The Secretary read the following report, submitted by Mr. CLARK on the 2d instant, from the select committee on the subject: The select committee appointed b the Senate, to whom was referred the memorials mm the boards of loveo comuiisSioners for thestate of Louisiana and the Ynzoo valley district of the State of Mississippi praying the aid of Joiigressin the reconstruction of 10 levccs on repor the Mississippi river.submit the follow:, The subjectof protecting the alluvial lands in the valley of the Mississuipi river from overtlow by its annual floods has in former ycnrs engaged the attention of Congress, and ynrious legislative provisions have been adopted having thatobactin view. Lovccs constructed by privateexertionin the State of Louisi nnii had reclaimed a largo bodyofswiimpland, stated as high as twomillion acres, which was sold and the proceeds canted to the public Treasury. In consid csroanrsio, bnyof the benefitthus derived, and for otherrea the netof CongressapprovedMarch 2, 1849, the remaining swamp lands in Louisiana weredo nated to that State for leveepur oses. By the act of Congross approved 23th Beptoin or, 1850, the same provision was extended to Arkansas and other States n Bwyhich alluvial and overflowed lands existed. the act of Congressapproved.80 tember 80, 1850, making appropriations or the civi and diplo matic expensesof the Government, the sumof 550.000 was appropriatedfor the " topographicaland hydro gruphjcal surveyof the delta ot the Mississippi, with such investigations as may tend to determine the most practicable plan for securing it from inundation and the bolt modeof so deepening the passes at the mouth of the river as to allow ships of 20 feet draught to enter the same.” B the net of Congress xtp proved August 31.130" In appropriationsfor 0 Arm! an dition I should like to see it in appropriation of 850.000was made “for continuing the topographical and liydrograpliionl surveyof the delta of theMississippi, with such investigations ns may tend to determine the mostpracticableplan tor securing it from inundation." veIyns pursuanceof these appropriationsextendedsur and investigations were ouri ledon for several years under the direction of Ca ttiin (nowM or gencrul)A. A. lliiniplircys, of the U.S. Engineer corps; and the report prepared by this officer was suIbnmitted in August, 1561t.o the War Dept. December last GenlHumphreys was instructed by the war Dept tomake an examination of the river, Wlllffltview to the speedyrepair of the principal breaks in the levees. his survey was comlcted by the 8th of January last; but as neither (icncral Cunbynor thcWnr Deptpos sessed the requisite meanstor the execution of the repairs, no work on the leveeswas done. General llumphroys’s report of this surveyhas beencprnmu nicated to the Senate, and has materially facilitated the labors of the committee. The country which Wlll be protectedb ii r op er systenyofievoesis the alluvuil ottoin of t q Iissis sippi river, of great and inexhaustible fertility. Its area is stated by GenlHumphreys at square miles; of "31.7 which a mere narrow strip, along the banks of the river and along a few bayous, has been opened for cultivution. Of this area12, 3005qunre milcs is belowRed river, and belongs to the sugar region. Under a proper systemof drumagepno 3rd owfiti, t may be eventually opened and cultivated, to 2, 500,00a0cres. There are now under cultivation in this region about 1,000,000acres. of the remaining 19, 400 s uare miles. perhaps 3,000square miles may be nort i of the cotton growmg region, leaving some10,00soquaremileswithin that re ion, of the most fertilo alluvion, 2/3rds of which may be finally rendered cultivable under ii proper systemof lcveeirigand draining. This would give "7,000,00a0cresof cultivated lan, capable of grow 111 02bal0 ofcotton to the sore.” his product would be much larger than any crop yct raisedin the U.S. The 1st levees were made by individual effort. Then came county and district organizationsin the Statesof Louisiana and Mississippi, under the sanction of the State authority: and at the beginning of the war much lind beenetfectedfor this important object. But the outbreak of progress hostilities stopped the of the work: During the war many breaks occurred by the notion of the floods, and at some points large openingsin the leveeswerecut for military purposes. In 4 yearsnothing was done for protection orlrepairs; and the work of repair by the State of