Newspaper Page Text
I
THE WEEKLY CONSTITUTION
*
ifc
VOLUME YIA
- n „,
32Z
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16,1873.
INUMBER 44
^|«Un ^restitution
The Constitution EntfSun.
ATLANTA,1TUJE3DAY, DECEMBER 16.
RUO OF THB
Weekly One Year.......'........;...$2 00
** Six Month* 100
Chibs of Ten....... ,i., 15 00
Send in your subscription.
Large Fire at Griffin.
TRAVIS’ MILL .BURNED.
1 rV-
t x*2' 1‘
r*l -I
•illfi* Special t* Atlanta (.'•«* tita-
tU
Griffin, Gl., December 18,1878.
A Urge fire occurred at this place this
morning at five o’clock. The fine merchant
mill of Lorlck Travis was burned. The loee
it estimated at fully $10,000. There was no
insurance. H.
BY TELEGRAPH
TO THE ATLAHTA COEBTITUTIOIf,
Constitution forbids the reduction of sals-
asMinister Resident of theUnitedBtateao
Colombia. 1 >* i'i*li*SSu*S*«
The President in replying to the Civil
\A.*Tmn
Bights Convention said: “ I am very glad to
receive the Convention and listen to your re
marks. Ihavealways believed that enfran
chisement and equal rights should accom
pany emancipation. These rights should
have followed without legislation. It is Im
portant that any enactment is necessary to
Becure such rights, but existing prejudice
seems to have rendered it necessary. I hope
to be present when Congress will give .the
relief you seek.
The Senate Committee.on Privileges and
Elections met to-day at 11.o’clock, at the
Capitol. Senator Morton presided, and all
the other members were present except Sum
ner. The argument .occupied nearly five-
hours. Mr. Billings opened, and was followed
by-Messrs. Ogden and Harr, and Judge.Dib-.
ble closed. The committee went into secret
session, and it adjburned-until ten d’clodk on
Monday. Itjis thought that they will them
agree upon a report.
,7 I =.
BACK GRAB.
MR. 6TEPHEN8 MAKES HIS FIRST
SPEECH ON IT IN CONGRESS-
LISTENED TO WITH EAGER ATTEN
TION—FEEBLE IN BODY, RING-
INGIN VOICE. DIGRESSIVE
IN MATTER.
THE SUBJECT DISCUSSED MORALLY
. AND POLITICALLY.
THE ABSOLUTE REPEAL OF THE
BANKRUPT LAW AND THE (
CIVIL RIGHTS BILL TO
BE REPORTED.
Wium ws, December 11;—At the meet-’
ingot the House Judiciary Committee this
morning tbo sub-committee reported a bill
providing for the total repeal of the Bank
rupt Law, which waa agreed to and will be
repotted at an early day for favorable ac-
. tion.
They also agreed to report favorably the
Supplemental Civil Rights bill.
The cabinet session luted two hours and
a half, and it wu mainly devoted to the dis
cussion relative to our relation* with Spain.
Thera an no new features In the Cuban quea-
tion. Secretary Fish, on being interrogated
to-day relative to the Virginias matter, acid
everything is going on smoothly.
. A delegation of bankers from New Eng
land and New York had an extended bear-
msfYble moTj'Jtm before the Committee on
Ways and Means, advocating the repeal of
the tax on deposits in saving's banks,
v. iWashington, December 12—lx thx
] Bouse.—The Senate bill in the House reliev
ing Bocock, Hawley and Grigg.of Virginia,
- and Reagan, of Texas, was passed.
A resolution directing the Secretary of
i* War to report whether certain roads, to
which landB had been granted, bad been paid
for transportation of troops and supplies
since 1866. Referred to the Committee on
^Military Afluirej
I * A large number of business-men, from all
parts of the cnuntiy, petition fora repeal of
the Bankrupt Law.
