The morning comet. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1856-1856, 1856-02-22

Government, for the purpose Of drain
ing and retaining the same, have be
came large, Of course it attracts III,
usual amount Of attention from thos,
who have laudable desire to see The
same properly appropriated. This
commendable spirit on the part Of the
representatives Of the people, has Civ.
en- rise to many plans, for carrying in.
to full force and effect, the object OIL
the grant. Louisiana is indebted To
the late Mr.. Harmanson, for this
scheme, which has opened wide the
door to the widest spirit Of specula-
ton ever known to lis.
The grantof these lands to the State
was obtained prior to the adoption Of
the present Constitution, wherein it is
written:
Arr. 131. The General Assembly.
At Its first session after the adoption Of
this Constitution, shall provide for the
election and compensation of the Com
missioners and the organization Of the
Board. The Commissioners first cleo
ted shall assemble on day to be mp
pointed by law, and decide by lot the
order in which their terms Of service
shall expire.
Arr. 1872. The Commissioners shall
exercise a diligent and faithful super
vision Of all public works, in which
the State may be Interested, except
those made by joint stock companies.
They shall communicate to the Gen
eral Assembly, from time to time, their
views concerning the same, and re-
such measures as they may
deem necessary, in order to employ
10 the hest advantage and for the pur-
poses for which they were granted, the
swamp and overAowed lands, convey
I'd by the United States to this State.
They shall appoint all officers engaq-
I'd on the public works, and shall per
orm such other duties as may be pre-
'cribed by law.
In violation Of the document from
which the above quotations are made,
commissioners were appointed by the
Governor, and for the manner in which
hey discharged their duties, such MS
lave not already done SO, may refer
o pamphlet report published by a
ONT committee of both Houses of the
asst legislature. The committee was
Of the Hons. Louis Hebert,
". w. King, and 7. W. Palfrey, on
he part Of the Senate, and on the part /
f the House, Hons. B. B. SHINES, J.
}. Williams, W. W. Pugb, +. Law
ense and Fl. Mccullough. They Or
anized themselves regularly on the
tn Of February, and proceeded to the
'ork Of examination from day to day,
ntil the 5th day Of March. Q
According to that report, no sooner
ere the Commissioners appointed
ian they went to work in conjunction
18th other persons, in magnificent
nd stupendious system Of speculation.
Instead of organizing Board as
'ntemplated by the act Of 1854 to
eep record Of the contracts and
roccedings of each Commissioner,
'ch one of the gentlemen took charge
the funds Of his district, and without ,
~ bond or security to the State went
7sork paying it out, on works of
Try doubtful utility, to any other than
,rsonal and private interests.
The Commissioner of The First dis
let selected Cat Island as tho field of
5 operations, appropriating to reclaim .
area Of 900 acres, $7s, 900, and ,
'ntcmplated an additional cxpendi-
ire to complete the work, of a sum to
Mount in the aggregate to $lo5, 900.
bout 10000 acres Of Cat Island on /,
accrue to the State. which at the