Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-05-27
m EMPMIS APPEAL
GOV. LOVELY SHOULD CALL THE
LEGISLATURE TOGETHER.

LEGISLATURES TOGETHER.
The subject of leVees along the line of the
Mississippi below Memphis for the protec-
tiou Of lsnd sut jet 10 overflow in the time
Of high water ia one of the utmost i'm
porlance. The land must either be pro-
tected from food, or practically go back to |
pature'a wildness. A population cannot go |
On year after year putting its labor and
Npital into the soil, uncertain of any return |
but very certain every few seasons of the
loss Of crops, buildings, fences, and of all
that rescues the land from waste. Capital
Withdrawn, the land would become IN
Rholesome sWsmps with here and. there
few ague-stricken creatures trying to make
q living of the more inviting spots, from
which they would every now and then have
70 fee to The hills for refuge from invading
waters Under the circumstances the people
pi Mississippi exposed to the danger, haye
met in convention, formulated the out
lines Of plan for constructing and repair
ing levees, and have unanimously called
upon the governor Of the State to summon
the Legislature in special session, 10 give
legal authority to their plans and to provide
the means of accomplishment. The governor
hesitates, while acknowledging the importance
of the crisis. There ia no authority to restrict
q special session 10 the special subject for
the consideration of which il is called to-
gether. The grave difficulties in the gov
ernOrs way are sufficiently apparent, but in
3 choice Of difficulties the difficulty that is
least must be the difficulty accepted. The
people on the lands in question-land among
the finest cotton lands known, rich and pro-
ductive soil too valuable 10 be readily ADAM
doned--have had floods two consecutive
years. They have suffered the loss of i'm
Provemens and stock and mules, and are
reduced to extremity. By the exertion OF
almost superhuman endurance and effort,
aided by the use OF all the credit
they could command, they have en-
tsIed On the struggle again. Should another
flood overwhelm them-and there is nothing
to guarantee them against it without levees-
what is now terrible difficulty becomes uttel
ruin. There is point beyond which ever
pluck and perseverance, cannot go, and that
point ano1her flood would bring upon the
harrassed, afflicted, much-enduring farmers o.
Mississippi. Ruin to a household, TO a vii
1age, is terrible thing; but when danger o.
ruin threatens whole districts, and may come
with the next rise of the waters, case i,
presented that approaches the verge of des'
peration, and desperate cases require bold
decided and prompt measures. There can be
no awaiting the chances of another year. To
wait is to tempt calamity and invite destruc.
tion. Can the State of Mississippi afford to
lose its rich river territory, and zee it become
the haunt OF malaria and resort for wild
beasts, and lost, hopeless abode of desc.
latiOn? Can the State of Mississippi at.
ford to see q body OF industrious, en-
ergetiC,. brave citizens, that are bat
ting and conteuding against misfortune
and suffering the notifications and priva
tions of poyerty-cast upon the world ru
ined, broken, crushed? Can the risk OF al
this be run when a special session of tn
Legislature could provide prompt and eff
fcient measures for safety? Alter what ha
been endured, TO risk another invasion of th'
waters .is too much. No wisdom, no pru
dence, no rational calculation of circum
stances can advise delay in such case, TO
wisdom md prudence and reason are neve
foolhardy, and. to risk the effects of another
food without an effort to assure safety, woulC
be foolhardy 10 the last degree. An extrs
session would cost something, but what saving
of expense would pay Mississippi for the
loss of its most fertile lands, and worse still
Tor the ruin and scattering OF body Of
hardly-iried men, that count among its very
best and worthless citizens? The Legis
lature if called together could not bG
legally confined in their action to th
subject specially laid before it. Legally, no
but has popular sentiment no power in Mis-
sissippi? Could their representatives and
senators meet the face of the people if they
baseIy took advantage of the desperate cir
cumstances and accumulated sufferings Of
estimable citizens to carry out mean ant
selfish policy? Surely the honor of the Leg
islature can be relied upon when the deliv.
erance of amuch-enduring body of estimabls
citizens is at stake. In any case il shoulC
called together 81 Gov. Lowry, sod WITH
oul moments delay. The sooner the wori
of Ievee construction ia begun the better fol
the planters in the low lands and the Stat
of Mississippi.