New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1861-02-11
LOUISIANA STATE CONVENTION.

prayer was offered by the Rev. Mr.. Jessup, of
the Episcopal church.
The roll was then called, and Sc members an
swered to their names.
The journal Of yesterdays proceedings was read
and approved.
Personal Explanation.
Mr.. Miles, Of Orleans, to a question OF per.
sonal explanation. A morning paper (he Delta)
had edorially misrepresented him in regard to his
offering, the day before, his amendment to an ordi-
nance, which amendment was that citizens of
States which had passed personal liberty bills,
should not be permitted to bring suits in the
courts of this State. The editorial article in ques
ton stated that the proposition " had an aspect of
reputation, the evasion of our debts which the
people Of this State opposed to in any shape it
may assume" Mr.. Miles explained that the sec
ton he had introduced did not propose in any
manner to repudiate or refuse the payment of
debts. but simply to put our citizens on the same
footing with New York, Massachusetts, and other
Northern States-for by our act of secession we
no longer had rights under the laws of the United
States to recover debts from those States, and it
was not right they should exercise privilege
against US which we could not
Mr.. DuprG concurred with Mr. Miles, and said he
understood that gentleman at the time he offered
the section.
ss64Esa4 AS to Adjournment.
Mr.. Davidson, of Sabine, offered resolution
that when the Convention adjourn on Tuesday it
shall djourn sine die; the object for which the
Convention had assembled being fulfilled. The
resolution was laid over.
Important to the Banks.
Mr.. Estlin, of Orleans, offered the following
preamble and resolution:
Al,
impose heavy and serious burdens on the tax
payers and it is the part Of wisdom and patriotism
to avail ourselves of all the means at the command
of the State
ReSOEred That special committee of FIVE MEM
bers be appointed to coIectinformation and report
to this Convention, upon its reassenb bling in March,
the expediency of making the charters of the
banks now in existence in tie State Of Louisiana,
uniform in the term OF their charters, privileges
and conditions; Provided the said banks will agree
to pay satisfactory bonus to the State.
The above was laid over under the rulss, and
will come up to-day.
Postal Affairs.
Mr.. Walker, of Orleans from the Committee on
Postal Affairs, presented the following report and
ordinance.
REPORT. vD
The Committee on Postal Affairs, after careful
examination of the present state of the postal sys-
TEN of the United States have arrived at the con.
Hazardous to recommend to this Convention any
changes in that system, any action on the sub
ject, beyond the recognition of the present ar
rangements and contracts, and the authority and
obligations of the Government of thG United States
TO auperneGd the execution of the existing laws.
The postal arrangements Of the United States form
| a complex system which extends through all the
States and Territories lately included in the con-
fcderaCy Of the United States and s so interviewer
in a parts Of the country to render it mpracti-
cable for any single State to act independently of
the Others and to establish separate system with
out the aid and sanction OF the central department
at WGshn gtOD. The State of Louisiana as one of
the parties to the contract made by this depart.
ment, is bound in good faith, as well as by vatious
| other considerations, not to interrupt the due
course Of the mails or in any manner to interfere
| with the execution of the existing laws and con-
| tracts.
| The committee earnestly recommend that no
such interference be made; nor does the commit
tee think that it would be prudent in the State of
| Louisiana TO assume any control over, or any re-
sponsibility for the present mail service. The ex-
cess of expenditures over the revenue of this de-
| partment, charged to the State of louisiana e1-
ceeds the Of s500,0 600, and the State by assu-
ming charge of the service, might make itself liable
| for this large sum. Nor could the mail contractors
under the present system, be held liable to the
State of Louisiana for any default or abandonment
| of their contracts To make new contracts would
| impose o very heavy burden upon the treasury of
| the State would involve the necessity of organi-
| zing a complete postal system, and providing the
|
| which would be required to put such system in
| operation.
| The committee look to the early action of the
| Provisional Government, about to be formed at
Montgomery, to provide postal system for the
| said ConfedGraCy. 1t INDUCES the hope that the
| rumor of the purpose of the Government of the
United States t0repeal the laws Of fCongrcss relative
to the postal SERVICE far they apply to the Sc
| ccding States, are uufoUnded. Such course would
be quite as Injurious and offensive to the people of
the Northern States rs to the people of the seeding
States If, however, so base and hostile measure
be adopted, the Provisional Government to be es-
| tablished by the Montgomery Convention should
be first looked to, to organize postal system for
the States which will be represented in that Gov
ernment. In the event that no such Confederacy
is established the Legislature of the States is be-
lieved to be the most competent agency to estab-
| lish and mature such system. Under these cir.
| cumstances, the committee have concluded to re-
| commend that the Convention take no further
action on the postal service than is contained in
the ordinance reported, which is Identical with the
ordinance passed by the Convention of South Car.
| olina-where the mail service has gone on with
| out disturbance or Interruption
| Relative to the complaints Of the nsuficiency
| and NAL administration in the mail service in Louis
lana, and to applications for relief from contract
or8, the committee report that in conformity will
the foregoing conclusions, it is not within the
power of the committee to afford any relief, OF
make any changes. All such complaints must be
made to the department, to which the agents en-
ploycd in the postal service are accountable.
louisiana.
Whereas, the State of Louisiana owes it to hel
own citizens and to those of other States, that aS
one of the contracting parties she would not pre-
| vent or interrupt the performance of the pending
| contracts for carrying and delivering the mails
made by the United States while Louisiana was
one Of said States,
Be ordained 0y The people of Louisiana III
| ConUcntioD assembled, That the existing posta
contracts and arrangements shall be continued
and the persons charged with the duties, until a
postal treaty or treaties shall be concluded OF
until otherwise ordered by this Convention, or BY
some other competent authority.
On motion of Mr.. Walker, the above was made
the special order of the day for Monday [this
day..
| Public Lands.
Mr.. Elgee, of Rapides, called up his Swamp
Land ordinance, the first section Of which was un
der debate when the Convention adjourned OF
Friday.
The first section being read Mr.. McCollom, O
Terrebonne, renewed the motion for the adoption
of his amendatory proviso to the section offered
on Friday. The amendment was as follows:
Provided that all inchoate titles emanating under
any law grant or donation from the late Govern
mont of the United States to private individual:
and to all corporations in this State be, and they
| arc recognized and placed on the same basis tha
they were on under the laws Of the late Govern
ment of the United States.
After debate between Mcssrs. Elgee, McCollom