive each recurring food, will become
Tider and deeper with every high water, and
left unrepaaired will paralyze the energies
nd efforts of our people.
Third-There is no organization in existence
applied with revenue from taxation, and
by law TO take charge Of, leYce and
rotect the entire Delta.
Fourth-To await the regular session Of the
legislature would leave us without an organ
ration or o levee fund with which TO meet
nd avert the floods Of 1883 and 1884.
Fifh-That to this end the organization Of
II efficient Levee Board and levy and assess
ent Of a sufficient tax for anu upon the whole
ella by legislative enactment is essential
nd 1T IS especially necessary that this should
e done as speedily as practicable.
SIWth-I n order n Pam ~ tho or1
e in readiness to meet the high water Of 1883
is essential that said Board should be organ
ed and be in working order by September
Vt. Surveys and estimates have to be made,
'niraets to be let, embankments to be thrown
P, and the line Of levee made continuous and
rong by the LIST day of February. All this
ust be done in the fall and winter months
We respectfully present the foregoing to our
low-citizens and 10 His ExcelfenCy the
overnor Of this State, and ask that the latter
i'll convene the Legislature ia special session
as early date as practicable for the pur-
Uses above indicated.
Resolved That a committee Of three be APP
ointed to present these resolutions to His
Ncellency the Governor, and urge upon him
Re necessity Tor q special session Of the Ley
lature.
a resolution was adopted expressing aPpre-
alton Of the liberal and statesman-like poll.
of President Arthur on the Mississippi
yer question The Convention closed with
e following proceedings:
At this stage of the proceedings the dele.
ties from the counties Of Tunica, Coahoma
ID Qqitman appeared and took their seats
ION the floor
Progress having been reported to the dele
ties just appearing, and an evident desire
lnifestlng itself TO have the first and second
ries Of resolutions discussed By Governor
corn, upon motion of Colonel Green Clay
ey were unanimously reconsidered where
on the Convention adjourned 10 Z o'clock
NJ.
Upon re assembling at IA o'clock P. NJ, Mr.
K. Harbert presented credentials emqualiug
I'm mass meeting Of the citizens Of
ahoma county, held at Sunhower Landing
the l4th day Of June, and was accorded a
It upon the floor.
The resolutions having been discussed upon
.ir reconsideration, by Gov. j. L. Acorn
ainst, a a speech Of great interest and abil-
and by Col. W. A. Percy for, in a speech
Dlete with wise counsel, they were put upon
,ir final passage pending which the right
Dir. Harbert to represent COahoma county
$ called in question by Gov. Alcorn. where.
on Capt. w. w. Stone moved that the vote
Coahoma be divided by the delegates and
resolutions were finally adopted by very
sc majority.
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