Louisiana. during the past winter did not Withstand the spring treshet, and has for the most part beensweptaway. The important breachesin the leveesare enumer ated in the report of General lIumphreys, and are describedin detail; but it, is known that someothers have occurredsince his survey was made, and those which then existedhave been much enla ed. The number of acres now overflowed cannot except approximately; but it appearsthat 13 of the mostfertile parishesof Louisiana are nearlly or quite desolated, while othersarepartly overflows. To this must beaddedmuchthelargerportion of the sciuslstiipvapti, eadnldanpdesarinlytthheeYwnhzooloe ovfatllheeyeduilsttirviactteodf misalluvial countri in eastern Arkansas. General 1 umphrcys estimates for the complete and cruianent repair of all the levees of theriver as fol Cubic yards. 0W8; For the State of Arkansas For the State of Mississippi For the State of Louisiana. Total forpermanent repairsofall tholevecs, $3, 900,000 It is urged.however, by the delegatesof the levee cciocmntm, issionersthat the above sum would be insutfi and to provide for smaller breaks, and the recont caving oi the banks, largo additional amounts must be raised either by the Government or by the peoplein that country. The committee are satisfied that the peoplo of those States are unable, without aid from the Government.to undertake and complete the necessaryro pairs. At present there is a general bankruptcy of means.They possess neither the labor nor themoney; and, with overflowed lands and General pecuniary distress. it is impossible for them to commapderedit. In the State of ouisiana 1000s of familics have beenforcedtotiy fromtheir homes andare supported by public and private charity. And in districtswhere the distress has been lcss iminediato, the fruits of industry have been sweptaway by successivefloods. But, even if this impoverishment did npt exist, so numerous and so large are the crevassesin the river that it would hardly be practicable to rescue any largeportion of the country by the unaided otforts of the people. Unless the resourcesof the nation be promptly interposed, a largqextont of country. supporting n numerous population of both races, must o abandoned and Will speedily relapse into its ori ginal wild and uncultivated condition, and the general prosperity of the country very sensibly nffected. The questionwould seem.therefore, to be as to the extent to which, in View of the pressingneed of the people and the great national interests at stake, relief should be atfordedby the Government. Thut this relief should assumethp form of an appropriation for aing work ofaii exteuswcnaturc and oinand alarge sum for its completion.does not appear advisable in the present, cpndition of the Treasury. The committee are of opinion that the amount of aid to be granted should be limited to repairing. in an effective and durable manner. those important 0 statedbreacheswhich are beyond the power of individual or loculeffort, and by the closin of which large districts formerly cultivated may e rescuedfrom the floods.until by one or more crops the planters may be able to provide for their own security. Having in view theseprinciplesand the extent towhichthese works may be aided by the cffortsof the resident population, the committeesubmit a bill, the clfect of which they confidentl believe will be the reclu mntion of a large body 0 land in seasonfor the crop of thenext year. The committee proposoto confidethis work to the U.S. blovernmentengineersunder thodirection of the War Dept. It is hardly nccessaryto enlarge upon the great national and political importance of this measure. The area.of land now proosedto be rescuedfrom the floods.by the repair of the loyees, is the Ynzoo bottomof the State of Mississippi, the Texas bot tMoimssoisfs Aiprpkia.ns Tahseasnedb Loottuoismiasnaar, eaonfdvtahsetdeexltteanotfathned embrace the richest cotton and sugar lands of the U.S.; and, for the production of the 1st named staple arc2ndto none upon the globe. In the State of Mississippi 300,000 acresof cultivated land will be redeeme, larger and in Louisiana is much portion. In the 1st namedStateit is claimed by the incine rialists thatif this protectionbeafforded therewill be a cro opf 300.000 bales of cotton grown in the Yiizoo district, in addition to other products, the ensuingyear. In the State of Louisiana the me morialists refer to the state censusof 1850.to show that the product of cotton