Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-09-14
CarliSIc's Position Respecting Xiv
crS and HarboPs.

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The discussion Of the Speakership con-
test is opening up with considerable vigor
after the uIl which followed the adjourn
ment Of Congress. All Of the candidates
who were mentioned last winter NAV be
considered a. out Of the contest,
except Carlisle Randall and Cox.
Lately the question has been sprung on
Mr.. Carlisle that he is not in favor Of the
Mississippi river improvement, and that,
generally. he is not in favor OF river and
harb0r bills II is safe 10 say that no man
can De elected Speaker who opposes the
improvement Of the water ways
and the harbOrs Of the country.
These great public works have been be
gun and they must be- continued until
they are finished. We could not afford to
have the work on the Savannah river
stopped All that has been done
would be lost. In a short time,
if the necessary appropriations are
made. we shall have as deep water
To the sea a. we want. 1t Is certain that
Mr.. Carlisle is not opposed % the i'm
prOvement Of the Mississippi river, or to any
Of the rivers and harb0rs which are neces-
sarv 10 commerce. Heis. however. opposed
10 wasting money on creeks and bayOus
which can never be made available for
commercial purposes, however much
money may be- spent on them. In a letter
70 Hon. !. q. Leach. Of NatcheZ. Missis-
sippi. dated December 4. 1ss2, Mr.. Car
Isle SAYS with reference to the Missis-
sippi river:
In the public press, and elsewhere. all
sorts Of opinions have been attributed 10
me concerning the Improvement Of the
river. when the truth is that ] have
me- ither formed nor expressed an opinion
upon the subject, except 10 say, what all
my personal friends very we'll know, that
/ am ready al all times 10 vote whatever
amount OF money may De necessary 10
make the navigation Of that great water
way easy. cheap and safe. and 10 promote
the commercial welfare Of the country
along its banks. ! am heartily in favor Of
. exercising the whole constitutional power
Of the General Government over the sub
ject. if il should be necessary % do 50. IN
order ~ perfect its navigation and secure
% the people Of the valley the commercial
advantages 10 which they are justly en-
titled. No man ever heard me express "a
sentiment inconsistent with this declara-
ton, and there is no evidence, 'docu-
mentary' or otherwise. 10 the contrary.
1t il true that have been compelled
bv "A sense Of duty, on two or three Occa-
siOns. to oppose the passage Of river and
harbOr bills containing appropriations for
the Mississippi river, but il was because
they contained 80 many other objection
able matters as % be, in my judgment,
utterly indefensible.
II am In favor Of separating that river
from the long list of creeks and ponds
usually contained in the bills, 50 that it
can properly be considered and provided
for On its own merits. Possibly II may be
necessary 20 include with il the Ohio and
Missouri. its Two greatest tributaries. 1t
will always have friends enough TO secure
fun justice. and u ought NOS to be com
PEELED 20 carry other questionable im-
prOvements with it,"
This letter was written in answer TO
some questions Of Mr.. Leach respecting
Mr.. Carlisle's position on the Mississippi
river question. 1t was published a few
DAYS ago. for the first time, in order to set
Mr.. Carlisle right before the country on
that question. lie stands just where the
majority Of the leading men in
Congress stand. He is ready and
willing 10 vote any amount
OF money for legitimate improvements IN
our rivers and harbOrs. but he ia opposed
to allowing members Of Congress 10 use
the river and harbOr bill for electiOneer-
ing purposes. He doesn't propose to
vote away the public money in deepening
the channel % q aTeek simply to render a
Congressman populaF IL hie district. The
position Mr.. Carlisle takes Is iEe right
one