Baton-Rouge gazette. [volume] (Baton-Rouge, La.) 1819-1856, 1843-04-15

We take much pleasure IN copying from 'hs
Dec the following argument Of Mr.. Downs for
removing tho seat Of government from New
Orleans 10 Baton Rouge, The motion was
originally otfarsd by Mr.. Downs, aid II was
ably supported by him. The remarks which
follow were IN reply 10 some objections VI
tered against the mutton by Mr. Lion Of New
Orleans and Mr.. Morse Of 5t. MaftiisV!lIe-~
the gipt OF both whose arguments was. thai
the tfehslify was Too poor am, tho Heasto'i loo
far advanced 10 admit Of any deeisive action
In the premises this yehf,
mr. powNs said, that lie Ind not Intended
10 any n,ly thing IN reference to this tieeshfe'
M IL was one whstei, he thought It niitefssHary
10 discuss, lnasmueh As every iiisineef must
have come 10 n ppetisa feneitisiaFi' one WY
or tho other, But aimee The Senator rom ~.
Oflesue had pnnn into The question, he "ohid
very briefly reply 10 The principal arguments
| If that rentiemnn lie would certainty nave
| preferred that the direct question, should nave
been taken. and that neither thu motion % tho
! Ienatof from Orleans or tho amendment 81 me
Senator from Attakapas, should nave peeh
ptoposrA, inaptnueh M they amounted ideht'1
| cAliy to the same thing, for in either case 'ne
bill would be protraetea TO next Ys1f-hlnee
tho indefinite most papatnaut did mol extend be-
yenJ thai, period. This might be a fair way
Of Defeating n bill without mourning any direct
responsibility, but il was one which he did nov
| admire. and which he considered eVhsiNh'
The great md chief argument then, against
| tho removal of tho aeat Of government was
the expense attending II. This argument was
witha,t foundation. Tho reverse was the
fact, In place eI sessions Of ninety ana one
hundred DAYS, one month would be the most
thai voulh lnVr To be- consumed Tor TIC pNra
pose Of legislation and inatead % M """"',
ssppnse ~ From tofty4Ilyn 10 sixty thousand
aailars, the expanHe would not inuel, exceed
SI5,OOD IN the State Of New York, with a
Formulation oftwo millions ri inhabitants ana
in Pennsylvania, with Il population almost NE
large. Legislative sessions scarcely eSceeo o'e
month. The duration and expense 81 our To-
yialnture was without n parallel il the Chioti'
ia ono half Tho States the aeeHlona Vi their To-
piHlatufea were only once IN every Two years.
aud In not one Of the statns we're tley 80 IN
necessarily protraetad, Many very can"t''e
and efficient citizens were debar"gu ff...n mar.
tlcipattng in n share ~ the administration o.
tho government O, no The Slate, by reason d
itH Setn. placed In A remote point from thotn
! 20 repalr to which, they had TO leave their hu
n,nen# A, home and to part from their families
and 10 expoae Themselves 10 The epidemic dis
nsseH which ragged so fatally ut one HeaHon o
the year. This circumstance positively ope'
rated IL excluding thstn from occupying The
]stnttona which we're the common properly -"
all the ~eitisons, who had The capacity to III
them, aud tho confidence ri Tho body OF tlf
peopIe. A 1t WA, most ot those who came
IN tho Legislative capacity. came prepared u
, spend their winter in The gny metropolis. !
waH n pleasant place OF residence, ana mere
they remained until tho warm weather o
=, April adnontahed them 10 return home TO loo'
after thar crops. Thpse who were apSiour
70 eloHc the eearlon and get home, were do
tanned by those who had 10 desire 10 shorteI
/, their eoiourn, and thus tho business Of Iegisla
ton was made n matter Of secondary i,npor
lance and Yielded 10 the personal inclination
4 of those who preferred amusement and plea
, sure to the dull aud tedious routine OF legIa
J latien.
Al to the immediate expenee to DO incurred
!, for transporting the eeat Of government an
obtaining the necessary buildings. he believed
it could be effected Tor n there ifiiio. Tho q
tisons OF Baton Rouge, who were an ihtoIli
| rent community, would readily afford ever,
facility in their power. and tho neeesHar.
building ut least, for the present, could be ha'
without cost. Tho T.. States government wn
! In possession of n large and colnmodlous build
: ing NJ Baton Rouge, which, upon application
!. 10 Tho President ot the Il. States, he had u
! doubt would be placed at the diapoition Of III
State until she could erect buildings Of he
own, suitable for tho purpose. At an.
J rate, even il the State were to build, ah
could be at no loas TO obtain tho funds, as tn
~interest on the property where the Legislature
now sits would be sufficient in itself, even u
tho present depreciation, 10 enable her to d
30.
= lie had proposed TO locate the government
v NJ Baton Rouge, not aa a matter Of favor I
D that point, but beause he regarded it nv tn
\ best location, aud as uniting more requisite
than any other. He should steadlastly insls
r upon Baton Rouge, aud no trusted that tn
J friends would not suffer themselves TO be dis
/. lracted by propositions for other places, 80 a
/, 10 divide them, and prevent ,hen from actinI
: in concert upon that great and important mea
sure. lie should vote against every othe
: place, although it was proposed 10 place VI
I seat OF government Mt his very door. IHer
was no place no well situated for The purpose
II was convenient aud accessible to all part
l Of the State, and coming from whatever quar-
, ter you may, to go TO the city Of New Orleans
: YOU had TO pass il. It was the very first higI
land ascending the Mississippi. lts. ~situa'io'
was beautiful and picturesque in theextreme
and nature could not possibly have formed
spot more desirable. There were no appre
tensions to BIO entertained OF contagious dis
eases, and all the permanent offices could b
' established there, without exposing incum
bents to a fatal epidemic, or driving them 4
any season Of the year from the performance
! Of their duties. These were some OF the rea
sons that had irresistibly Influenced him i
desiring the scat of government to be remove
from the city OF New Orleans to the town G
> Baton Rouge.
, There were several others, among which
not the less conspicuous, was the influence
exercised, although it had been controyerte
$ by the Senator who so ably represented tn
f city, upon the members from the country. S
> great was that influence, that it had iustl
r been remarked, that If the city had no deiega
: ton in the legislature at all, still its interest
G and its wishes would rot fail to be assidnous
ly prosecuted at the expense Of every thin,
. else, If there was a conflict. That it shout
be so was reasonable enough, when it was re
flected that seventy seven persons were brough
into daily and constant contact with a popula
lion 100000. We we're all influenced b
. representations and sylppathies, and, more o
!. less, we lmhibed the opinions and views c
D those with whom we were in hourly associa
i lion. He did not make this remark with tn
. remolest design OF intimaung that the citizen
5 OF N. y. were capable ot attempting or tn
members + ON the country OF receiving impro
per impressions. but II The citIzeus OF N. Or
e leans we're angels, it could not be denied tina
s the effect OF the contact would be perceptibl
e in the tendency OF Legislation 10 CONFORM itseI