Wood, of New York, offered a resolution
that the letter of the Secretary of War, with
Ulas tuc IblKl Ui l>UU VI |V Oiy WUU
^ the defalcations,"etc, of General O. O. How
ard be referred to the Committee on Military
Affairs, with instructions to report a resolu
tion providing for the trial by military court
> martial of any officers of the army impli
cated thereby.
* Dawes, of Massachusetts, moved to amend
the resolution by striking om the clause rela-
~*^jve to instructions. He wished to have the
subject simply referred to the Committee on
Military Affairs, leaving that committee to
take such action in the matter as it should
judge best
The Speaker
_ remarked that he had
been about to refer the communication to the
. Committee on Military Afiairs.
Mr. Wood said hepreferred, in view of the
y antecedent history of the Fieedmen’s Bureau
and General Howard’s connection with it,
that there should be some instructions given
the committee.
Mr. Hale, of New York, objected to a de
bate.
The vote was taken on Danes’ amend
ment and it was agreed to by 172 yeas to 88
pays.
Mr. Dawes said he did not desire to shield
'v General Howard, but he objected to. this
• resolution making statements as facts before
a bearing. He stated as to thefact of thede-
falcation of General Howard he did not un
derstand that there was any such thing in
thepaper
kur. Wood—The resolution states as a fact
what has been authenticated in two official
documents sent here by the Secretary of
^ War. I think we can well afford to stand on
. facts which the administration declares to
be facts. If that gentleman (Dawes)goesback
' of the administration I will not
Hr. Dawes—No matter how strong the
proof may .appear it is sufficient for ns to
use the words of alleged defalcations.
Mr. Wood—The Secretary of War sub
mitted these documents to the Attonu-y
General, and the Attorney General gave his
" official opiaion that Gen. Howard was liable
to be tried by conrtmartial, and should be so
lied; but that there were some technical
difficulties, owing to the loss of time.
Mr. Dawes—All that may be so, bat the
proper thing is for the Committee on Mili
tary Affairs to report these facts. I move to
insert the word "alleged” before the word
“defalcation.”
Mr. Wood—It is a small matter and I will
sot detain the House with quibbling about
' it. Let it go; but I desire to say that if
that side ot the House takes the responsi
bility of shielding this man, it may do so.
Mr. Dawes—This side of the House will
take the responsibility of shielding no man
f Mr. Wood—It has done so to-day.
M& Dawes—But it will take the responsi
bility of passing judgment after conviction
and not before. The resolution as amend
ed by inserting the word alleged and strik
ing the instructions was adopted. The sal
ary Mil was recommitted.
An appropriation of $4,000,000, asked by
the Secretary of the Navy, was passed.
N Adjourned.
The Foreign Committee of the House or-
Raised and paid a complimentary visit to
The salary bill was recommitted to a spe
cUl committee, with instructions to report a
bill repealing all increase except where the
Washington, December 11.—The survey
of a ship canal between Lake Michigan and
the Wabash river -is ordered.
The Election Committee were ordered to
examine and report the best and most practi
cable method of electing the President and
Vice President, and providing a tribunal to
decide all contested questions.
A resolution passed asking the-Poatmaster
General the nnmber of men required for
Postal Savings and Telegraph when In fall
operations. - .
The Salary bill resumed. No definite ac
tio®- -. V , ,
Mr. Stephens, of Georgia; was the next
gpeakeA He got on hia feet with difficulty
and not without assistance .He. supported
htmaelf with a crutch under his left arm.
He spoke with a -'dear-tinging -voice
which * waa distinctly audible in every
part of the Chamber except when
he .dropped hts tones as' be did very
freqnently at the dose of sentence*. Hia
manner was nervous and. rapid and his re
marks very digressive, many of his sentences
being left uncompleted. He was listened to
with the closest interest and attention by
members, officers and audience.
