Baton-Rouge gazette. [volume] (Baton-Rouge, La.) 1819-1856, 1842-01-29
Correspondence Of The Baton Rouge Gazette
NEw. ORLEANS, January rs, 1912. !,

Correspondence Of The Baton Rouge Gazette.
NEw-o ORLEANS, January 20, 1912.
Dear friend IL still linger in the Crescent
City. lie cosmopolitan features, interest me
beyond description /; for here are to DO foina
the language and national characteristics OF
every region and every cline. This peculiar
ity is interesting to any stranger but to one
of a musing and philoaophic temperament, 1t
affords food for constant Illumination. Neithef
am | insensible to the polished manner, the
grace and ~ureanity Of her citizens, winch DIS
play themselves in all The varied forms OF So
cjai intercourse and her daughters-where
are their rivals to be found Costumed for
the promenade with taste and elegance that
bespeak the praces as their companions, they
appear in the STREETS as walking deitjea but
in the sale de 81. Louis-gliding with fairy
step, and spell-like charm on the " light, lam
tastic toe" through the intricate mazes Of the
dance-who can paint, who describe them
The pencil and the pen are equally puwcrless
II am in love with them-in undylng love
with the fairies Of the Crescent City.
To procure distraction, | have had recourse
TO politics,--..ny favorite po|itics--and have
become a confirmed lounger, in the lobby OF
the House of Representatives for IN that
House, find occasionally, displays Of debate,
that would not be discreditable On the floor OF
Congress.
i IN unaccountable that this House has not
a reporter, az they have in tho Senate. Mel
Their good sense or democratic principles can
find justification for such An omission. The
people should be informed Of the sayings and
doinps Of their representatives. In the Senate,
every encouragement IL afforded for the exer-
ton of talent, for their debates are published /;
but in the House. a premium is offered to dull
ness. This is ridiculous and unjust for in
the House there il more talent and ability
than are to be found In the Senate. ! heard a
person enquire Of a member. the reason why
! the House declined employing a reporter his
answer was, That 1t partly proceeded from a
narrow, paltry principle of economy, but prin-
cjpally from n deplorable feeling OF envy that
the minority Of the House were silent meili-
hers, and did not like lobe eontrasted by their
constituents with the speaking members -
| but | was told that the member who pro-
nounced this judgment, was one Of these who
voted for q reporter.
Day before Yesterday The House finished its
bank bill. They Immediately took up the
bank bill from the S~enate--struck out all but
the e~nacting clause, and submitted their own
bank bill as an amendment. This was not
out of any disrespect to the Senate, nor was
it from any repurnance to, the provisions Of
their bill, but it was decided TO be the only
parliamentary course by which they could ar
rive at d committee of conference, which IL
very much desired by both bodies. The Sc
nate, IS far as | have learned, have not yet
acted upon the matter. | think it may be
fairly calculated, that in a weeks time this
subject viii be finally decided. May the
spirit of patriotism influence their deliberations
and conduct them to Wise conclusions !
A Mr.. Peters, president of the City bank,
| lately resolved to emit from his bank a novel
kind of circulation, which, upon The face of it,
was not to be paid in specie, but was receiv-
| able in payment of dues to the City bank, or
in exchange for sterling bills. This was no.
| thing then, but ir~redeemable paper-and TO
be emitted at q time when the Legislature was
celebrating on the best method of providing
checks for the mal-practices and evils grow
ing out Of a spurious and irredeemable cur
rency! It was boarding the lion in his den.
It was, of course, met with great promptittde
by the legislature and in twenty-four hours
| a bill had passed both Houses, declaring That
in future such ac:s should be deemed highly
criminal, and be severely punished.
Mr.. Peters is engaged in ane:her quarrel
with the legislature, in which think he vii!
probably be again " headed" | am rot ac-
quainted with the gentleman, but he seems to
be very unpopular. He is represented to me
as a man of some smartness as a financler-
but very deficient in discretion and Judgment;
owing, it is alledged, to very prominent deye-
at. of tho -argane nf self-esteem. of ar
rogancc, self-will and vanity. Not being a
bumpologist, / am not certain that my phreno-
logical terms are strictly technical.
Affairs have still a downward tendency,
and it is anticipated that other large failures
will shortly happen, and I fear a dark future
is before US. Preach up then, industry and
economy to your people let them purchase
hothing of which they are not absolutely in
need, Except it be a few Of your Berkshire
pigs, and the services of your Durham bull
for this is, in reality, economy /; no useless or
costly furniture ; no costly silk or muslin dra-
peries for windows; no velvet garments, no
splendid carriages and horses. Let every
thing be home production,-cypress tables
cottonade coats, pantaloons and gowns; cash
down for every thing what cansot be bought
for cash is not wanted. Let every man have
a plate always ready for a neighbor when he
comes but no sumptuous feasts-na dinners,
where voluptuaries are invited to guzzle
French patfs, or to swill champagne and Ma
deira from the "south side" The most costly
beverage should be table .claret, cider, and
homemade beer. Reform and retrenchment
in domestic finance and domestic economy,
should be the fayorite study. Nothing but
untiring industry and unwavering economy,
will enable us to come out from the beg of in
debtedness and embarrassment.
Many things of interest are in preparation
for legislative action. The revenue, taxation,
financial retrenchment, will be the next topics
of interest and as / fear I shall not be able
to start north for two months to come, Il have
abandoned nly Cuba trip, | will inform you
of matters as they transpire and for that pur-
pose, will take a peep into both houses.
Alden, for | write in great haste.