New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1857-01-21
Ne6 OrIeans 1ailp Crestent.
WEDNESDAY MORNING, JANUARY 81, 1857.
GOVERNORS MESSAGE

"CDNE NE"oDa1 bloRNlNU, JaNUAh1 Il, 1901.
GOVERNORS MESSAGE
Gentlemen Of the Senate,
and House of Representatives.:
tender to you cordial welcome to the Capital of
the State Since your last meeting we have felt the
protecting hand Of Divine Providence. Our State has
escaped the desolation and gloom which, for the last
three years, had fallen upon US no fearful epidemic
has marked the year just closed Health, happiness
and prosperity has been portion as State and
as nation, we have cause to be thankful. Our Con-
stitution and Union have been preserved throughout
one OF the ercest and most angry contests for Pres
dent which has ever been known and which well nigh
shook the foundation of our Government which had
been laid deep in the hearts and affections Of the peo
pie. The widest and most reckless fanaticism, the
darkest and most evil passions of our nature were
evoked in the contest.
A geographical party composed of the worst Of our
people of the sixteen free States, had been formed
not for their protection but for our ruin, declaring
that we of the South, who have at all times evinced
true and flial devotion to the Constitution and the
Union Of these States should no longer remain equals
under our Federal Government that no more slave
States should be admitted into this Union; that the
wise, safe and Constitutional doctrines just to all
parts of our common country, as contained in the
KansasN Nebraska bill, should not prevail. The prin
ciple is now fixed and settled for all coming time,
which secures to the South our just rights under
the Constitution e., noninteryenton on. the part
Of Congress, either to extend limit slavery but
the people left free and untrammeed to decide for
themselves whether slavery shall or shall not exist as
their interests may dictate. The settlement of this
vexed question u the late Presidential contest by the
election of James Buchanan, President, and John G.
Breckinridge Vice-President, will under their wise
and conservative rule, give peace and quiet to our
country, and it is hoped will bring back that rater
nal love which existed during the earlier days of our
Republic, and which gave such bright hopes to our
forefathers throughout the darkest hours of srug
gle for independence.
Too much credit and praise cannot be bestowed
mn trrao nI patr of tha Nnrth
who have evinced such devotion to constitutional
liberty, in beating down that fell spirit Of religious
intolerance and Abotonism, which attempted to
raise itself upon the ruins of happy and free Gov.
ernment. Should however those bright and cheering
antcipations which we now fondly indulge not be
realized when freedom and equality in the Union are
denied us of the South by the people of the North,
then Louisiana will take her position and maintain
her rights by the strong arms and bold hearts Of her
| brave sons.
The qualification which we feel at the effect of the
late Presidential canvass in settling the internal pol
icy of the Government is heightened by the reflection
that it also indicates, in unmstakable terms, the
sent of the people of the United States to the great
principle of foreign policy which so nearly concerns
Louisiana and the Valley of the Mississippi. A con-
trolling supremacy in the Gulf of Mexico is demanded,
not only by the exigences of position but CIV
ing US assurance of that undsturbed commercial
sway so essential to the destiny not only of our own
State but Of every State which lies in the great val
ley of the West No State in this Union has deeper
stake than Louisiana in the maintenance of the doc.
rines first declared by Mr.. Monroe against the fur
ther acquisition Of territory by the European powers
our Continent. Standing as we do at the very gate
Of the Mississippi Valley, with an immense and eH'
tended gulf coast. we should never permit the slight.
est intiacton of principle now become leading ar
tice Of our political faith.
The Constitution makes it the duty of the Governor
to give to the General Assembly information respect
ing the situation Of the State aud recommend to thel
consideration such measures as he may deem eXpe
dent | now proceed to the dischare of that duty
lnla inf nm Tho let Of art
was S902 Ala II. Total amount of receipts for thu
year 1856 81 223,s ,sGs GI Expenditures for the SAINT
time, 81, ,953, $40 IS.
Bo5Ds ISSUED TO R,ILRoADs DURING -uf YEAR,
New Dricas, 0pelousas and Great Western Railroad,
Baton Rouge crosse Tate aud Opeiousas Raroad Is
New orleans, Jackson and Rniroad il
vcksbug Shreveport and RaiIroad 81 bonds. 81 j0
rotol 90 ................... $1,000
The report of the Superintendent OF Public Educa
ton will make you acquainted with the operations o.
that department during the past year. Ireget to say
that many of the beneficial results which were eX
pected from common-school system have not been
realized. And this is subject which at once ad
dresses itself to the wise legislator to devise some
means by which the advantages OF commonschoo
education may be more universally felt, the perpe
Unity Of our Government depends upon the education
of our people,
would most earnestly call your attention to the
many valuable recommendations made by the State
Engineer in his report. And with all due Difference
allow me to say that much of the efficiency of this
department is crippled by legislative action, in taking
away from the Engineer that discretion which is SC
necessary to proper discharge of his duties If that
officer were left free and unrestrained to make such
improvements the interests ofthe State demanded
and as his own judgment dictated, more would be
done than is now but it is, half of his time and
that of his assistants is consumed in travelling from
part of the State to another making surveys ant
examinations of an unimportant character, compare
lively speaking while works offar greater Importance
are wholly neglected Remove this check, increase
the effective force of the department, and the benet
cia results will soon be felt.
1t is with degree of pleasure that refer yor
to the reports of the Swamp Land Commissioners, TO
detailed statement Of their acts and doings for thu
past year. Each Commissioner has attended to thu
duties of his office with great promptness and fidelity
and the several works now under CONTRACT are being
completed rapidly as circumstances will allow B,
the improvements already made, many acres ofpub
land have been brought into market and there nov
in the Treasury upwards of $3.50 900 belonging to thu
Swamp Land Fund.
deem it due these officers to say that they hay,
abored faithfully for the interest of the State.
From the report of the Register of the Land Office
it will be seen that the following amounts have beel
received:
From the sale of Internal Improvement Lands so 9sG
Seminary and School Lands 4,542
Making total of. s479OS2 0
The report of the Directors of the Charity Hospta
is herewith transmitted, and will acquaint yo
fully with its management under the present officers
With earnest desire to benefit suffering man
and enhance the blessings of this institution these OF
icers have devoted their time and attention mos
commercially. Not forgetful that this institution
which was first founded by liberal donations from tw
foreigners, whose names should ever be regarded witt
affection, they have determined to administer this in
sttution with an eye directed to the suffering pool
and at the time to the financial condition OF ou
State Treasury.
Under many embarrassing circumstances, which ar
fully set forth in their report they have been enables
to get through the past year.
When it is recollected how much humanity is bene
fitted and what refuge this institution affords to on
race the representatives of the people should not a
to extends helping hand. therefore recommend tn
appropriations asked for, and the amendments of tn
laws demanded.
From the Report of the Board of Administrators c
the Insane Asylum at Jackson, you will learn the cor
dition of that humane institution and perceive tina
an appropriation of S33 900 is asked for, which mos
respectfully recommend may be made.
The Report of the Board of Health will place be
fore you many important facts upon the subject {
quarantine.
, Quarantine was established by your predecessor
some two years since, under the hope that by sric
observance of the laws State would escape tn
dreadful sCourge which often has made her mourn
deem it proper here to state that though at tir<
no advocate for quarantine am now forced to say