Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1850-01-30
PLAQUEMINE:
WEDNESDAY,; JANUARY 80, 1850
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.

GOvEKNOR's MESSAGE.
Gentlemen Of the Senate,
...l. and House Of Representatives:
Assembled in your respective Chambers for
the first time at the new Seat of Government,
it affords me pleasure to congratulate you on the
event, and to proceed briefly to lay before you
such matters, and to recommend to you such
measures, as in my opinion the interests Of the
State require: Fresh from the society Of those
who have confded to you the high and delicate
trust Of legislation; intimately acquainted with
their condition, opinions and wants, and sympa-
thising closely with them in all important inter-
ests, the State may look to you with confidence
for a faithful and efficient discharge Of public
duty. regret extremely that unforeseen cir
cumstances have prevented the completion Of
the State House-and herewith transmit your
information, communication from the Commits
sioners of the Public Building at B. Rouge, ex-
planatory of the causes and reasons which have
prevented the completion Of it. The explana-
ton to my mind is quite satisfactory. 1t is the
intention ofthe Commissioners, at an early day,
to make special report to You Of the expen-
ditures incurred by them up to this period.
The Office Of Attorney General has not yet,
with the other State offices, been removed to the
seat of Government and in communicating the
fact it is due to that officer to state the reasons
which appear to have Influenced his conduct in
this particular, and to enquire whether some le-
gislatiOn be not necessary to relieve the embar-
rassment of his position: The act of the 9th
of March, 1916, for the removal of the seat Of
Government, as we'll as the act amending it, ap-
proved March 10th, lS48, doubtless contem-
plated the removal of the Offices of the Attorney
General and all other State Offices; whilst on
the other hand, an act of the Legislature, ap-
proved February 10th, 1877 at page 26th. of Bull
lard and Curry, declares that an Attorney Gen.
eral shall be appointed to prosecute and con-
duct all suits in which the State shall be con-
cerned arising within the First judicial District.
and to prosecute all delinquencies for crimes
and offences committed against the laws Of the
State within said District and to give his opin-
ion in writing or otherwise, upon all questions
of law, when required by the Governor or any
other civil officer Of State. If the Attorney
General had have complied with the acts Of '46
and '48, it would have been impossible for him
to prosecute the civil and criminal cases in
which the State is a party, arising within the
First judicial District Of the State-and if the
duty of prosecuting civil cases in the First Dis
trict shall be imposed ON the District Attorney,
he could not attend to it, as his whole time,
although constantly assisted by the Attorney
General, is necessarily consumed in the prose-
cution Of crimes and offences in the First Dis
t1ict Court Of New Orleans. In addition to
| this, it is the exclusive duty Of the Attorney
General to represent the State in the numerous
and complicated criminal eases appealed to the
Supreme Court; and am informed there are
1t this time many important civil causes pend
ing in the Courts Of New Orleans and in the
Supreme Court, in which the State is party.
In this conflict Of duty arising from the state of
the law, I am satisfied the Attorney General, in
the course pursued, has best consulted the pub
lie interest. But this state of things feel as
sured, will not be permitted to continue longer
than it will take the Legislature to apply suit
able remedy.
deem it proper to call your attention to an
act Of Congress passed on the "a OF March,
l849, which conditionally grants to this State
the swamp and oyerdowed lands within its lim-
its. The act proposes to render cultivable this
description oflands by applying the proceeds Of
their sale TO the construction Of such leyees and
drains n may be found necessary to the accom-
plishment of this object. A soon, therefore, as
the Legislature provides for the expense ofascer-
tsining the locality and quantity Of the lands
granted, it is the business Of the Governor to
sdvise the Secretary of the Interior Of the fact,
whose duty it then Il, TO cause personal exam
ination to be made Of them BY experienced and
faithful deputies, under the direction and by
appointment Of the Surveyor General Of the
State. A list Of lands, thus examined, will be
prepared by these officers, and certified to the
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