New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1856-01-24

Treasury: .85
Balance in the Treasury the LIST Of Janu.
ary, 1855, per last report $74339a %
Amounts Of receipts from LIST Of January, to ID I
the 31st Of December, 1856 as per annexed
statement ,os6 d
s2sso4s4 Y |
pssiod, as PSF annexed statement 1,sssoss co.
Balance In the Treasury. December 31st, 1855,
subject to draft on each Of the following
funds SSo1oso 90
General Funds. .......... sSlss Ssg so
Mil Tax Fund . lg5'zas g
RSls IassrnaI naa Imp1oremsns 4sa Fund Y
Internal Improvement Fund.-. 1909 25
Lsves and Drainage Fund. 252 5sI 30
Rosd and Levee Fund. S0Tl3 1S-S6323s5 SO
The last Legislature having passed bill to
renew the lease of the State Penitentiary,
deemed it my duty to withhold my sanction Of
it, for reasons which then assigned in q
special message. This bill having failed to
command the Constitutional majority Of both
Houses after it's return, the Legislature passed
o joint resolution extending the then existing
lease to the first day Of May Of this year. This
resolution, which was opened to all the objec-5
tions urged against the first bill, and which
would have brought about the restoration of the
leasing system, I determined to retain until the
present session Of the Legislature, and to return
with my objections. In the meantime, the lease
ton, it became my duty, as the Chief Executive |
Of the State, to resume the possession and ad-
!ministration Of the Penitentiary. did % under
circumstances Of great embarrassment and diff |
fculties. The Legislature had made no appro-
priations for the maintenance of the eonFicts
and the supply Of raw material for the manu-
factories. Their immediate necessities were to
be provided for until the fruit Of their own
labors could be realized and could return to feed
1a%t1 woo, y+rs4
to the credit Of the institution, and to borrow q
sufficient amount of money to meet the exigen-
cies Of the occasion. This necessity imposed
sacrifices upon the institution which curtailedS
its profits. But even this experiment, made
under the most unfsvorable circumstances, has
established conclusiVely to my mind, the policy
and expediency Of retaining the Penitentiary
under the management Of the State.
II, instead Of resorting to loans, the Legisla-
ture had placed ON appropriation Of twenty
thousand dollars at the disposal Of the Diree-
tors, not only the raw materials could have
been purchased at q lower rate, but freight
commissions and interest would have been saved
during the year, leaving handsome profits to the
Penitentiary. This opinion is confirmed by the
| opinion Of practical men, who have managed
this and other penitentiaries: It is demonstra-
BILE, that the money which, during the greater
part OF the year, lies idle in the Treasury, could
not be better or more proftsbly employed, in
such sums as might, from time to time be needed,
than in the support Of @ State Institution which
| could be constantly returning it, with interest
All the securities for the proper use Of these
advances and their timely repayment, could be
| provided for by making the Auditor Of Public
Accounts and the Treasurer of the State ex-
| oficio members of the Board, and placing the
| financial management Of the Institution under
their control, with such checks and restrictions
as may appear: necessary. The Treasury would
thus always retain some control over the loanf
made by it, so as to secure itself from embar
rassment. Under good management, and will
q well matured system, have no doubt that tn
Penitentisry would soon wipe off its debt, AM
not only sustain itself, but pay for such repair
, and additions as may be needed from time t
. time
, Convinced as I am Of the great Importance
well regulated militia, will not be deterre
, by the neglect with which the subject has bee
treated, from calling your attention to the sug
. gestions of the report Of the Adjutant and In
spector General, and more especially to thos
which relate to volunteer organizations.
experience has shown the difficulty, if not tn
absolute impossibility, of maintaining regu1a
system of militia, IN the absence Of pressin
and actual danger, it is the part Of wisdom t
| seize upon and develop those elements whic
may, in time of need, furnish the basis of NOR
, extensive military organizations. The volun
teer companies which now exist in the diferen
cities and towns of our State, should, in thi
, view, receive the fostering care Of the Legis
. lature. Louisiana owes it to her own hone!
! and to her sister States, to be prepared to fur
nish, whenever she shall be called to do so
her quota of gallant and we'll trained citizen
soldiers It cannot be that she will fail to pro
, vide for the prompt payment OF that debt q
any time it may fall due. The position Of Ad
jutant and Inspector General, which at presen
,, is little else than on s'empty honor" from th
circumscribed nature of his powers and re
sources, should receive such aid and enlarge
ments in those particulars as the dignity an
interests of this Important branch of the publ
service require.
) The administration Of ssThe State Asylur
/ for the Deaf and Dumb and the Blind,' con
o tinues to afford general satisfaction and to fur
z nish evidence of the zeal and efficiency of th
5 Professors and Directors of that Institution
0 During the past year, the buildings at presen
Q occupied by the Deaf and Dumb and the Bline
a were crowded to their utmost capacity. Th
: advanced condition of the new structures de:
y tined to receive them enables us to indulge th
hope that they will be surrounded by all th
Ct comforts which their unfortunate situatio
n claims. have no hesitation in recommendin
r such further appropriations as will be neeessar
to secure the entire completion of the new built
ings at the earliest period practicable during Il
s present year.
IS The Report of the Treasurer Of the Chart
: Hospital exhibits the general good manageme1
|, and fourishing condition Of that Institution
e At the commencement of my term of Office, tt
o Charity Hospital was indebted in the sum
e eleven thousand and one 94-100 dollars, q
% though it had received bounties from the Stat
e during the nine preceding years, amounting,
l. the aggregate, to one hundred and TWEEN
IS thousand dollars 1t has not only Cancelled th
y debt, but owing to the prudence and ability
le its managers, has sustained itself since the ye
l. 1862, upon its own resources, besides contrib
of ting largely to the repairs of the old buildin
re and the erection of new ones. During the pa
l. year, in spite of the inc; Of prices for eve
IN article of supply, and diminution in the !
f. ceipts of the tax upon foreign emigrants, the
stitution has met its expenses with its o'
NO funds, and has in its Golfers handsome surpl
=. of twenty thousand dollars.
le A subject which has ELECTED much inter
e. from past Legislatures and their constitute
is, cies, and which will, doubtless, claim yo
es serious attention, is that of the public printI
in The Importance of requiring that all matter
s, whatever character, enumerated in the law
be lative to public printing, should be printed
ed well as published at the seat of government,
be too evident to need argument or comment
f. deed some Of the provisions Of that Act (see s.
ey 7,p 294; Acts Of 1860 cannot be otherW
| - A. ,ny>f Low