The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1848-11-27
The State Legislature.

BY proclamation OF Inc Governor, the Leglsla-
ture Of this State has been called together for an
extra session The immediate cause of this unu-
sual session is, the omission by the Senate at the
close of the last, to pass bill making appropria-
tons Tor the Common Schools as required by the
Constitution, and the best interests of the State
we DO not suppose, however, that when assem-
bled, the two Houses will pass the School Bill and
adjourn, though we are not that such course
would not be the best for their constituents. They
will probably undertake other business and indulge
in the favorite amusement of law-making, until
the constitutional prohibition against holding the
sessonsin the city of New Orleans shall bring their
labors, on the 3lst Of December, to an abrupt con-
clusion. Under all circumstances, the members
will have month, nearly, in which to devote
themselves TO what they may fancy is for the well
fare Of the State; and should they really employ
their time we'll, they may be of some advantage to
the people who sent them, and who, possibly, may
have expected, at.their hands, something in return
for the honor conferred and money expended.
Should the " Assembled Wisdom have any in
tention Of beneftting the State they could do so,
by passing bill to codify and simplify our law
criminal and civil This the public wants abso-
lutely require. The statute law Of this State is
now scattered through forty-six volumes of ambi-
guous and contradictory enactments-many of these
volumes are out of print, and unobtainabe even by
the professional lawyer, while nearly all of them
sealed books to the great mass of the people.
This is true of our civil law. Our penal law is
found the Lord knows where The greater part
of tall that relates TO the proceedings on trials
and definitions ofofences-is the " Common Law of
England, changing what ought to be changed "
The Common Law is as slippery as an eel, or as
difficult to put your finger on, as the insect which
was not there every time you caught him; and
even should sharp fellow, after hard work, cor
ner piece of it, he is not but that it is the part
6 which ought to be changed and has no means
OF knowing whether it is or not, until the Judge
shall have given his decision The condition of the
laws is disgrace to The Siate-an injury to the
peope-and an outrage upon justice.
Another thing requires attention-the financial
system Of this State is founded upon erroneous
principles, and should be Immediately reformed.
The revenue bill first taxes all property equally.
To this we have no objection; it is nearly fair, and
divides the burden of supporting the Government
among those who ought to bear it. But then it
proceeds to tax professions, trades and occupations
in manner the most unjust and inequitable. Why
physician a lawyer should be taxed for the pro-
fession he pursues any more than tailor or shoe
maker, it would be right dfoalt for any one to say
Why merchant who sells sugar or cotton should
pay tax on his occupation any more than the
planter who raises it, we have never yet seen, and
never yet expect to see explained. The lawyer
physician, merchant, all pay tax upon their prop
erty, as others do-the merchant even pays tax
upon his capital in trade-a capital liable to thou
sand disasters and losses-equal to that paid by
H. l.
mulct in an additional tax because he does employ
it in trade Is it the policy of the law to suppress
mercantile and other honest and industrious pur-
suits ltwouId appear so, from the fact that greater
burdens are imposed upon men engaged in them
than their fellow citizens called upon to bear
Even SO be it-let punishment be imposed upon in
dustry and enterprise-but then let the penalty
bear some proportion TO the offence and not infict
the same measure upon John Simpkins attorney at
law, who does not make enough to pay his board
and washerwOman, and on Bushead Multibrief,
who clears ten thousand year-do not make the
grocer who is called wholesale dealer, because he
sells box of candles, pay much the one
whose transactions amount to millions in year.
This is negotiable, even punishment. The
whole system, however, of taxing occupation is an
absurdity, a remnant of barbarsm utterly at vari-
ance with the spirit of the age, and ought to be
abolished. The system bears heavily upon the in
dustry of this city-checks its prosperty-and is a
legaliZed robbery Of its citizens which those who
represent them will, we hope, place in its proper
light, and succeed in having reformed.
There are many other things Of great Importance
to be done, and if we find the Legislature disposed
to do any good we shall take great pleasured uring
the session in calling the attention of the members
and that of the public to them; but if we find the
Assembled Wisdom" in its usual humor, more in
clined to make local political capital for the repre-
sentative than to consider the interests ofthe people
willing to neglect the great duty of legislators, and
perform the functions of the police uries of the
State; STOPPING from its high position to engage in
the schemes of cliques or pares-we shall let it go
to destruction its own way, furtherng its descent
down hill with an occasional kck-and thanking |
heaven when the Constitutional limitation shall put
an end to its antics in this city-forever.
NAvAL.-We learn from the Norfolk Southern
Argus, that Com. Jesse Wilkinson has received
orders to take command Of the Home Squadron
United States slOop-ofwar Germantown, from
Pensacola, arrived at ST. Thomas Sd inst
U. S. schooner Gallatin, commander Rogers,
from Boston, arrived at New York 18th inst.
Commodore Benjamin Cooper, who has been ap-
pointed to the command Of the African squadron,
will sail in few days on board of the sloop ofwar
Yorktown for that station.
REDUCTION OF WAGEs-A late number Of the
n Y. Dry Goods Reporter says, the arrivals from
Europe brings us intelligence of still further de-
cline in the price of cotton. This will have cor
responding effect upon this side, and enable our
manufacturers to purchase their raw material at
less price. 1t is also agreed among many of our
largest manufacturers to reduce the rate of wages
twenty-five per cent.
observation-disclosures Johnson, of Pennsvlya.
MIA, has pardoned Mr.. Ambrose w Thompson. re-
Gently imprisoned at Philadelphia, for cowhidinp