State of Louisiana, Mayoralty of New Orleans
| City Hall, March 22, 1862 |
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| Resolutions Passed by the Common Council of the City
of New Orleans |
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| Whereas, the New Orleans & Texas Railroad
Company has been fully organized for and is now engaged in the
construction of its railroad from New Iberia, on Bayou Teche, to
Orange, on the Sabine River; and
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| Whereas, the completion of this link of road
will give us railroad connection with all parts of Middle, Central,
and Southern Texas by means of the railways already finished in that
State, and thus open to us an avenue through which we will be
enabled to receive full and constant supplies of meat and
breadstuffs, not only for consumption in this and neighboring
cities, but an inexhaustible supply of beef to subsist the armies of
the Confederacy, both of which are considerations of great moment at
this time, as the contracting of our lines of military defense in
the West has to a great extent cut off our supplies from that
source; and by the construction of this short railroad we will
become independent of the Northwest for a time for our supplies of
beef, etc., Texas furnishing enough for the consumption of all the
cotton States; and
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| Whereas, the military importance of this road
is superior to all other considerations at this time, as it would
enable Texas to throw large numbers of troops to this point or other
places on the Mississippi River at very short notice and furnish us
with army supplies in greater abundance and at cheaper rates than
can be obtained from any other source, this line of communication
not being liable to attacks from the enemy; as the whole line of
sea-board south of it is a continual sea marsh, perfectly
impassable, and the rivers which it crosses impracticable for
gun-boats or other hostile craft, as they cannot be entered by
vessels drawing over three feet of water, hence this line of road
will be better protected by nature than it could be by a cordon of
military posts, as they might be taken or avoided, but this sea
marsh is invulnerable. Without this road Texas is entirely isolated
from the balance of the Confederacy. With it she will be closely
annexed to it and add vastly to its strength and resources and be
the means of furnishing us with very considerable war munitions
which are being received through Mexico and Texas ports, and which
war materials could be greatly increased in quantity if means of
transportation existed between the Sabine and the Opelousas Railroad
{New Orleans, Opelousas & Great Western
Railroad}, which this road will furnish; and
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| Whereas, the construction of this railroad
will undoubtedly furnish the city of New Orleans and the Confederate
Government a supply of beef and other provisions at a saving on
present cost of a sum annually equal in amount to its estimated
cost, and its existence as a means of military transportation will
be equivalent to an army of 50,000 men: Therefore be it
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| Resolved, That the New Orleans & Texas Railroad is a military necessity of the first class, and its
immediate construction of vital importance to the best interests of
the country, not only as an absolute necessity for Louisiana and
Texas, but also as a great national want and as a line of military
defense for the coasts of both States, and means for the rapid
transit of troops and army supplies.
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| Resolved, That we call the attention of
the Louisiana delegation in Congress to this matter and earnestly
request them to press the immediate consideration of the subject
upon the Government at Richmond and to use their influence and
position in obtaining for this company such assistance from the
Confederate Government as it may require to enable it to prosecute
its work to rapid completion, as we deem it eminently entitled to
such aid.
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| Resolved, That certified copies of this
preamble and resolutions be forwarded to our delegation in Congress
and to the Secretary of War; also a copy to the officers of the New
Orleans & Texas Railroad Company.
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| S. P. De Labarre |
| President pro tempore Board of Aldermen |
| Jules Benit |
| President pro tempore Board of Assistant Aldermen |
| Approved March 20, 1862 |
| John T. Monroe |
| Mayor |
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| Executive Office |
| New Orleans, March 25, 1862 |
| I approve fully the object of the foregoing
resolutions, and recommend prompt action thereon by the Confederate
Congress on the subject-matter. |
| Tho. O. Moore |
| Governor of Louisiana |
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