He commenced by saying he would exam
ine the question before the House first in its
moral and then in its political aspect
He spoke of the comments ot the jpubllc
press os tbs suUeot. Re would say nothing
in derogation of me power or usefulness of
the press. The poaltionof the journal istinthis
country waaone of the highest. ‘ The fourth
estate did in this agecontrol publicsentiment
Bat he woulcjl in all earnestness say to the
press and its conductors that nothing was
more important than that in treating of sub
jects- with the masses of the people, they
should look well to the truth and correctness
in principle of what they addressed to the
people.
The press had denounced as thieves and
robbers the members of the list Congress,
and he bad seen one paper which represented
the raid on the Treasury very much like the
charge of the six hundred at Balakl&va.
He had though the wit of that representa
tion more appropriate than the wisdom.
' The gentleman from New York (Tremain)
had spoken yesterday of demagogueism. He,
Stephens, maintained that there could be no
statesmanship without it.
There never had been a statesman who was
not a demagogue. The words originally
meant a leader of the people. Pericles was
a demagogue. There were two binds of
demagogues: the sham and the genuine.
The genuine demagogue was the man who
led the people, who guided the people. The
sham demagogue pandered to the errors and
prejudices of the people. The real states
man waa the physician of humanity. The
sham demagogue symply courted favors in
order to get office and the spoils of office.
He considered Lord Chatham as the
true, the genuine demagogue, and related an
anecdote to the effect that when Congress
was proposing to the English Cabinet a new
measure of taxation, including the taxing
of windows, he missed one member of the
Cabinet, and asked for him by name. The
answer was that it made no difference
whether that member was present or not, be
cause he was a fooL "That is the very rea
son,” said Chatham, "that I want him here,
because the way he thinks about this thing is
the way that the majority of the people of
England may think about it, ana I want to
know the sentiment of the public.”
He wanted to know it not to pander to it,
but that he might go before the (people and
raise them to a sentiment of the necessity
and propriety of the measure.
Recurring to the consideration of the in
creased sa’my bill, Mr. Stephens said that
he was very glad to say that that was a
measure for which neither political party
was responsible. His opinion was that the
Democracy in the proportion of its votes in
Congress was quite as responsible as the Re
publican party:
The gentleman from New York (Freeman)
had admitted yesterday that under the con
stitution every Congress had a right to fix its
own compensation. It had done so from
the beginning of the government It had
freqnently increased the compensation and
the increase was always and necessarily
retro-active. Worthy men had done this in
the last century and in the early part of the
present century the brightest ornaments in
American history had subjected themselves
to be denounced as salary grabbers and
thieves.
$12,000 GIVEN AWAY!
The first great thing to be learned in this
life, that which had been taught in the
schools of ancient Greece, was to discrimin
ate between that which the multitude thought
was right, and that which was right in itself.
If there was anything wrong, anything im
moral, anything dishonest, anything which
wonld reflect disgrace on a man’s memory for
taking that legal appropriation, he wsisted to
know where it was. If it was wrong for
members to take what the law allowed,
where were men to find a rule of right and
wrong?
Hia remarks on this subject did not apply
to himself, but he was a citizen of the coun
try, and he felt a deep interest in the dignity
and character of Congress. He claimed that
when Congress passed the retroactive law of
last aeasion it had a constitutional right to
do so. He was not saying whether it was
expedient or not, but no blush should rest on
the cheek of any man, whether he voted
for the bill or not, who took the money, if he
THE MEETING OF CONGRESSMEN
FOR CHEAP TRANSPORTATION.
POQ#RESENTS
TQ THE
DAILY AND WEEKLY SUBSCRIBERS
/ OF THE
ATLANTA CONSTITUTION
et0 - Aggre-
e t t«si\_
stsojixr.ing lo 12,000.'
