The Donaldsonville Chief

THE LEVEE MEETING.

According to previous announcement, there was a meeting of planters and citizens at the Court-house last Saturday for the purpose of conferring upon the subject of the broken levees, and devising means for repairing them before the coming of high water.

Governor Warmoth was present in fulfillment of his promise, and representatives were on hand from the adjacent parishes of Iberville, West Feliciana, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Charles and Orleans.

The meeting was called to order by Judge E. W. Mason, whereupon Mr. N. Duffel was nominated and elected president, and Judge Mason and Mr. Octaye Terrio chosen Secretaries.

The chairman stated the object of the meeting, and invited Governor Warmoth to address the assemblage.

The Governor complied, representing that the Louisiana Levee Company had completely failed financially, and that the citizens had only themselves to rely upon to protect the country from overflow. He promised them to use all his influence to have the Legislature reimburse them for the outlay they will be compelled to make in rebuilding the levees, and said he would not allow the collection of the levee tax unless he could control it and prevent it from falling into the hands of speculators in levee stock; if, however, he could control the fund, he would order the collection of the tax, and distribute the proceeds equitably among those who had contributed to the repair of the levees. The Governor's remarks were well received and frequently applauded.

Mr. Duncan F. Kenner followed in a terse address, but made some disparaging allusions to the Police Jury which we considered entirely uncalled for and very unjust considering the spirit exhibited by that body, and especially its President, to aid the object of the meeting every way in its power. The hands of the Jury are tied by the laws of the State, and the fact that they cannot rebuild the levees is not the fault of the members thereof.

Judge Mason responded in a brief but vigorous defense of the Police Jury which was warmly applauded. The Judge had been untiring in his efforts to make the meeting a success, having visited the adjoining parishes and secured the attendance of representatives from each, and he naturally felt the injustice of the slurs thrown upon the body of which he was presiding officer.

Messrs. McCall and Duffel, General Thomas, Judge Walton and Dr. McCormick were successively called upon, and made brief remarks appropriate to the subject under consideration.

Upon motion, a committee was appointed to solicit subscriptions from the planters and inhabitants generally to rebuild and repair the levees of this parish, the following gentlemen composing the committee: Duncan F. Kenner, Dr. J. L. McCormick, R. T. Hanson, E. Pedesclaux and Johns Jacobs.

The meeting then adjourned.

Those with whom we have spoken in regard to this meeting think that no good whatever was accomplished, but we prefer to let future developments decide that question. We still have a lingering hope that the Louisiana Levee Company will build the levees, and we intend going down to New Orleans to gather up information upon the subject. We shall lay the result of our efforts before the readers of the Chief next week.