New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1860-01-19

ID ii affords me- gra1. :sfaction again to plac
\, before t.S Legislature the workings Of our Banl
y ing system as exhibited in the accompanying re
I. port Of the Board Of Currency for the past year
y With the fixed specie basis, not regulated by tn
8 fluctuations of commerce. it may be proudly sal
that laws regulating the currency have secure
for the State DC Louisiana the true Federal stand
Z ard, wherewtf to measure the products OF gu
y industry and of our vast interior trade, and on
n paper money has in reality become the certificate
Y of gold and silver, convertible on demand.
: Il hope the Legislature will watch, with jealou
eye, any intentional deviation from the wise provs
AZ lions of law governing our Banks, or any change
Y in the checks and safeguards thrown around ou
present Banking system. Whilst our laws are strln
Of gent in their provisions regards the management
of our monetary institutions, the security thus
~ given to the public has in no wise destroyed thel
efficiency in affording the customary facilities tt
commerce, az evidenced by their regular annua
II dividends of from eight to fifteen per cent. The
Actpassed by the last Legislature requiring weekly
statements to be made by the Banks through the
/ Board Of Currency, has been put into operation
4 and found to work we'll This regulation gives ad
dt0nal guarantees, on the part of the Banks, BY
causing the balances to be paid every Saturday, In
coin, under the immediate superintendent of the
State authorities instead of leaving this important
i nsatter to the voluntary action Of the Banks.
No addition to Banking capital has been
4 made during the year; but the Citizens Bank has
established Branch at Shreveport, to which it has
transferred $780, 900 of its capital The location OF
this Branch, in the center of immense agrcultu-
II Vi ",
communication with the city of New Orleans, will
doubtless prove of great advantage to large por-
ton Of our northwestern parishes, in facilitating
the movement Of their crop to market.
STATE ENGINEER.
refer YOU for information to the general report
Of the State Engineer for the operations of that
department up to the I'd day Of january 1860, the
day on which the present Board of Public Works
organized. From his report you will at once per-
ceve the indebtedness of that department and the
necessity of prompt action on the part of the Legs-
lature to discharge that Indebtedness. This will
facilitate the new Board in their future transac-
tons, and at the same time terminate finally the
connection of that officer with that branch of gov
ernment with which he has been so long and favor
ably connected.
SWAMP LAND COMMISSIONERS
The reports from the four Swamp Land Commits
sloners will place YOU in full possession Of their
works ordered by the last Legislature have been
completed, and some are in an incomplete state,
owing to their magnitude and the shortness OF the
season adapted to leyee work.
Upon the very important subject of levees,
most respectfully renew the Recommendations made
by me last year 10 your predecessors. No object
Of greater moment can claim yonr attention.
n REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT or PUBLIC
EDUCATION.
This elaborate document will give all the in
formation necessary to full understanding of the
condition Of our public schools. The entire system
OF public education requires remodeling.
STATE SEMINARY OF LEARNING.
\ earnestly recommend to your favorable con-
sideration the State Seminary of Learning, estab-
lished and now under military organization near
Alexandria.
The State of Louisiana has been most fortunate
in the selection Of the corps of professors who now
have charge of this institution. An annual appro-
priation from the General School Fund Of twenty
five Thousand dollars would endow this institution
and place it upon lasting and solid foundation.
In consideration Of which the institution could edu-
cate fortv-eight young men annually, Gone from
each parish Of the State) who should bind them
selves, after the completion OF their education to
teach common school for two years. By this ar
rangement we would have teachers born and
reared N our midst, Identified in feeling and in
terest with institutions, and not be- as we are
now, dependent upon other States for public school
teachers.
urge upon the Legislature the passage of 4 law
fixing, at once, the military character Of this inst
tuition, and recommend the necessary appropriation
10 establish and build, in connection Herewith al
depot for arms and munitions of war.
NORMAL. SCHOOL, NEW ORLEANS.
Your particular attention Is invited to the Report
of the Directors of the Normal School of New Or
leans, embraced in the Report of the Superintend-
ent Of Public Education. This school is certainly
worthy Of your liberalty and fostering care.
STATE LIBRARY.
cannot close my last annual message without
paying q passing notice to MIR. Droz, the able and
most efficient Librarian a worthy old public sery-
ant, who has devoted the best years Of his life to
his department, who by his activity and industry
has given to the State of Louisiana Library of
which she may well be proud.
BOARD or HEALTH.
The Report of the Board of Health which +
place before YOU presents many interesting fea-
lures and i well worthy OF your consideration.
CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS.
The Institution for the Deaf and Dumb and the
Blind continues to prosper, and now ranks among
the most flonrishing in the United States Indus
| infrf Nd md
among them, as required by Act of the last Legis-
latnre, printing; in which the pupils have made
remarkable proficiency. Should you employ their
willing and grateful labor, as respectfully recon-
mend, IN the publication Of Library, for the use
| Of the District Schools, the otherwise necessary
expenditures OF this Institution would be greatly
reduced, and an immense benefit conferred on all
children attending our common schools.
1 The Report of the Insane Asylum at Jackson,
viii place you IN full possession of information re.
lafye TO its management for the past year and Its
| wants Tor the present. cannot forego the pleas
are q saying that this institution is the best man
aged, and the cheapest institution OF the kind in
the union, and speaks well for the liberalitv and
generosity of the State Of louisiana
! commend to your most favorable consideration
the Report Of the Board Of Administrators of the
charity Hospital. The Board of nirectors and
officers Of that institution have discharged their
trust with great fidelity.
TRIAL OF SLAVES CHARGED WITH CARR sf oprpScvS
have heretofore called the attention Of the lie.
charged with capital ofenses This subject. wh;ef
| deem of great Importance has failed to attrae
i the attention of your predecessors. 1t now earn
estly demands and should receive your attention
!, The manner in which slaves are now tried. by
special tribunal established for that purpose. re
suits In sending many Of them to the State Priso
for oenses slight and trivial whereas il the admin
straton of justice was, in these cases. confined
, the District Courts and juries. punishment woui
be as certain, j would recommend the repeal {
the law which inficts upon slave the punishmeI
T of confinement in the State Penitentiary
t FREE NEGROES AND SLAVES VINO HInE THEIR ON
TIME.
Act No. 81, passed by the last General Assemb
to prevent the migration Of free negroes from 9TH
States into this. though thus far zealousy enforce
, has not accomplished lis object. The many meal
Of avoiding the provisions Of this act, By the d
, signing and cunning, will readily present thel
selves, upon even casual examination of the lai
There is another subject to which / would he
call your attention. With the best Intentions, ce
tainly without calculating the evil tendency OF Il
practice, many Of shareholders have fallen in
T fhe perncious custom of allowing them TO Iii
Their own time, or, in other words, extending
lhem liberties and privileges totally inconsiste
I with their proper condition and good goYernmer
+ me influence OF such example on our slave pop
| lation u most ruinous, and should be checked