The St. Landry whig., 1845-01-16
MESSAGE.
Yo fhe Senate and HOUSE "a REPRESENTATIVES,

D10fbe Senute dnd Rouse " hcPfcNo"N""tes
Asa new Legislature. but lately selected from
the mass Of iii. people, and coming, as you do,
from the different sections Of the State | enter
tain no doubt but that you are prepared to pro-
vide, by Legislation, fiorthe wants of our common
constituents such measures, therefore,, as you
may adopt, CARRYING out that object will meet
with MY hearty cooperation, 50 far as they may
fall within my powers and duties as prescribed
by the constitution.
Taking into consideration thai a convention to
revise, change OF amend our present %constitu-
ton; has made some progress in their d~elibera-
tions, and will soon again be in session | have
Thought it quite likely that you would not be dis
posedto take up at this session any general sub
liect of legislation but that you would, in all
probability. Genuine your actionto such measures
is were Of IAN absolute and pressing necessity
whetherI have correctly anticipated your dispo-
sitions in this particular, will depend altogether
upon your will.
1t strikes me, however, that such a course,
would be good policy under present ~circumstan-
ces and certainly, in a financial point ofyiew, it
strongly recommends itsclfto your serious atten-
Etion.
Ihaye much satisfaction in having it in my
power to inform you, that the revenue d. the
State has.been promptly collected and paid into
/ tifGA tISdSufy $ 5dutI lIlull tlllS5O ~ uIiSh - viz feifltS
service, is in the most prosperous state, as will
more llyappoar BY the annual report ofthe Of
icer at its head.
The public works, with the limited means APP
plicabIe to them, have, | think, advanced as
much as could be expected the detailed report
Of the Engiueer; which he will submit TO you,
n will show the operations of the past year.
Wiciicverthe legislature will take up the sub
iect Of internal improvement, with a view Of pla-
cling it on a permanent: footing, it will be found
that the present system cannot be continued with
success. Desired as il was in reference 10 the
4 expendituE ofthc large appropriations hereto
foe madeIor internal Improvements, tis no lon
ger adaltH 10 the present limited means at the
/, disposition of the State. Either the fund must
j be enlarged, or a less expensive system adopted.
Il | am not aware that the Banks, Chat hereto
fore fruitful source Of legislation will probably
OCCUPY much fyour tine. The present laws,
, Applicable 10 them, appear to work to the salts
5 faction ofall, for since the adjournment ofthe last
Legislature, | have heard no complaints from any
quarter,
/ have been informed BY the Board Of Dircc-
: tors Of the Union Bank Of Louisiana. that the
: ftasonds OF the State, issued i'll favor of that insti-
tuition, which matured on the first day ofNoyem-
Der last, and amounting TO one million seven
Att1i ttllAl Hi EtliOIStitti bOlIlio9 NV DSNli
: redeemed and will be held subject to my order
for ealcelling.
r 1t is TO be regretted That the act oftbe last scs-
Il sion, contemplating an arrangement with sever
al Banks, could not be carried into effect, for the
want ofite consent ofthose Institutions. Had
the object hadin view by the Legislature been
accomplished, it would have enabled the Irea-
sliry, to extinguisll to Il considerable amouut the
Indebtedness eftkie State, and atthe same time
put an end to all connection between the State
and those institutions, fsesult desirable on ac-
count Of both parties. s1ftEis subject, which l
recommends your earnest consideration, is to
: be pursued any further, it will be for you to de-
q eide, what modification to the present law shall
], be made, to obyiate the objections urged against
it by the Banks.
a letter lately received fromthe Principal oil
the deaf and dumb Asylum Of Danville, in the
State Of Kentucky, Informs me that the two sub
!. jects sent there blythe State, are progressing as
well as couldbe expected in their studies, ant
j that their health is remarkably good,
Under the provisions of the act Of the Legis
!, laturc Of the 25th day of March last, the Urea
stirer has effected the sale nj the Nashville Raj
Road, slaves, &C., attached thereto; also that o
! the other property Of the State, directed therein
to be disposed OF, and has obtained, | believe
fully as much as could he expected for the same
SO that the proceeds of this property, heretofore
useless to the State, and a part Of which wa
h fast decaying, can now be made available III tlt
IF discharge OF the liabilities of the State, and di
minishshy so much our debt; and here | mus
: be permitted to say, that should've Legislature
$, continue in the course pursued by their inme
diate predecessors, but a very short time will b.
\ necesSasy to extinguish the whole Of our debt
and thereby place tho State on the high road :
i. prosperity, 10 which her locality and great com
meicial aud agricultural resources entitle her,
Under the provisions Of the act of the Gene
raj Assembly Of the 18th of March, 1914,
nd have farmed out the Penitentiary Mt Bato
Rouge, under terms and conditions which thin
highly advantageous to the State; for the part
~cularsof said lease, refer you to c copy of th
contract herewith annexed. ! would also ca
your attic ntion to the report of the Board Of Al
ii, ministrators, which shows that for the short tim
the plan has been in operation it has worke
well, and bids fair to be entirely successful.
The Lessees are intelligent and enterprisin
I'd, men, having ample funds at their command /
perform all they have engaged to perform; an
nd thus far have acted in perfect harmony with th
officers representing the State in the institution
"a. feel perfectly confident myself that the eSper
nlent now made, &c leasing the institution, wi
ii. prove to be decidedly the best system that ca
be adopted, and DO the means of saving larg
u. sums Of money, whilst the institution will b
placed on u footing. creditable to the State.
n The sale Of the lands ordered by the act
5 the last session has produced $f0,701 go cents
4 cannot close this communication withol
: earnestly calling your attention to a questio
oil which during the preceding year has been muc
tie discussed BY the people of this State, one whic
he ! consider Of the greatest Importance to gu
he welfare and tranquility, and certainly calculate