New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1853-03-19
Baton Rouge Correspondence.



BARON ROUGE March It, 1858.
Another long and protless discussion upon the Swamp
Land BILL in the senatetoday Mr. Lacey has introduced
substitute for the House BILL and argued upon its merits
quite extensively Although Mr. Lacey not his
lifetime to engineering he showed considerable knowledge
of the wants of the State in this particular 1t doubt
true that he has had practical experience mat
ters but his friends claim him sort of heaven in
spred genius who knows every thing intuition His
bill shows that considerable attention been devoted to
the subject upon which he wishes egsate and although
it may be true is rumored that less person than
his Exceency had much to do with the forming of yet
it is undenabe that he presented its merits with good
deal of clearness and Judgment. Whatever eloquence
and cearness he may have brought bear upon it,
not alter in any the true issue which presented
by the other. He wishes for consolidation, and
consequently for power to be vested in the hands
the Executive This is of the grand principles in
voved in this subject There is anotherthe appropria
ton Of immense of moneyand this great
but Insignificant in comparison with the patronage
which the adoption, either of Mr. Ranneys bill OR Mr.
Laceys, would place in the hands of the Executive
have heard said that the Governor has pledged himself
appoint upon the Board of Commissioners who
not competent and active enough to perform all the du
ties which may devove upon him. And this may be his
intention but will this prevent his appointments being
ected from amongst his warmest political partisans2 Be-
sides which, promise he may and determined he may
be look only to the qualifications of the applicants
for the places referred to- when the time comes not
political that he should not this promise
into the meaning that he would not select any Of his
party who not capable, ETC. The consequence
will be- either of these bills pass have before stated
that the Executive will have political influence and
patronage to which that of the Canal Commissioners Of
Pennsylvania entirely insignificant This however
reason and the great reason for my thinking that
will be carried notwithstanding have heard
democratic Senators say they would vote for it, is
being made party crythe lines being strictly drawn
and, when the time for voting comes majority will be
| found in favor Of it,
In the House, the bill fixing the salaries Of the Judges
of the Supreme Court taken up The Constitution
provides that the Chief Justice shall receive salary of
six thousand dollars and each of the Associate Justices
salary of five thousand five hundred dollars until other
wise provided by law And herein it differs from the old
Constitution the present making the salary Deepen
dent upon the Legislature while the other fixed posi-
lively and beyond the reach of Legislative enactment
Mr. Hardesy, of East Feliciana moved to strike out all
after the enacting clause, which carried He then
to insert five thousand dollars for all of the Judges
making no distinction between the Chief Justice and his
Associates and reducing the salaries thousand and
Eve hundred dollars respectively. This called from Mr.
Hunt by all Odds the most elegant, impressive and
quen speech which has been made in the Capitol this
session. 1t address which but highly edu-
dated could have made Entirely extempore though
IL MS language was and appeals.
although earnest and imprisoned nothing beyond
what the severes taste would allow lie opposed to
the reductions and his opposition from that high
the Judiciary of this State which every man
who has studied Its jurisprudence must feel To
him it leveng down the positions the Judges of
the laws in the last resort and taking away from them
the of respectable support making their places
likely to be filed by incapable from want of talent
and education Of sustaining the reputation of the Court
| maintaining xvhi
in its decisions noticed with great deal Of pleasure
that, immediately upon his taking his seat considerable
| number Of the members, both wings and democrats
(among the latter remarked Mr. Wilson and Mr. Iiri-
art of the city, and in the House more capable
udges) crowded round him. Offering him their earnest
congratulations This high compliment but it was
| richly deserved.
Mr. Crane followed Mr.. Hunt-n opposition, of course
His voice really the whoopng of the bird which bears
his after the smooth and beautiful which were
still lingering upon the Of the House. Independent
of his being opposed to every thing except the spread of
the American eagles wings this gentleman seems to be
impressed with the idea that like Demosthenes he can
make orator of himself by practice unlike his exam
pie he does not practice by the shore with pebbles in
his mouth before he would himself in the Senate
but the contrary into the House and exercises
himself there 1t great pity that men can never
made to believe that they not born to be orators
and statesmen.
The opposition however, fruitless and the motion
Of Mr. Hardesy prevailed that the Senate concur all
Judges Of the Supreme Court will five thousand
| dollars per annum.
The proceedings Of both Houses interrupted by the
Of the death of Isaac Johnson
In this section of the country man. time ever
had any thing like his popularity and although believed
he would not be Successful in the election for Asso
cate Justice it is more than probable that might have
been mistaken Upon ground there be no contest
Of opinion about him That he honest and chy
arous gentleman, no did could deny That
he possessed Of all the kindness feeling which made
him a comparable friend, and endorsed with fas
cnation Of altogether irresistible no one ever
doubted. His memory will be revered by all who were
brought in contact with him true embodiment
of those which mark the southern gentle
| man and heightened man.
The death Of Gov johnson will have important in.
naence upon the election of Supreme and Court Jus
tice for this District All the persons who would have
voted for him will now in all probability unite upon
Judge Cooley II the candidates succeed in securing the
votes OF their respective sections of the country judge
oooley viii certainly be elected But it is mixed up
matter al round, NO one can the and m ans