purpose of constructing and maintaining such a road through the three States of Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana, from Mobile to New Orleans, and are co-operating to effect by their united exertions the accomplishment of the enterprise. Sensibly impressed with the great utility of this undertaking to the country at large, as most essentially national in its comprehensive interests, we respectfully ask of the nation's representatives in Congress assembled a grant of public lands within the State of Louisiana, and upon the line of said road, equal to the alternate section, and in the depth of six sections on each side of said road, to aid in the construction of so much of said road as is within this State. And as the line of said road is contemplated to pursue a course bordering on the waters of the gulf, and partly through swamp lands already disposed of by Congress to this State for draining and levee purposes, so that a quantity of lands equal to the grant sought may not be found directly bordering on said road; in such case, we ask instead, that said company be permitted to locate and enter the deficiency from any other of the public lands in this State: Therefore, Be u resolved by the senate and house of representatives of the State of Louisiana, That our senators in Congress be instructed, and our representatives requested, to present the preceding memorial and this resolution to their respective bodies, and that they also use their best efforts to obtain the concession above indicated. Be it further resolved, &c., That the governor be requested to forward copies of the foregoing memorial and resolution to our senators and representatives in Congress. Approved, March 31, 1854. JNO. M. SANDIDGE, Speaker of the House of Representatives. President of the Senate, pro tem. P. O. HÉBERT, Governor of the State of Louisiana. MARCH 20, 1854.-Referred to the Committee on Commerce, and ordered to be printed. The memorial of the General Assembly of the State of Alabama to the Congress of the United States, asking an appropriation for improving the navigation of Mobile bay. Your memorialists respectfully represent, that the obstructions to the navigation of the bay of Mobile, at the points called the "Dog River bar" and "Choctaw Pass," have long interfered with the business and trade of Mobile, and have greatly diminished the revenue of the federal government from direct importations, from the want of a sufficient depth of water on the bar at Dog river and Choctaw Pass. Vessels of first class, such as have no difficulty in crossing the outer bar, and coming into the bay of Mobile, are unable to reach the city of Mobile, but are compelled to remain at anchor in the bay, and deliver and receive their cargoes by means of lighters, whereby the owners of ships are subjected to much delay, and the receivers and shippers of goods and produce subjected to serious expenses and charges. Your memorialists would further represent, that these obstructions to the navigation of the bay of Mobile have heretofore been brought to the notice of your honorable bodies, and the great injury to the already large and still growing commerce of the city of Mobile has hitherto attracted the attention of Congress. Appropriations of money have, from time to time, been made to deepen the channels at the two obstructions referred to. Officers of the government engaged in the coast survey have, in their survey of the bay of Mobile, explained the nature and extent of the obstructions at Dog River bar and Choctaw Pass, and plans of removing the same, and estimates of the cost thereof, have been submitted to Congress. Your memorialists, regarding the entire country as interested in the speedy removal of these obstructions, respectfully ask that the necessary appropriations be made to secure the active continuance of the work, and the early completion of the same; and, as in duty bound, &c. Resolved, That a copy of the foregoing memorial be forwarded to each of our senators and representatives in Congress, and that they be requested to use their efforts to secure the prayer thereof. Approved January 17, 1854. 1st Session. RESOLUTION OF No. 40. THE LEGISLATURE OF MISSISSIPPI, IN FAVOR OF The bill to organize the Territories of Nebraska and Kansas. MARCH 20, 1854.-Ordered to lie on the table, and be printed. Whereas efforts are being made in the Congress of the United States and elsewhere to prohibit the introduction of slaves into the Territory of Nebraska in a manner not in accordance with the spirit and intent of the federal constitution; therefore, Resolved, That the bill now pending before Congress, organizing Territorial governments for Nebraska and Kansas, is in accordance with the principles of the constitution of the United States, and in the opinion of this legislature just and proper; and that our senators in Congress are instructed, and our representatives are requested, to support said bill by all honorable means. H. CASSEDY, Speaker of the House of Representatives. Approved, March 2, 1854. President of the Senate. JOHN J. MCRAE. OFFICE OF SECRETARY OF STATE, Jackson, March 6, 1854. I, Wm. H. Muse, secretary of state of the State of Mississippi, do hereby certify that the foregoing writing is a true copy of a resolution of the legislature now on file in this office. WM. H. MUSE, |