As. we proptwe, to carry out this distribution in
good fsltu usd to the letter: we BhA'I undertake noth
ing'that we cannot execute *»ve with great Injury to
ourselves. Therefore, we atke these two exprett
stipulation» : First We reterve the right to pay cash
Hi lieu or the first 12 presents. Second. We can re
quire opr Trustee*, hereafter named, to Male, IT ne-
ceseanr, the prizes to the i>timber ot cards disposed
or, but in any event to retain one of the Burning
.Rices in th«> distribution.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION.
THE GRANDEST NEWEPAPEE
t rf?
PREMIUM LIST
io represent the numbered Cards {ssn&fi to sab
scrtbers. 6,000 Cards, eacb nixrked with the name o
• present, and Including all in the above list, will be
thrown together and tnorooghly mingled Prom the
receptacle of these cards. Into which ODly a hand can
be passed, one card after a- other will be drawn and
numbered in the order drawn—1, a, & etc." For in
stance that subscriber having thi Card numbered 6,
la entitled to ths present upon the Sixth 0*rd drawn.
As the entire transaction will be IN PUBLIC, the
Cards are only numbered aa drawn out, and all the
Cards will be drawn, every hing {post be peifecly
fair and some of our subscribers -rnwit -become the
owner of a half Interest in the building, valued to
r 7,500. and the other leading presents valued it from
100 to $4)0 each, including two city lot*, will be held
EVEB OFFERED
that the public need no otner i
IN AMERICA.
faith than their published declaration, and character
for reliability; hut to leave no uncertainty they give
place to the following from real estate agents, known
throughout the State:
One-Half Interest in the Mag”
nificent Atlanta Constitu
tion : Bnilding Among
the Presents.
Messrs..W. A.Hemphill & Co.:
Building,
parties entitled to it under the plan of distribution
advertised by yon. The bnUdlog Is, Including base
ment, five stones high, one of the hin-Uomeet and
beet boll ‘ “ ...
■ t in the dt
rectiy valued at $15,01
m. FOR THE YEAR. M,
pVESIEOUS of erecting * new and larger edifice on
LJ Mother street, the Proprietors of THE CON
STITUTION offer Its subscribers the following nn-
parelied List or Presents. THi CONSTITUTION le
already the acknowledg-d foremost journal in aU this
section or the toulh. In a short time we shall com
mence a series of utters on European l ravel. by the
chatingulslnd and accomplished Profeeeor William
Henry Wsdde<L "1 the University of <4eor
ire from ‘ ~ - -
ters from the famous Georgia Authoress,
ST1TU 1'ION has created such • furore. The great
eight paged Sunday Paper will be conUnu-dLana al»o
our pictorial Illustrations that have become so popu
lar every where^and especially in the homes of our
weekly surscrlbers. We hope soon to present a
of artlcb»froin the ConespondlugBditor of
THE CONSTITUTION Hon. A. H.Stephens. Aa a
Political, Literary, Family Newspaper, TUB ATLAN
TA CONSTITUTION shall he second to none. Zn
order to speedily erect onr new hull >lng, we offer to
ourauhscrlbera, boihdatiy and weekly,~a present, to
'.half interest in the
gather with a chance for one —
present splendid Constitution Building, valued at
*i5,000; to do tnii, subscription must be paid ns in
advance.
PLAN.—Every subscriber who sends us *10 sub-
ecription money for 1874. will be sent, in addition to
Wa subscription receipt, a gift card, for which he
wi 1 receive at the grand oiitnbutirm one of the
presents in the following
MAGNIFICENT LIST.
