Baton-Rouge gazette. [volume] (Baton-Rouge, La.) 1819-1856, 1841-01-09
WI NS AGE
OF Gov ernor 4 b RosAx reed in tie Housc
at 'he oIsning ofths seseion.
FelLp Citizens Of the Seaat.

vi tcs efhoF "A Ii nor AN fesd IN tie HoGf
at she oIsning ofths seseion.
FtlLo Citizens Of the Seam.
and Houss Of Representatives..
La performing shs duty imposed upon me b.
ihe conslituli"n, of submitting to you my views o.
cur public ~stisirs, slloS me 10 begin by congra,u
ia,ing you that you assemble al e time when ii,
Contest. which has so ialsly engaged the Nhol
Union i. hnsiiy terminated. Its results will,
trust, be favorable, 10 more than one way, 10 III
happiness and quiet of our beloved coun try
Public opinion has SO decidedly pronounced upor
she most important questions affecting .he publ,
welfare, tina, The judgment rendered by the peo-
pie must uo~ be received az without appeal, for
no ons can rsfose 10 yield to it's decree without
denying its supremacy, and thereby sapping the
foundations OF our institutions. That patty spir.
it which has too often cnnfounded subj els entire
ly local, with those which belong to the Federal
Administration must lencefor~a ard disappear from
among Us, and you can now enter upon the can.
sidefssion Of the inter SIS entrusted to you by
Louisiana with the tranquility and moderation
shich your itnpo'taut duties require.
The intense political excitement Of this presi.
dental election has afforded occasion to test aud
to acknowledge the efficacy Of our Laws for the
protection of the elective franchise. An abuse
has nevertheless prevailed. in my opinion, under
one article ofour constitution. which seems 10
call for you: intervention. 1t is that which per-
alits the purchasers of public lapds to vote with
cut ha ing paid a State Tax. The trainers of
our onstitn<ion no doubt granted this privilege
to lie bona file purchasers, who augment the
population and resources Of the Stale. they new.
CT could have Intended TO apply i, to others.
whose acquisitions ore but simulated, since thew
are n ade not to acquire the land, bu, only to
buy the right of suffrage. This point car only be
finally by the Cou,ts Of Justice, 5ut
1t seems to me that the so!icitude you must feel
for the purity of elections should urge you to ex.
anime whether 1t is not possible to obsiate The
evil by adopting, as has been done in some States
If The Union, a Registry Law, which as i. re-
luires undeniable prof of The residence provi. |
led for in The constitut on will, for the future.
t it does not destroy, at least must diminish
he evil.
Our Banking Institutions are still in the same
position as at the opening of the last session of the
legislature. Taken in the aggregate their situa-
lon Is doubtless as satisfactory as that of the
anks of any commercial city in the Union.-
heir solvency is so well established that the
otes they issue, thongh not redeemable in spe.
e, are at q discount ofhardly two per cent; sheir
aPer is IN demand throughout the west, and
rms very near!y the only circulation of a neigh.
1ring state. l.
Having had the honor at the last meeting of G
e legislature 10 submit al some length my views n
the subject of our banks, and considering it ]
necessary 10 repeat them hare, | beg leave to 7
fer 10 that COMMUNICATION. The opinions a
4ich | then expressed are still the same, because o
e situation of those Institutions has undergone +,
alteration. The only PefcePtihle change n
4as since takea place, is, that lhe diff p
lies then existing in the resumption Of spe- a.
payments have neg, ! taink, bpas much d q
r.
The resumption of specie payments by the a