In J.F.H. Claiborne's narrative of the Life of Sam Dale: The Mississippi Partisan, there is a description of migration to Mississippi:

(p. 45)
"About that period, a brisk emigration from Georgia and the Carolinas, through the Creek and Choctaw country, to the Mississippi Territory, begun. I put three wagons and teams in the business, contracting for the transportation of families, and bringing back with me to Savannah return loads of Indian produce."
posted by Lloyd at 11:43 AM

Cobb's Mississippi Scenes (1851) contains a discussion of Methodist-Baptist rivalries.
posted by Lloyd at 11:22 AM

Abraham Lincoln Papers at the Library of Congress. Transcribed and Annotated by the Lincoln Studies Center, Knox College. Galesburg, Illinois.
Carl Schurz to Abraham Lincoln, Wednesday, August 22, 1860 (Report from Indiana)

From Carl Schurz to Abraham Lincoln, August 22, 1860

New Albany Ind. Aug. 22d. 1860.

Dear Sir,

For about three weeks I have been working in the state of Ind. and I think I am now able to form an opinion about the condition of things here. Our friends are very confident almost every where, except in this section of the state. We have been and are making large gains at many points, especially north of the national road and all along the Wabash. Little work, comparatively, has been done along the Ohio, East of Evansville, and it is absolutely necessary that good speakers should be sent here. It was generally expected that the Fillmore-element1 would join us in a body; but that expectation is partially disappointed. I find that at all places a large number of Americans have come right over; but most of those that stuck to the old-organization, seem to be very much inclined to favor Douglas,2 and in order to do that efficiently, to vote for Hendricks3 at the State election. I am informed that there is a scheme on foot to send over voters from Kentucky for the purpose of swelling the democratic majorities along the Ohio-river. I saw R. Thompson4 and Mr Edwards, Bell-Elector,5 at Terre-Haute. Both these men want to see you elected and will do all in their power to that effect. I am credibly informed by the most intimate friends of the gentlemen named, that the reason why they did not come out openly for you, was, that they thought they could do more for you as members of the American organization. But as a general thing the Bell men are described as a set of malignant fellows who will do all the mischief they can. I have heard the Bell-vote in he whole state variously estimated at 5,000 to 10,000 but not higher.

As to the Germans they are coming over in shoals whereever they are judiciously worked with. I think I have succeeded in drawing over a great many whereever I have spoken, but I want a good German speaker to go over the same ground and follow up the work. Would it not be possible for Gov. Koerner6 to devote 2 or 3 weeks to this state?

I wish to make a suggestion. The people in this part of the state are eminently conservative and the cry of abolitionism has much power with them. The best way to treat them would not be to send our most conservative men here, at least not alone, but to give them a chance to see and hear a live abolitionist of whom they have heard so many bad things.

If you could prevail upon Lovejoy7 to come down here and make a few calm, dispassionate, discreet speeches, placing himself upon your ground, it would do more to conciliate the people of this section to Republicanism, than anything else. They would ask themselves: "Is that the wolf we have heard so much of?" The effect, I have no doubt, would be great. I submit the thing to your consideration and will talk to the Central Com. of this State about it. Of course, you must be sure that Lovejoy would act very discreetly.

On the whole I think, that if the election were to take place tomorrow you would receive a respectable majority. The only danger I see is about the state ticket. I find that Hendricks has succeeded at many places in making as good an impression as Lane,8 and he may receive votes which Douglas or Breckinridge9 would not get. The Breckinridge vote in this state is undoubtedly very much overestimated. A great many of the Democratic leaders are very fierce against Douglas, but the rank and file do not go with them. I think it will not overrun a few thousand; it may fall below 2,000 for ought I know.

I do not consider the state as sure as Illinois, but I am confident, that with a proper effort we can carry it over all combinations that can be made against us.

I shall get through with my appointments this week and then leave for home. I have some very urgent private business to attend to which may keep me at home, I am afraid, for some time. If it is in any way possible I shall make half a dozen more speeches in the south-eastern part of this state, but it is very uncertain whether and when I shall be able to do so. I wish I could multiply myself by ten for the next two months; at all events I shall do as much as one man is able to.

I return your scrap-book10 by Mr. J. J. McDonald, whom you know, with many thanks. As soon as I start out again I shall deliver a speech against Douglas, a complete, round argument with the corresponding thunder and lightning, and have it printed for circulation. I have some good things against that little giant of ours and I think I shall make them tell.-- Any suggestions you may see fit to make to me will be most gratefully received.

With my best respects to Mrs. Lincoln

Yours very truly

C. Schurz

P. S. Letters will reach me at Watertown, Wis. If you should desire me to urge some point or other in my speeches you would oblige me by making suggestions to that effect.

C. S.

[Note 1 Former President Millard Fillmore was the American or "Know Nothing" candidate for president in 1856. The American Party was largely defunct by 1860 and the Republicans hoped to bring the Know Nothings into their camp.]

[Note 2 Stephen A. Douglas]

[Note 3 Thomas A. Hendricks was the Democratic candidate for governor of Indiana in 1860.]

[Note 4 Richard W. Thompson]

[Note 5 Senator John Bell of Tennessee was the presidential candidate of the Constitutional Union Party.]

[Note 6 Gustav P. Koerner]

[Note 7 Owen Lovejoy]
posted by Lloyd at 11:03 AM

Indiana navigable rivers. The definition of this today, legally, is whether the river was considered navigable AT STATEHOOD(!!!!)

See Indiana Natural Resources Commission:
http://www.in.gov/nrc/2390.htm.

A landmark decision in Indiana with respect to determining and applying navigability is State v. Kivett, 228 Ind. 629, 95 N.E.2d 148 (1950). The Indiana Supreme Court stated that the test for determining navigability is whether a waterway:

was available and susceptible for navigation according to the general rules of river transportation at the time [1816] Indiana was admitted to the Union. It does not depend on whether it is now navigable....The true test seems to be the capacity of the stream, rather than the manner or extent of use. And the mere fact that the presence of sandbars or driftwood or stone, or other objects, which at times render the stream unfit for transportation, does not destroy its actual capacity and susceptibility for that use.

A modified standard for determining navigability applies to a body of water that is artificial. The test for a man-made reservoir, or a similar waterway that did not exist in 1816, is whether it is navigable in fact. Reed v. United States, 604 F. Supp. 1253 (1984).
posted by Lloyd at 2:55 PM