One-fourth interest in Building, $3,750, or $2,500 Jn
gCld*
°goldf hfll totoe£t 1x1 *1,875. or 7,250 in
One-sixteenth interest In Building, $937 50, or $625
in gold*
One sixteenth interest in Building. $937 60, or $625
in gold#
i ..$500 00
1 Piano Ron 00
« young Horse. 30u *0
iS&fe::::::::::--- 832
1 1 ““jrrrr.:: S %
1 JfsfWgToPFurniture Set.... 100 00
Or lGlaea Door Book Case, or other Fur-
mture. iso oo
7 Chins Seta.... - - , , ............ so 00
1 Small Iron Safe "II 50 00
J22 *n graving* and Photographs... 250 00
i00 Copies Illustrated Weeks 350 CO
1 Two-horse Wagon 125 00
&***?*• go»**»d Instrumental Knsic... 60 00
* Fine Paintings (gilt frame) 50 00
XOO Copies beautifully bound Novels. Volumes
, ^teraryand Scientific Works.. 250 00
4.C53 other Presents, consisting of novelettes,
The Ptorietors of THE CONSTITUTION believe
1 assurance ox their good
Dsis Sms—We have received from yon titles, prop
erly signed, to one half interest in the Constitution
raraUnfrwMch, as Tinsteea, we shall deliver to the
, and we tnink, with lot, cor-
G. W. ADAIB,
J. B WALLACE:
CL C. HAMMOCK.
OBSERVE.
Pernio Onniiumt-'The presents will be distri
buted IN PUBLIC, in presence of Mator Hammock,
General Austell. President Atlanta National Bank;
Judge 8. B Hoyr, Cashier Georgia Railroad Bank;
' " “ "■ “ * G. W. Adair. President
Judge U. H. 8trong, Colonel
Georgia Western dallfoad; Colonel J. B. Wallace and
others.
1. The distribution shall take place, and all the
presents shall be drawn in public.
2. We show only sixty (6jj days from this date, Oc
tober 16th, for the operation of this grand scheme, and
therefore, ail who would seizs this splendid oportuni
tymnet do so wi bin 6J days.
8 By special request,any two daily subscribers can
obtain two sin month's receipts and one Card, or a $5
subscription will secure the paper tor the first six
. ‘— half interest in
months of 1874 and one half interest in atveof ths f ret
fourteen presents, should any one ot them be drawn
to the Card.
WEEKLY SUBSCRIBERS.
4. Weekly subscribers have an equal chance or par
ticipation by forming clans of Ave, to whom five an
nual receipts will be sent and one card for $10 sub
scription
5. fiend money direct by Post-Office Order, Regis
tered Letter or Express.
- 6. We call special attention to thi* fact to avoid any
diasatUfieilon. Only 6,000 Cards will be issued. We
shaU rocmvELT rotate to increase the number,
which ia feMthm the nnmber «r old subscribers. As
all new inbsenbers are entitled to share in the distri
bution, it wil' be seen tost it is necessary to remit at
ones, or the limited number of cards may be disposed
of and the chance missed. >
TO THE PUBLIC.
Through the darkest hours of Georgia's history
THB CONSTITUTION stood fearlessly by you and
your rights, against proscription, persecution and
even heavy libel suits by lm*e Radical Governors In
spite of such opposition THd CONSTITUTION has
grown to > prosperity unsurpassed in tbe south. We
now propore to show onr appreciation of the people’s
support by a grand distribution of presents. Mark
yon, it Is no lottery; yon do not give one cent more
than your subscription, and you do only
_____ _ ihtt mb-
seribers should always do—pay in advance. The per
centage of loss thus saved oy ns, and In expense of
collecting, enablre us to return it to subscriber* in
presents, and reaUxepnyU beside Nowwd^peal to
your gratitude and generosity, and tf you hear that
appeal, as you will, we ahaU erect a building c«pable
ol »coo mu * — —
_ accommodating onr Increased basine-s, and which
■hsU stand as a meonxai. mokthdchz to the noble
liberality of the subscribersof THK ATLANTA CON-
8 JITUTION—ram Christmas Present. Who cannot
pay the email sum of one year's subscription in ad -
vancef Surely every subscriber will do so; and
acme will receive in return the grand presents of
$7^no.
jygend your orders at once.
Agentacan write us lor terms.
