The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1865-11-15
The Next General Assembly.

The Next General Assembly.
The Legislature just elected which
is soon to assemble Is the most i'm.
portant ever convened in Louisiana.
The country lies PROSTATE from, loss
Of property, crevasses in levees, and
q total disruption Of the labor system.
However the question Of calling .
State Convention is decided, and
whatever Congress, Andrew johnson.
or the Governor Of Louisiana may do
for US, the great bulk Of legislation
which is to adapt thel jurisprudence
Of the State to the new order Of things
must be the work Of this Legislature.
Three classes Of questions will come
beforesit aFirst Legislation for res !
toring the country as much as possi-
bic; including the rebuilding Of le-
wees and public works, the relief IL
debtors &c.; Secondly. the labor ques-
ton, including laws enforcing tho
obligations Of contracts, apprenticing
minors, Furnishing vagrancy, &C.. :
Thirdly, the encouragement Of emf
grafton and introduction Of capital :,
We shall as occasion offers give our
opinions on each Of these subjects.
What We wish now to do Is to
arouse tho legislators to thought and
study; so that they may not be placed
in the unenviable position Of being
taken unawares BY questions which
every thinking man knows must
come before them. We would ad-r
wise them to watch the course Of re-.
organization in tho other States, and
ascertain what measures are working
well and what measures are working
badly; and to study the laws regula-
ting labor and encouraging emigra-
ton in the Northern States, so as TO-
select the best Of those laws for
adoption here. Those who have been
elected to seats must rise to an en-,
lightened consciousness Of the weigh
ty responsibilities resting on them.
They win be q blessing or an incubus
to Louisiana for years to come; their
action will raise Us up to prosperity.
OF tx Us in our present prostration
with chains Of adamant.
The Southern States are about 70
run q new race. II will Be hard for
any one Of them hampered with wick
ed and narrow.minded Legislation 20
keep abreast with that one which
starts of untrsmmelled and footIoese.
In this race We should look forward.
not backward, hopefully trusting the
future rather than disconsOlately mo:
ping over the past Let there be no
vain attempts to partially re-es.ab-
fish the old order Of things. Why
haukes after that which Is forever
buried out Of our sighti We must
have slave labor or free labor. Tho
former we cannot have; let us then
take the latter, and not vex our brains
and ruin our State in the mad o.
tempt TO establish . nondescript semi
slave and semi-free labor, which shaM
drive the laborers We % much need
to States where . more liberal policy
invites them. There may be much To-
regret in the old system for the sys-
TENS sake. No institution good Ok
bad could die after 70 long an exls-
tenoe without regrets. There may
be more 10 regret 10 tho tone and
sentiment Of the society based upon
liz These are, in the main, gone for
ever; but amongst the ruins5we may
gather up some stones oset in tho
corner Of the new edi6ce. Lbesslity,
hospitality. cbivalrio bearing 70 Tho
softer sex, high sense Of honor, md
the employment Of wealth, talents
and leisure for the improvement q
the individual, or the benefit Of TO
race, are no more incompatible with
the new system than with the old
Ten years from this Tine he plan.
ter and the merchant who appreciates
these things will be the moaeyed mani
while'be, who does net will Be- mo-
ping over BID poverty and tie better
times he has seen with its elegant
accomplishments and oftentimes. We
fear. its vices. The men il power in