New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1852-01-21

OF SlOD from the Louisiana State Bank upon their
responsibility 1t must be obvious that had the progress
o1 the building been arrested in this unexpected manner
and the workmen discharged until after the adjournment
Of your body the State would have suffered in uid
ing materials probably half the amount O. the sum
borrowed hedes the Inconvenience Of holding sessions in
an unfinished building
At therreguest addressed note to the President nd
Directors Of the Bank stating that would recorne nd
fhe loan to your favorable consideration and that
believed the Legislature would refuse to make the
necessary provision for reimbursement.
In conformity to the provision Of the to provide
Tor IN" disposition Of certain public property in the city
OF NewOrleans approved March 49, 1850 the
tnainder Of the old State House square to be laid out m
the Surveyor General of the Louis Breneier ESD
into lots Of proper form sold at auction by Col H
Parey actoneer after the usual Advertisements The
property being sold credit and payable snch periods
az would meet the bonds Of the State Issued the pur-
chase OF said property requiring certain proportion
each purchase in cash to meet all necessary epees of
se and to enable the State pay the issues the
OF such property, the sum over and above the amount
necessary to exinguish the debt and interest it
thought properto require in cash proportional to the diff
ierent purchasers which placedin the treasury.
The lots having sold for larger sum than the law con-
fenplaed in obedience to the provisions of the second
section of the aforesaid proceeded in due form
law to transfer the lot portion of ground designated In
said second section to the NewOreans Mechanics Society
Ihc cash received after deducng all expenses placed
IN te treasury and the bonds with coupons interest
amounting in the whole to $50 90 were delivered to
the AEtlitcr pf Public Accounts sSt8
- l,'itn transmit 10 you letter from the Mayor OF
Sewt1asans marked [El with accompanying documents.
upon the subject of naval depot and navy yard 1t
would seem from these to be object highly worthy Of
the consideration Of the General state Governments
and meritng at your hands such cooperation you may
be able to give.
Shortly after the close of the last session of the General
Assembly number Of entcrprsing citizens became
Interested in extensive grant made by the Mexican
Government with view to establish more expeditions
communication between the Gulf of Mexico and the Pa
cic across ~e 1sihmus Of Tehuantepec and prepared
to form joint stock company for the construction of
missed to be of universal commercial importance and par
tieuarly advantageous 10 the Of NawOrleans
In taking the preliminary steps it found existing
laws would rot authorize the organization of company
nth power to employ large capital would
rily be required to and complete work of such
magnitude An application supported by petitions numer-
osy signed was then made that should exercise the
extraordinary power vested in by the Constitution of
calling the Legislature together in extra session
Resolutions adopted various public meetings.
this measure.
1t is at all times unpleasant for me to differ from my
ieo~cltzens who possessed of greater facilities than
myself Tor information upon subjects of general interest
to the community and who have equally the public good
at heart particularly this the in the present
stance the principal applicants were citizens
distinguished Tor their cIearsghtednes energy pub
lie enterprise could not however view the matter in
the same light that they did and it has been
uniform rule in the discharge of my public duties to do
nothing that requires an augnentationo of public expendi
ture unless the necessity advantage be apparent
constrained to refuse the application
portion Of the five percent fund has been retained
by the General Government to balance for
payment OF expenses during the with Mexico That
In our zeal may have payed for objects strictly
authorized by law is improbable and such payment
would be fair though not liberal charge against the
State.
But it well be questioned whether the accounting
officers at Washington would be competent 10 divert this
fund from its legitimate purposes II is doubtful if
congress or the State Legislature could exercise that
power.
Some legislation seems to be required relative to the
inspection laws Of the State Under the voluntary
ten they have become dead letter. It would in my
opinion be well to abolish them altogether permit
them TO remain in their present condition
The duties Notaries would
to demand specific legislation It has been sug-
gesed that license obtained after due examination be.
fore of the District Judges would give
rance of their proper qualification limitation of their
term of Office and security for the faithful performance
OF the responsible trusts and duties confded to them
be requisite
underthe proceedings arising out the will of the late
sable to institute suit in behalf of the State and to cal
to MS aid able counsel for whose services
suitable compensation be appropriated
This subject together with the proceedings In the
of tho Se'vtans Navigation Company. viii, be properly
understood by reference the letter of the ATTORNEY
General. marked RI
Immediately after The adjournment of the last Legisl
tre the Secretary of the Interior informed that the
necessary appropriation had been made by the State tc
ueiS the expense of selecting he swamp and overowc
isndS granted to Louisiana by act of Congress approved
March ID. 1919.