Address
W. A. HEMPHILL A CO..
octlT-dtf Atlanta, Os.
had been here he should have taken it
whether he voted for it or not and should
have felt that he waa as justly entitled to it
sake wsa to receive a dollar a day. It was
a constitutional law cons'titutionally passed,
snd those who were entitled to pay under it
were as mnchjentitled to pay under it; were
as much entitled to the whole of it as they
were to any dime received of it If any one
thought it was too muck and returned it he,
Stephens, would not cast a slur upon him for
doing so. :
He had now discussed the moral
view of the question snd he would
now proceed to discuss it in its political
aspect He was' not going to place a value
oh-his own services as a representative, bat
if he were to state what he thought the ser
vices of a representative ought to he worth
they wonld go far 1 above the figure of any
law that has ever been passed. A represen
tative of the people ought to be. a man of that
mental calibre, that information, that educa
tion, that virtue, that trustworthiness, and all
those qualities which command the highest
remuneration. He had given it as bis opin
ion in the last speech he made in the Honse
fourteen years ago that, if the salaries of
members of Congress were $10,000, of Sen
ators $15,000, of the Chief Justice of the
Supreme Court $50,000, of the Associated
Judges $25,000, and of the Preaident $100,-
000, it would be better for the country at
large. He held the same opinion still.' H9
certainly wonld not vote for the bill reported
by the committee, bat he believed that the
most nnwise action of the last Congress was
the abolition of the franking privilege.
NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS.
Appropriations for the Navy.
Washington, December 13.—The Senate
Committee on Appropriations will hold a
meeting on Monday to consider the special
appropriation bill for four million dollars,
asked for by the Secretary of the Navy,
which passed the House yesterday. The
committee will amend the bill, making the
appropriation five million of dollars, the
a i ount originally asked for by tbe Secretary,
tbe amount appropriated by the House not
being sufficient to meet the necessities of the
navy..
Washington, December 13.—The meet
ing called for the evening iu the hall of the
House of Representatives to comp ire views
on the subject of rapid and cheap transpor
tation was presided over by Representative
Darnell, of Minnesota. Represent
atives Clemants, of Illinois, and
Slone, of Missouri, were chosen
secretaries. Fifty or sixty representatives
were present, together with Senators Alcorn,
of Mississippi, and Stevenson, of Kentucky.
Representative Sypher, of Louisiana, read the
call for the meeting, which, he said, was
signed by over one hundred members. This
meeting, he remarked, was not for the
purpose of ' committing any individual
to nny particular - project. The
EaBt was interested in this
question equally with the great West and
Sonth. In his judgment, the improvement
of the natural channels, wa9 the first ques
tion to which they shohlid address them
selves; they wonld secure tbe ends they
sought, to & greater degree snd at less ex
pense to the country, than any other project
of artificial means which could be desired.
After speakingof the vast products of the
Mississippi valley, showing the excess of
Western products, seeking Eastern and Eu
ropean markets being in amount over one-
tenth of the gross yield of cereals, he said
these cereals were transported by three great
water routes, viz: the St. Lawrence, the
Hndson and tbe Mississippi. The average
raees per bushel and time of transit areas fol-
From Chicago to Liverpool via St. Law
rence forty-five cents per bushel and fifty-
three days’ time; by the Hudson River route
fprty-nine cents per bushel and fifty-eight
days’ time; by the Mississippi from SL
Louis thirty-seven cents per bushel and
thirty days’ time. The two first named
routes were ice bound five months out cf Hie
twelve, whereas the last named
was practicable the entire year. While
he was an advocate and pressed
the advantages of the Mississippi route, he
wanted it distinctly understood that he did
not antagonize it with others. The project
of the Fort St. Philip canal he spoke espe
cially of, its necessity, the natural depth of
water at the month of the Mississippi being
only fourteen feet. Prom seventeen to
twenty feet bad been maintained by
the government dredge boats, bat
this was not reliable. He continued
to speak at length of the importance of this
subject, and of the great advantages notonly
to the people of the Missippi Valley, but to
the entire country.
