Year: 1869

NJ. I'D.
Gen. Grant on the Lsvees Ofthe


mississippi.


IThe following is reported as part Of
conversation between Gen. Grant
and a Louisiana Judge with regard to
Government aid to reconstrueting the
levees Of the lower Mississippi. We
believe he is right when he says that
private Northern capital is ready to
rebuild the Ievees if the Southern peo-
pie would permit, and his position in
the matter is one that viii be endorsed
by the people generally. We of the
Missouri have had to pay out of our
pockets in high freights sufficient al
most already to pull every snag out Of
the Missouri river, yet have received
not a bit of aid from the Government,
and under present teircumstancesw would
not dream of asking it. And think
that a cry for aid nos0 comes with bad
grace from those who forced the
burden Of debt upon the country. The
South must hereafter stand upon its
town bottom" and depend upon her
bone and muscel for her internal inn
provemOnts as the North. has always
done.-ED.l


General, p said the Senator, 'Judge
wishes to see you a few moments,
and consult with you in regard to the
improvement of the Ievees of the low
er Mississippi. We wish the United
States Government to endorse, and
thus guaranty the bonds of the State
of Louisiana for the restoration and
improvement of the levees."


81 hope the Government viii not do
| it, y the General replied, with quick,
positive utterance that was not only
decisive and final on the subject, but
almost stunning.


'But, General urged the Senator,
tive only wish the United States to
endorse the bonds, 50 that we can sell
them, without a Tuinous discount,
giving the United States ample seeu-
rity for the entire amount, 50 that il
would be impossible for the govern
ment to lose a cent in any emergency" /"


Again Grant quickly interrupted,
81 never knew q government TO be-
come responsible for any amount that
it did not ultimately have to pay. You
now want the endorsement of the
bonds. IF that is given you Will soon
want to legislate for the payment 0f
1 the bOnds.n


General said the Senator, 'y0u
are too hard on u.s."


"While we are discussing on all
sides, said Grant, chow the national
/ debt is to be paid, / shall oppose any
/ increase of the national obligations. y


i'It is impossible to cultivate our
lands, y inteFposed the Senator. 1.-THE
leyees are absolutely necessary
81 know all about the levees," he
answered. ST served in that country
when q young man, and had some
thing to do myself with the breaking
of those levees." +"


"But, !" said the Judge, "millions OF
acres of the best land in the world, are
rubject to overflow


'Let them overflow, and let them
stay under water" said Grant, iuntil
their owners are willing that Northern
men and Northern capital should
come in and protect and improve
them. Northern men with ample
capital are ready to make a garden of
your State, and you won't let them do
it. Your large landhOlders are as hos
tile to the United States Government
to-day as they have ever been and if
that government should rebuild their
levees it would not change them a par
ticle. I know no way the government
could have adopted for rebuilding the
levees but to have cOnfiscated the
lands Of those engaged in rebellion,
and used the proceeds to restore the
country. As that was not done, moth
ing remains but to set your negroes to
work, and invite in and welcome
Northern men,"


General" +" said the Judge, "the
negroes won't work.


won't work ?u Grant quietly re-
piled; they'll work if you pay them
for it.n


"Am I not right ?'' he added. SIS
there not such hostility to Northern
men that it amounts in most sections
of the State to a practical exclusion of
them from the agricultural interests of
the country? Is there not an unwil-
lingness to divide up the lands and
sell in small parcels to those who
might immigrate and is there not q
general tendency TO secure the services
of the negroes without prompt and adj
equate compensation? 2?


IT must say said the Judge, ''that
there is more or less truth in all these
points"


'"Then," said Grant, ''I think you
viii have to build your own levees, or
wait under water until you are willing
men should come in who will build
them ?n