New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1852-01-19
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c,endstion OF Mewprlesns.
aItssrs. Editors Of tie Crescent

facts as might possess, without alarming the pre-
iudces or exciting the passions, so that the vital
question of consolidating the city might be
calmly and dispassonately considered Having
done this now proceed to the examination of a
subject of no secondary importance-the union
of Lafayette in the plan of consolidation Every
argument in favor of the consolidation of the
three municipalities applies with equal force to
the admission of Lafayette. 1t is situated
on the same great Father of Waters, extending
on its banks its wharves and its levees, and by
their proximity to ours claiming their right to a
union. Its corporation and civil jurisdiction
being divided from ours by narrow street.-the
bonds of friendship and social intercourse which
are thrown over that street would seem to claim
that this arbitrary legal division should cease
But considerations of even more power with men
than social relations demand that this union
should take place; for individual interest and
the future prosperity of the city are intimately
connected with the consolidating Lafayette with
the three Municipalities. Why in the city of
NewOrleans there should be any objections to
this union is a marvel which l cannot compre-
bend. Lafayette in the yigor of youth, with her
wharves built, many of her streets paved, and
with debt less burthensome than either of the
Municipalities, is willing for the blessings that
would flow from q united government to bring
her store of wealth and intelligence, and popu-
lation proverbial for its morality and industry,
and add them to the common stock. 1t may be
that my ken is not sufficiently sharp to see the
dangers that may flow from this union, but
fear that it is not a defect in my vision; but
that those who oppose the admission of Lafayette
are inhamed, more by the anticipated effect it
may have on their individual ambition and in
diyidual interest than by an earnest desire to
promote the public good
The only argument which have heard urged
was that, as number of the merchants of the
Second Municipality resided in Lafayette, that
consequently there would be so great an affilia-
ton between these two sections, that, if united
under one government, they could and would
control the other two municipalities. While
fully admitting that the residence of intelligent
and energetic merchants from the Second NUM-
cipality in Lafayette may have that influence
which mind has in every intelligent community,
the deduction that this would be sufficient to
control the vote of Lafayette is erroneous for,
though separated by two Municipalities, yet in
her social relations and by the ties of consan-
guinity, she is more closely united to the Third
Municipality. If, therefore, feeling is to be the
touch-stone which is to regulate her action, the
two extremes of the city would be most likely
to unite in their policy, This feeling would be
strengthened by the natural disposition which
the weak have to band together for protection
against the strong and having in view this
feeling, in dividing the power in the upper
House or Board of Aldermen, in a previous
number, gave to each section the same repre-
sentation, so that the two extremes or weaker
portions could, by their united vote, check any
measure of oppression that might be sought to
be passed,
But it is said the incorporation of Lafayette
would extend the city still further up the river,
and consequently draw the trade from the lower
portion of the city. Was there ever an argu-
ment more fallacious' The extension of the city
up the river is already done-the city of Lafay-
cite exists-with q busy and industrious popula-
ton of over 10000 souls, and Consolidation or
not, she must continue to enjoy her portion of
the trade that finds its mart here. Suppose she
should not be included in the scheme of Console
dation-would the lower portion of NewOrleans
be benefited by her exclusions If she be not
included and should refuse to reciprocate in her
drayage license with New0rleans, and should
abolish her leyee dues, what would be the effect
on the Three Municipalities ? Would not her
wharves be the landing place of both the foreign
and domestic vessels engaged in the transpor-
tation of heavy articles, and would not her
warehouses be filled with these heavy articles
1t may be well for the different portions of the
city to weigh this view of the subject before they
come to a final conclusion. For the influence
which such state of things would have upon
the trade of NewOrleans, more especially on the
lower portions, is too evident to need ilustra-
ton.
1t cannot be that her debt is so much larger
than that of the Municipalities, or that her
trade is so insignificant that she must be left
out of the scheme of consolidation BY refer
ence to recently published statement it appears
that the debt of Lafayette is SS482 900, and by
reference to the Comptroller's statement of the
18th January, 1851, it appears that large
portion of this debt consists of bonds either
already past due or maturing before 1860
While, therefore, Lafayette, like the several
has an ample basis from which
the means to meet this debt can be drawn, she,
like them, with much the larger portion of her
debt pressing on her, has credit by which
she can make arrangements to defer the pay:
ment of this debt so as to meet it by instalments
1t is to relieve herself from the pressing necessi-
ties which surround her and to restore her
credit that she is to be greatly benefited by
being made a part of the city, That a Just
comparison of the debt of Lafayette may be
made, the following statement has been prepared
upon the same basis as in the third article of
this series:
Real Estate. 6l6T $50 90
White population, lOaD Per capitum Al 10
From this table it will be seen that the debt
leaves both to the Real Estate and to the white
population smaller per centage than it does in
either of the Municipalities.
BY reference to the statement of the Comp
troller, made in January, 1851, the following
table, it will be seen, exhibits the receipts and
disbursements of 1850, assimilating them to the
statements made in reference to the three NUM-
cipalties:
Receipts Of hc City Of Lafayette IN 1850 o than iqr an
IEII ESfU