Representative Harris, of Virginia, spoke
of the improvement of the James River and
the Kanawha Canal, which wonld connect
with the James River, and with the Atlantic
Ocean, affording the great West an outlet to
the sea. This work was favored by many
of those who framed onr Government,
indnding General Washington himself,
a practical engineer. A survey had
been made by order of the goverment and
all the engineers reported as to its feasibility.
It would not cost over forty-seven or fifty
millions of dollars. This sum was not large
as compared with the benefits wbich wonld
result from it. Water communication, though
slow ana tedious, was the only cheap trans
portation. Liverpool was nearer by one
thousand miles by (way of Norfolk than by
way of New Orleans. He was prepared to
go into an examination of all improvement
projects, and to give such of them
as were proper his cordial support They
were great national questions and most not
be treated as alone of interest to the Missis
sippi Valley, bat as of advantage to a com
mon country and a common destiny.
Representative Cobb, of Kansas, said be
should like to know whether this was a cau
cus of members residing in the Valley of tbe
Mississippi, met to consider the interests of
that section of country and not the merits of
the James River and Kanawha Canal.
Harris replied that he did not wish to in
clude himself on tbe caucus, and imagined
that he was at liberty to speak of one of the
great means of transportation, as he was not
aware that the call was exclnsive in its char
acter.
Sypher here interposed, saying to his friend
from Virginia, and all others, that the cal
did not exclusively apply to the interest of
the Mississippi valley. This question was
national, and could not be made sectional.
Representative Borchard, of Illinois, came
here representing a constituency deeply in
terested in thin transportation question. He
did not suppose the obj ect was to agree upon
any particular plan, bat that every gentle
man waa at liberty to express his views, and
that he would acquire knowledge for
future consideration, with a view
to acting intelligently on snch
measures as might be brought
before the House. He did not think it pru
dent to agree on any plan, in fact it was now
Impossible to do so. A strong and popular
committee bad been appointed by the
Speaker, consisting of gentlemen from 1 the
West and the South, who were to take charge
of all matter* relating to railways and ca
nals, freights and inland transport* tioi
with renewed strength. The West hi d th*
power to obtain redress if they would out
unite. He wished to take in the whole coun
try and obtain snch improvements as would
be of national benefit The cost was noth
ing in thi* matter. His constituents were
farmers, and therefore most have an outlet for
their surplus product*. _ j. . ,
“ Representative Stanard, of'.Missouri, said
there was two subjects which commanded
more attention than any others, vifc: ' Finance,
and the transportation interests of the eemn-
try and these were closdyjunited. The truth
was the country had grown beyond the fa
cilities for transportation. These have not in
creased aa the productions have increased.
Within the last ten years there was not alarger
number of through lines now from the East
to the West than at the close of the war.
These railroad lines have had a monopoly
for years; and especially duiing the winter
months, when lake navigation is closed and
river navigation partly closed and charged
their own prices. \ ;
Representative Clark, of Kansas wished to
offer a resolution declaring that the meeting
was in favor of the government improving
the month of the Mississippi, either by the
construction of the Fort St. Phillip Canal or
otherwise, as competent engineers may deem
to be feasible at the earliest practicable
moment
He should be bappy to hear more f ally the 1
views of gentlemen either before or after that
committee shall make report
Representative Crittenden, of Missouri, felt
grateful in seeing so many of all parties •
meeting together lor the common elevation
of our couutry from Maine to California,
lifting it from the valley of sectionalism to 1
the broad plain of n at locality. He was here
to co-operate with anybody, provided
they can so act as to carry their projects.
Congress had given millions to railroad com
panies, and while he did not make war upon
them, he thought now was the time for those
living in the Mississippi valley to apply to
Congress to give them snch assistance as
would develope tbe great resources of the
West, commencing where the Mississippi
takes its rise to where it has its outlet, and
removing obstructions at the mouth of that
river. He hoped they would all
agree before they left Washington,
upon some plan satisfictoiy to the people ot
the whole country.