in this overflowed section was.)4.0b4a4lcs, nndof sugar 260, 82h8ogsheads, making with otherproductionsat their current prices avaluc of $105, 656,094T.hese statementsare fully sustained by the report of GenlHumphrcys. By this documentit appearsthat the cottoncropofl of that portion of the alluvial regionabove the mouth of Red river, where it is Wposod to make rep irs, must have exceeded 600 bales, which at 30 cents perpound would be worth $72,000,000T.he suroupaor secrdop of 1860 of the country belowRed river to be protected, ho states, was241,000ho ends of sugar and 317,000 barrels of molasses; the value of which. at present prices, would be over $40,000,000. The annual tax upon this row cotton alone. at 2 centsper pound.would be81.800.000 Even assumin that it will take 3 or 4 years for the porn production to be restored, we still have an income of millions of dollars as the annual product from this tax. This is, however.a singlcitem only. The commercial transactions incident to the growth, sale and shipment of these staples. the muuufact ure of the cotton, or its shipment to foreign ports, involves a return to in revenue of many millions of dollars and makes this measureof relief to the peopleone of relief also to the revenues and to the presenttax payers of the country. The eifect that a large] augmentederopof cotton in the comingyearwoul have upon the exchanges, thereby reducing the shipment 0 gold to foreign ports, and the consequent effect upon the public currency and credit, are constderntions of grnve importance, but too obviousto require morethan asug estion by the committee. Nor should it be forgotten t iat anterior to the war a great and growing trade existed between this Valley and the other portions of the Union. Its supplies of grain, meat. mules, ke" came in large measure from the States which are sitriuted upon thoupper watersof the Mississippi and its tributaries. Its staples were carried by the shipping of the easternStatesto the points of consumptionand manufacture. The eastern Statessupplied also the manufacturesof cotton, woolen, iron, steel, shoes, and ptherarticles, and the agricultural implements required by the people of this section. To restorethis trade, to revive the pros perity of this section, to developits industry, ii iidby a recoveredprosperity and an enlargementoi commercial intercourse, to renewand strengthen those feelingsof aflectionwhich ought to must among the peopleof the different portions of the country, are objectswhich will not be deemedof lightirnport nnce, and will morethan justify themeasurepresentedby the committee. For 4 yearsthe national Qovernlmenthas been strugglingwith the peopleof this portion of the country to securethe recognition of its authority and to preservethe Union of the States. In the proroseof this war this section has been desolatedon much sufferinginflicted on the inhabitants. The industry which oncesolargely contributedto the choralproo crity has beeninterrupted, and everyjiuterestnow lies prostrnte. The contesthavmglterminated by the submission of the inhabitants to t o authority of the national Government, it is believedthat everyproper aid should be given to these peopleto rencwtho ir industry and to developthe no productionsof their soil. such a measureof relief as the one proposed would be to themp.proof of the liberal and impartial spirit in which it is proposedto administer the government, and would create that fraternal iecling which it is so desirableto fosterand maintain by all appropriatemeans. The power of Congressto imprpvoharbors and riv ershasbeonlong encreised and is not doubtedby the committee. Experiencedemonstratesthatunless the watersof this river be limited to its proper bounds, the result is a depositof earth or allnvion gradually filling ii the mouth and increasing the bars of the river. he restoration of the leveeswill give greatly increasedvolumeand force to the waters, and remove the impediments to navigation, while it will rescue from annual devastatingfloods a vast art aofland of wonderful fertility, capableotsup orting, withawell orderedindustry, millions of inha itpnts, ministeriu lurgfily by their roduptsto the national wealth an. to the wants oft c civilized world. It is the part of wisdomto restorethe branchesand desolatedplaceswhich wasting elements and n more WastingcivilWarhavemade. Whosesoeverniayhave been the folly to all down. let ours be the magna nimity and the o ort to build up.