attention of the Board for a moment, to a subject which we desire to present. Inadvertently a subject which has created a good deal of interest in the minds of the merchants of the Mississippi valley, which has had due consideration by our public men and press during the past month and more, and which we desire to discuss here, was not sent forward to be placed upon the official programme, although it seems to be germain to propositions XI and XII, which do appear there. I desire to read the proposition which we wish to have discussed. If, in the opinion of the Chair, it is germain to the propositions to which I have referred, and can be discussed in the regular course of business, then I have nothing to say ; but if it is the opinion of the President that it is not so, I desire to have it referred to the Executive Council, so that they may report it back, to be discussed during our session, if they are willing to do so. The resolutions are as follows: WHEREAS, Our foreign trade being largely based upon the agricultural and planting products of the Western and Southern States, drained by the Mississippi and its tributary waters, it is due not less to these States than to those of the seaboard, that facilities should be created to render the transportation of these products rapid, secure and cheap, thereby that the farmers and planters may receive prompt returns from foreign markets, to be thus enlarged; and the mechanics and working men at home may have in abundance the means of support at low prices, thus largely enhancing the rewards for labor throughout the entire country; therefore, be it Resolved, That we render a cordial support to the policy suggested by the Honorable Secretary of the Navy, in his recommendation to Congress, to accept the proposals of the International Steamship Company, for the creation of American iron steamship building works, for the construction of ocean steamers; which "steamers shall be adapted as far as may be for commerce in time of peace, and for naval militia in time of war." Resolved, That this policy is alike applicable and necessary for iron steamboat building works, at some central point on the Western waters, which may, in case of need, afford facilities for naval and war purposes, and which will, at all times, promote the prosperity of the West and South, by the creation of iron steamboats, not subject to destruction by fire, and comparatively safe from the disasters of explosions or sinking. Resolved, That we most respectfully request from Senators and Representatives of the West and the South (as well as from all other sections) the careful consideration and support of these great measures for the common good of our country, and that we earnestly urge upon them to unite in securing on the Western waters, at a point satisfactory to the Secretary of the Navy, the establishment of iron steamboat building works, on a plan similar to that of the International Steamship Company, either by the extension of a branch of that company's works thereto, or by an amendment to their bill, which shall grant aid, in a similar manner, to a western iron steamboat building company. These have been discussed and unanimously approved by our mercantile organizations in St. Louis, and in many other cities on our Western waters, and also at the commercial convention at Baltimore. The PRESIDENT: I should think these resolutions might fairly be discussed in connection with the propositions relating to the shipping interest. The Board proceeded to take up the subjects upon the programme. I.-SOUTHERN LEVEES. Resolved, That the National Board of Trade regards the question of improving the levees on the Mississippi river as one of vital importance to the whole country. That the attention of Congress is earnestly requested to the assistance of this great measure, by the enactment of such laws as may be necessary, to the intent that whenever the States of Louisiana, Mississippi and Arkansas, or any one of them, shall provide by law for leveeing the banks of the Mississippi river within their respective limits, and for the issue of bonds in the sum of one thousand dollars each, payable within thirty years from the date thereof, with interest coupons at the rate of six per cent. per annum, payable semi-annually, which bonds are to be used for the sole purpose of defraying the expenses of such leveeing, and shall also in such laws provide for an annual tax on the productions of lands within the limits proposed to be reclaimed, to an amount sufficient to pay the annual interest on all bonds so issued, and to create an annual sinking fund sufficient to pay the principal at maturity; then the United States shall guarantee the bonds so issued to an amount not exceeding, for the States of Louisiana and Mississippi, ten millions of dollars each, and for the State of Arkansas, five millions; provided, that the delivery to the respective States of the bonds so guaranteed should only be made as the work progresses under the general supervision of engineers appointed by the United States. Mr. ALLEN, of St. Louis: I beg to say, that the gentlemen, whoever they were, who proposed this subject originally, had not properly considered the diverse opinions there are on the subject. It is known to those most familiar with the working of the Mississippi river, that leveeing its banks has probably done more injury within the brief period of time since leveeing was first begun, than was ever done to the river, or its banks, or the surrounding country, in all time anterior to that. Beyond all question, nature made ample provision for the overflow of the Mississippi, through the various bayous that run down through the country. Since the time when the system of leveeing the banks was introduced, the bayous have been closed up, and almost constant overflows are the consequence. I feel that if this proposed legislation were carried out by the several States, or by Congress, there would be more injury done to the river and surrounding country than could possibly be repaired within any reasonable length of time. I shall vote against