Representative Longbridge was glad to see
so many members here from the Mississippi
valley. No one question so much interested
their constituents as cheap transportation.
They were tbo apt to think there was no
other section but their own. The Bouth at
onetime forgot that there was a North, and
the North that there waa a South. The East
is now beginning to find out that there h &
West—a West which has power in Con
gress ; and now eame the moment for toe
first great work of internal improvement.
Representative Burcbard said this meeting
had no right to bind members to any plan.
Gentlemen could express tbeir individual
opiiims. . .i .,
Stunard, in resuming, expressed the bopo
that no resolution would be offered.
He proceeded to show ttat the object in
view could be affectea in no bet
way than by the to-*
ter
provemem of the Mississippi rivet. It
was the duty of the Government to do this,,
no matter wnat it might cost, so that all the-
tribut aries to that river might thus be ben-
fittted. i r
Representative Longbridge askedlthe gen
tleman how long it would take to improve-
the mouth of tne Mississippi.
Stanard replied as soon a3 men and
money can do it.
Representative Clark, of Kansas,
said that the time had come when the -
West deinandeda route. The West was in 1
favor of the James River and Kanawha
Canal; in favor of the Bt Lawrence route, ■
the Atlantic and Great Western Canal, and ’
he favored the improvement of the harbor
of Galveston, and now be asked his Eastern
friends to open np the Mississippi river to
the people of that valley. He then offered
the resolution to which reference has al- 1
ready been made.
After a brief debate toe Ghair declared it
to be oat of order, as he did also a resolution •
offered by Representative Ford, of Illinois,
providing for tbe appointment of a commit
tee of nine to collect information as to the
factsjabont the cost of transportation by the
various proposed weys of communication.
Hr. Ford said he had supposed the ottfect
of this meeting waa to pat the matter' in
such a shape as would produce unity of ac
tion.
Representative McNulty, of Illinois, said
he had attended a cheap transportation con
vention in Wisconsin without results, and
now be had been invited hither to bear and
t-i compare views. It struck him that it
were best to quit talking and do something.
He was now ready to commence the fight,
and continue, if Eastern gentlemen shall, as
intimated, attempt to control legislation. The
West should unite to control Congress in
the performance of the right. Let it be said
that tbe West and Sonth have as much power
as the East, and will use it.
Representative McLean, of Texas, offered
the following res Jution:
Resolved, By this meeting that the mem
bers of tbe House of Representatives whose
constituents are interested in cheap trans
portation will direct their efforts to bring
about a, unit of action on the part of said
members in the legislation of Congress. ■
Representative Holman, of Indiana, al
luded to the fact that the committees on
river and harbor improvements had been
largely controlled by the Western members,
and that appropriations for the Mississippi
river, including the intervening lines of
communication, had been in fair proportion
to the appropriations for such purposes.
Representative Wilson, of Ohio, said the
East was as much interested aa the
West in such improvements, and he was
satisfied the Western members were, and
must support those measures which would
benefit the agricultural interests. The ques
tion was not bow much money should be
spent, bat how far Congress should go.
Objection was raised to McLean’s resolu
tion, but tbe chair decided it to be in order
Representative Parman,of Florida, after
saying the South had interests in common
with the West, demanded that if he came
from the Mississippi Vailey he would, in
company with others, demand the improve
ment of that river, and organizes caucus
making that caucus a power behind the
House, and would cany the measure irrespec
tive of money or section.
McLean’s resolution was agreed to.
McNulty's resolution, that when this
meeting adjourn, it meet three weeks from
to-night, when it will take into consideration
the propriety of forming a permanent organ
ization in the forty-third Congres in favor of
cheap transportation, and will take means
for the accomplishment ot that end. Fend
ing the resolution, s motion was made snd
curried to adjourn. It ia understood the fu
ture meeting will be st the call of chairman.