Baton Rouge tri-weekly gazette & comet. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1865-18??, 1865-12-05


an error TO abolish the parish JudgeieysteIn, ,
as 1t existed under the Constitution of 1872
and to my diMdent comprehension "a re-
turn to that system will be. as universally
approved as seems to be the repudiation of
an elective Judiciary. IF thfs be accepted
as admitted, and think ID willinot be dis
! puted, the duties of -Recorders could be
/ performed by clerks OF. courts, who in
turn, should be disqualified from the per-
formance of judicial acts, unless In the
/ absence of Judges. The slection Of Judgss,
Recorders, Clerks and Sheriffs, mainly from
personal or political feeling rather than
capacity and fitness of the individual for
the trust, has shaken public confidence in
the administration OF justice, besides rem
,dering, IL expensive, ,.tardy, and to, the last
degree uncertain. sy Bred to the vocation of
| culture, I cannot speak on this subject
with technical apHiliaTity, nor do IL aim ut
doing 30, contented if I can embody in
clear and comprehensive recommendation
the objectionsito the present system know
70 exist, for your, correction;t9 aLst-. w..
| Provision will have TO be made TO re-
build the, State Renitentiary, andto srect
Il a State house, The former will require
all needfuF dispatch.' In selecting o. site
| for the latter, due gard should be paid to
1 the locality. Crowded or ill-ventilstsd
places sh onld be eaveided, and, if mead be,
large and roomy space, capable Of admit
Il ting the erection, in detached shape, of sill
the public buildings necessary for the State
\ officers and archives, to be provided for
i suitably, sh6uld'be obtained in the neigh
lI borhood of New Orlasns. The thorough
h fares and crowded streets Of great city
are unsuited for such purposes. .azaa \.
A 1t is cely-sreqnirea thatI should
dwell, upon the urgency of an immediate
4 and perfect Organization of the militis OF
the State. This cannot with safety be de-
4 fefred; tor it is not compatible with the
| reconstruction policy of the Government
| to maintain armies in the States for the
purpose of police. The reorganization of
our State, which will be completely ac-
complished on the admission Oh our dele
cations TO Congress, ,swill, without ques-
ton, be speedily followed by the abolition
of martial law within our borders, and the
withdrawal of all troops,not required for
garrison or fort purposes. That this may
not happen before a State force can supply
it's place, you will, am sure, fully guard.
| | have endeavored without success to
procure the transfer of the banks of New
Orleans now under military liquidation,
from the control of the Commander of this
/ EDepartment to the civil power. The banks
/ thus unaocouniably4c y4circnmstanced, are the
Bank Of Louisiana, State Bank, Merchants,
Union, Crescent City, and Bank Of New
Orleans. Why the military usurpsd the
nut hority to.take possession OF these bsnks
and regulate their administration any
more than the reason for their continued
retention of them / have never been able
to know or understand AS they stand in
the relation to their creditors Of insolvent
institutions, especially rsfer to them, 30
that you may take snch action to have
them administered in accordance with law
and the just rights of all concerned, as cir
eumstances will warrant.
The present condition of the New Orleans
and jackson and New Orlesus and Opelou-
sas Railroads inspires uneasiness. The for
mer road was, Unexpectedly to me, handed
over. by the military authority to the ad-
mfnistration Of 4 few men, who had con-
Quoted it fer some fashion. They refuse
TO explain its affairs from the re-occupation
of this city by the National forces until the
reluquishment Of the road by the Com
HIauding General. Acting upon the sng-
aestions of President Johnson, who consid-
ered it should be q step precedent to the
delivery of the roads to the control of 10y
al directors chosen by the stockholders, the
Mayor of New Orleans called for new cleo
ton by the stockholders of each company.
His call was fully responded to, and dirsc-
tors of the highest respectability and relia-
bility were chosen. The old directors Of
the New Orleans and Jackson Railroad
fearing accountability or unwilling to re-
linouish their places, resisted the demand
fora surrender Of the control Of the corpor-
alton and it's affairs, and appealed to the
lawsto sustain them. They hold possession
and give no account oftheir stewardship.
The large interest of the State in both Of
tbese important enterprises made it incunn-
bent upon me to sustain the action Of the
Mayor of New Orleans, in his exertions to
have their true present state exposed for
public information.
The New Orleans and Opelousas Railroad
Lsstill held and run by the military, who
ieclina to relinquish it to its Stockholders
unless the Board Of Directors release the
Government from allTaolamations on ao-
count of the enormo Gus sums received by it's
Jfhcers since the road has been in their
hands. 3s- SIS at SIS uy In sg.rE
Donations Of land made by Congress to
he 0pelousas road are likely TO lapse from
, failure of conditional not attended to.
Your early attention to the roads and sill
connected with them is much demanded.
Various public works, of greater or lesa
Importance, as well as the reparation Of the
evees, will have to DO undertaken by the
tate. In connection with them, the crea-
ion ofa Board Of Public Works, or the
doption OF some other way for planning
nd Supervising them will be requisite. Ex-
erIence will be safe guide as to which
Ian, that of Board or OF Chief Engin-
er, is more preferable.
No other Legislative bodies that have ever
efore been convened in this State have
eenc hsrged with the consideration Of leg
.lation embracing so many, various and
lotnsntous subjects. Upon their sn1ight-
B ed just and prompt settlement, every
ling affecting the we'll being, happiness
nd prosperity of the people and State de-
ends. Procrastination is ruin postpone
ent is death.
faithful citizen, called by an all-wiss
i'd omniscient Providence TO administer
lis powerful Government, watchss with
feetionate solieitude your proceedings. He
y great stress upon the course of Louis
ma is anxious she should take her true
ace in the Republic has manifested by
am merous kindnesses of manner and acts
= warm sympathy with us, and will be
ow to believe that we will ever disap-
u --ru