[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 7]
[Senate]
[Pages 10111-10112]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 519--RECOGNIZING THE 300TH ANNIVERSARY AND HISTORICAL 
            SIGNIFICANCE OF THE CITY OF NATCHEZ, MISSISSIPPI

  Mr. WICKER (for himself and Mr. Cochran) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 519

       Whereas American Indians made use of the land that is now 
     Natchez, Mississippi (in this preamble referred to as 
     ``Natchez'') before the first European explorers reached the 
     area;
       Whereas the bluff in Natchez overlooking the Mississippi 
     River has served as a natural geological setting that 
     encouraged trade and cultural development;
       Whereas Natchez was founded as Fort Rosalie by French 
     settlers under Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne De Bienville in 1716;
       Whereas construction of Fort Rosalie was completed on 
     August 3, 1716;
       Whereas Fort Rosalie was destroyed by Natchez Indians in 
     1729 and rebuilt by the French in 1731;
       Whereas Natchez came under British control in 1763 and 
     under Spanish control in 1779;
       Whereas the Treaty of San Lorenzo established Natchez as a 
     United States territory in 1798;
       Whereas Natchez served as the original capital of the 
     Mississippi Territory from 1798 to 1802 and as the original 
     capital of the State of Mississippi from 1817 to 1821;
       Whereas Natchez is the terminus of the historically 
     significant Old Natchez Trace, which is now preserved by the 
     United States National Park Service and known as the Natchez 
     Trace Parkway;
       Whereas Natchez was the original home to Jackson State 
     University, which was first known as Natchez Seminary;
       Whereas Natchez has been home to several notable 
     individuals, including United States Senator Hiram Rhodes 
     Revels, United States Representative John R. Lynch, and 
     author Richard Wright;
       Whereas Natchez city events contribute to the cultural life 
     and historical understanding of Mississippi, including--
       (1) the Natchez Literary and Cinema Celebration;
       (2) the Natchez Festival of Music;
       (3) the Great Mississippi River Balloon Race; and
       (4) the Natchez Pilgrimage;

       Whereas the city of Natchez is currently holding a year-
     long tricentennial celebration, in honor of the history of 
     Natchez, that will end with a 300th birthday party on August 
     3, 2016;
       Whereas the heritage and educational events during the 
     tricentennial celebration will be observed by delegations 
     from France and Canada;
       Whereas Natchez is signified nationally as the oldest 
     European-built city on the lower Mississippi River; and
       Whereas it is important for the people of Mississippi and 
     the United States to remember history in an inclusive way 
     that honors

[[Page 10112]]

     contributions from all backgrounds: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates the year 2016 as the ``Natchez 
     Tricentennial''; and
       (2) honors the history and founding of Mississippi through 
     the Natchez Tricentennial.

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