The Weekly comet. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1853-1855, 1855-04-29
The police Or tAis Parish.

an eIecLlOn ID ordered ON NOuOay
J the 14th prox., in Wards /, 2, 8, A,
| I, 8. 9, II, Of this Parish, for mem.
bers ofthe Police Jury, to serve for
the period Of two years, in that body.
The Police Jury having rs IL has, sole
charge Of the internal police Of the
Parish, should be composed Of good
and sufficient men--men identified
with its interests; enlightened, and
liberal enough withal, to do what is
necessary to be done. What is seri-
ously complained Of, and calls for
speedy reform, lies to great extent
beyond the power Of Police Jury to
correct and the hope was con6den.
tally INDUCED in, that the last legisla-
ture would find a moments leisure
from its immense labor, to give 1t con-
sideration. We allude 10 the fact, that
planters are called on Mt heavy ex-
pense to work roads through unculti-
waited lands, thus enhancing their val
ne, whilst tie owner does not pay a
dime IF taxes into the Parish Treas,l.
ry. This is wrong; and loud and long
complaints do we hear from all quar-
ters, which demand consideration and
reform. How many square acres Of
the lands in this Parish--every foot OF
which is susceptible of the highest
cultivation, lies fallow in its primitive
wilderness state +! A condition which
would not exist were the owners forced
by some just law, to aid in keeping
up the roads. It does seem singularly
unjust, that vacant land should remain
untaxed. in the hands Of monopblixing
spectators, whilst The man who "puts
his single talent $ to account, is called
on to give half he makes to the tax
gaiherer. Is not this tax upon indus
try itself, which weighs down our al
ready bufthened and crippled agri-
culture ! Should specializing non-resi-
dents as well as the land rats among
us, be permitted thus to cripple the
best interests of the Parish, ? Shall in.
dustry be taxed to support idleness ?
Shall we build roads and work roads
make levees and bridges to bring
lands into market and enhance the
value thereof, whilst the idle owners
fatten upon the fruits of our labor ?
No, this is unjust. We are an Agra
rian to the full extent of Rome's an.
cient laws; and are 40, TO break down,
as far as equal taxation will do it, this
kind Of monopoly. Il is for this rea-
son we desire to see gradual change
in the peculiar institutions Of our
State cuised and cursing monopoly
whose poisonous influences are felt in
every nerve and fibre Of the body pol
tic. Without it, Louisiana would be
the flower garden Of America with
it, she must degenerate (; producing
nothing but nabobs on one hand, and
idle slothful consumers on the other
whilst gold the only true wealtirof a
nation, lies buried in the undisturbed
soil, and the primitive wilderness
stands undisturbed by the agricultur.
ist Money never made nation rich
its wealth comes from the soil, and in
dus'ry is its capital, that cannot be az
fected by outside pressure or the
tightness Of the times. Brief legisla-
tive enactments from time to time may
bring change, and the power con.
ferred upon the Parish Police to make
the land itself pay for the roads
through it, will do much towards
forcing it into market.
To return to the original proposi.