the proposition, believing that it will work injuriously to the interests of all concerned in the southern country. Mr. SHRYOCK, of St. Louis: Mr. BURWELL, of New Orleans, is on the floor; he is very familiar with the question, and I have no doubt will take issue with the gentleman from St. Louis, (Mr. ALLEN,) as I myself shall do, for I am satisfied that this Board cannot spend its time much better than by endeavoring to devise some measure which shall save that country from total destruction. I will yield the floor to Mr. BURWELL, for I know he is well informed on the question. Mr. BURWELL, of New Orleans: I must disclaim deserving the compliment which my friend has paid me of being especially informed on this great question. I trust I understand its difficulties, sir; and when I have said that, I have admitted, and cannot further illustrate, the great embarrassments which it presents. Sir, the Mississippi river, or its agricultural productions, certainly, are in the situation of any other patient awaiting relief, and we are not prepared to see physicians, like the gentleman who has just addressed you, discussing the mode and manner in which this patient shall be relieved. We wish to leave it to national discretion to do whatever may be thought proper in the premises. To a certain extent, we are satisfied with the resolution as it stands with one simple amendment, which I presume will meet with your approval. The amendment which I would suggest is this: in the seventeenth line of the printed resolution before you, you find the words: “and shall also in such laws provide for an annual tax on the productions of lands within the limits proposed to be reclaimed, to an amount sufficient to pay the annual interest," etc. That opens a very important question among us as to whether the charge for reclaiming the lands on the Mississippi should be imposed upon the land directly co-terminous to the levees, producing the cotton and the sugar, or whether the tax should be laid generally upon all subjects of taxation within the several States. I shall move to strike out such words as limit this power of taxation, on the part of the States named, to the lands immediately adjoining the levees. I may mention, sir, that the city of New Orleans pays sixty-six per cent. of the tax of the whole State of Louisiana. Two-thirds of the whole cost of administering the State Government, independently of the cost of the city Government, rests upon that municipality alone. When the levees have been improved by these States heretofore, they have been improved at the State expense, and bonds have been issued, and those bonds were a lien, of course, upon the whole taxable property of the State. The city of New Orleans assented to this, approved of it, and has made good her responsibility in regard to it. Therefore, I propose to amend the resolution under consideration so far as to strike out such words as limit the taxing power of the States in regard to this particular improvement of those lands, to those products which come from the lands which are more immediately protected. If I may be indulged, I will give the reasons, because they are local and known to ourselves alone, - which seem to us to render this a proper matter for a general rather than a special tax. The Mississippi river is a great public enemy. We throw up embankments and entrenchments against it as we would against any other enemy; and inasmuch as it would be unjust to impose upon any portion of the public, living upon a line of invasion, the whole expense of protecting that line, so it would be unjust to require the planters to make this defence against this physical enemy. Sir, a special tax upon the cotton and sugar grown within these limits would be an unjust discrimination against the cotton planter and the sugar planter; and so far as the people of Louisiana are concerned — other gentlemen can speak for other States—it is the desire of our people that they should have the power to make a general charge of taxation, instead of its being limited. It is unnecessary for me to occupy the time of this body on this subject; but I will say, more specifically in reply to the gentleman, that we cannot wait for any other experiments. Our planters have spent their time and money in making these great defences; these have cost hundreds of millions of dollars. They are there and require repa- Mr. WELSH, of Philadelphia: I will ask the gentleman whether it is not essential that the levees should be kept in proper order, that the navigation of the river may be maintained in the best condition? Mr. BURWELL: I expressly disclaim any knowledge in respect to the hydraulics of this subject. I suppose that there has been high scientific skill displayed upon that very question, as to whether this river can be best relieved by a side drain opening new avenues, and leaving the old ones open, or by the construction of levees; but the question whether the bed of the river is raised by the construction of levees is a question I decline to discuss. The river opposite New Orleans is one hundred and twenty feet in depth, and it may fill up half that depth before navigation will be affected. At the mouth, there is a bar which has been pressing forward from the earliest survey of the river, which limits the navigation to vessels drawing not more than fourteen feet of water. The Government has dredged it, and kept it open to the depth of nineteen feet. There is a proposition which has passed the National Commercial Convention,— of which I was not a member, — which proposes that the Government shall construct a canal seven miles in length, connecting the deep waters of the river with the deep waters of the gulf. But practically, I cannot say that the levee has any effect upon navigation at all; it certainly has no perceptible effect upon navigation. Whether a canal would be the best remedy for the obstructions, or levees, or the opening of waste ways, is a question which, with great deference to the body, I really do not care to discuss here. I confine myself to the simple amendment I have offered. |