The principles be observed in making the selections
We're promptly determined upon by the appropriate Off
GERS OF the General Government aud forwarded to the
Surveyor General of Louisiana and myself that the bsi-
ness might be immediately commenced Their construc-
ton of the law in liberal spirit and calculated
facilitate the transfer of the lands the State
conceive more liberal than was fully justified by
the spirit and intent of the law. appointed A. D. Wool
bridge ESQ State Engineer principal agent torepresent
the State under the law of the last session of the Lega
tule. approved March 2st. 1850 This gentleman from
ms extensive acquaintance with the alluva portions of
the state the connection Of his office with kindred du
teS ana his prompt attention to business appeared to
the person through whose could have this interest
attended to in the most beneficial manner and with lea st
expense to The state The duties imposed upon him have
been discharged in to meet my appreciation and
is
tory and result Of his agency.
am happy to inform the Legislature. that the serious
lltcuy mentioned in the report with regard to the
funne OF money received by the United States for
flowed lands. since the passage of the law making the
lectcd has been ohviatcl. and assured by the
proper authorities thai the will be refunded and
the patents forthwith issued
The suggestions of the agent entitled TO your
Spccttul consideration though of his views may be
OF doubtful policy The necessity of protecting the swamp
lands from depreciation very apparent and an active
anu faithful agent might iy uniting this with the other
duties suggested be very seryicoabe to thc State.
Although large portions OF the lands granted by Con
gress are chiefly valuable for the timber and unsuitcd
at present for cultivation. and it might I've advisable in
relation thereto to adopt the views of the agent with
card to denying prcempons to settlers but there are
other portions which cannot be settled it is ques-
tonabe whether these should not be disposed of by pre-
eption when desired The views of the agent show that
the subject is not without its difficulties but it
that the usual policy Of the State should be hastily
abandoned and preemptions denied to actual settlers al
though many of the lands selected doubtless for the
present. ot little value; enough of them however are
valuable will be easily made So by the progressive
improvements Of the show that the grant
of great Importance. Whether the lands should be at
disposed Of withheld sale by the State until
their value augmented by public improvements are
questions about which there is for difference of
opinion In the present state of our treasury however
it would he desirable to avail ourselves
fun for the prosecution of internal improvements
from this if practicable and of its prcticabiity
have no doubt am informed that many persons al
ready anxious to purchase portions of these lands and by
refusing to dispose of them. shall not only deprive
ourselves Of means need hut to extent interfere
with the settlement and development Of the country.
BY exposing all swamp lands to sale we should only
he able to dispose of those of greatest present value and
by using the means thus acquired in iudicous improve
ments either portions. which would not sell at all.
would he brought into market. We only need enough
ready means to begin and this could he obtained,
and afterwards could 20 steady forward in our work
If it be determined to sell the swamp lands though there
Is without doubt great difference in their present value,
il is reasonable to suppose only the best will be selected
am of opinion that the minimum price should not be
fixed al less than dollar and twenty-five cents per
As the protection of pur aluyia lands from nunlaon
crcasnr i'll interest aud the swamp lands appro-
pratr by Congress to aid in protecting and draining
these lands | would respectfully suggest for your con-
seratien. whether it would not be good policy. and
act of justice to appropriate portion of these lands on
the proceeds realized from them to aid the front proprc
tors in maintaining reliable system of lcvees in the
entire alluvia portions of the Mississippi River within
our State. survey might be made Of the whole river
and the position and dimensions of the evees determined
by the State Engineer. other State officer; and
then each proprietor required to make the levce di-
rece and for which he should receive payment in part
whole from the fund thus created by the lands set
aside for the purposes for which it designed and
great benefit all, il would the