The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1865-12-13
Goyernor,a Message.
Executive CHATBnR, Clrr H41l


Anticipating the regular period fixed by law for the
meeting Of the general assembly of the State havc
convened youth extraordinary session for the reasor
among others of great gravity and moment enuner
atedin my proclamation stated.
Nearly five years have elapsed since the whole peo
pie of Louisiana, through Representatives lawfully
elected by themselves, have assembled in council to-
gether and during this affecting and deplorabe inter
regnum, alterations, disGird and civil strife have
1t has pleased Almighty Sod to put period to these
DIVISIONS, and to restore the nation to peace and con.
cord again.
Than the people of LouiHana, in times not remote
none were more honorabl ehvlarously conspicuous
and respected for their love Of order their attachment
to liberty their respect fo law their exalted punet
ousness IN the discharge OF every pecuniary obligation
their fidelity and devotion to rational requirements:
and again. IN the recent election of State officers and
members of the Legislature, every parish fully and
fairly participating new guarantees are given by them
that their loyalty is renewed without reservation and
that they accept with sincerity and frankncss the new
order Of things as it has been determined BY the ar
bitrament of the sword.
In fulfllment of the duties thus in good faith as
sumed they have chosen delegates to represent tbp
in the popular branch of the national assembly. Two
senators yet to be chosen by the general assembly
and it is urgently desirable that the State should not
be unrcpresented in the higher any more than in the
lower branch of congress- on Its assembling IN Docem
Der, your attention is earnestly directed TO the pro-
Yidng in time for the deficiency i'll the senatorial body
The condition of the levees the Mississippi river
for hundreds of miles within our State have naturally
caused wide spread anxiety, and gloomy and painful
apprehensions while among the resident inhabitants
upon the river banks and within many miles Of them
their runous and neglected state has produced feel
ing of distress, encouragement and dependency sur
passing power of exageration The inability collect
taxes TO negotiate loan Of sufficient amount the
treasury being without means also was not able do
for their prospective relief than to take the proper
lnuatory steps OF preparation to proceed with the
work of effective PREPARATION actively, the instant tho
funds required for the purpose could be obtained,
This indispensable proceeding look with entire conf
dence to your wisdom speedily to accomplish.
Intimately connected with this and every other public
undertaking of any magnitude if it be not indeed the
very foundation of both public and individual pros.
perity is the credit of the State. For several years
past for reasons known, appreciated and deplored
by ALL the interest the State debt remained uudis-
charged. No complaint reproach however, has ever
reached from any quarter in regard to this morty-
ing delinquency and that there may not be, and that
the fair fame and honor of louisiana may not be
nshed, YOU will, trust, at early day devise suit
able way for paying off all accrued interest without
pressing too GENEROUSLY veXauously by taxation on
the struggling industry of the people.
In providing for the retirement and extinction of the
matured coupons of interest the public debt, the
obtaiument of to meet and discharge promptly
and punctually other matured pecuniarY Indebtedness
including the OUTLAWS for the evees and to all the
I unpostponablc OUTLAWS demanded by present eIlgen
ces, would among other resources, direct your ateu
tion to the cotton purchased by II. w. Allen, lately
exercising the functions Of governor at Shreveport
the name of the people Of Louisiana Of this cotton
near as can discover, there remain about six thou
sand bales winch, at prices now ruling, if it be
made available, would afford oPportuue and great i'm
mediate relief.
! The swamp lands, also. which were donated 10 the
State by congress- be sold for the exclusive purpose
of creating fund for building and maintaining our
levee system are, is thought, far from exhausted
You will examine whether they can, and to what ex-
tent, be made ayailabei Immediately or prospecvely
! for the contemplated object.
1t has occurred to md, if other measures more cig
Bile cannot be devised by you for the purpose that
issue Of treasury to the extent of million Of
dollars mi ght be authorized without interest pledgng
the public ands belonging to the State for their re-
demption and making them receivable for taxes other
than licenses These warrants, think could be sold
in lots of fifty thousand dollars. ut depreciation,
probably, of not more than twenty per cent, which
would be more than reimbursed to the State in the
1 labor contracts it will be compelled to make and
which, II will not be disputed, is most desirable should
be discharged IN cuTreut funds throw out these sug
gestionE for your consideration merely, not doubling
that the entire subject of providing ways and means
for the public service will early engage your most
In Importance to the future prosperity of the con-
monwealth, almost vital is the question Of labor The
legislation that will berequred to to him who
has 1t to sell, just protection and adequate Temunera
ton; and to the capital which will buy m absolute
cury and profit for its use, will be alike difficult and
pcrplexing From the creation of the world no fixed
relation has been established between capital and
! labor; nor has sage statesman ever foreshadowed
plan by which the differences which have ALWAYS o.
! listed between them could efectually be reconciled
Enlightened opinion seems TO have permanently settled
into the conviction that the directly and init.
mateiy connected labor and capital be made tho
fewer and lesser will be the obstacles to good mutual
understanding and that the less legislation or attempts
other than legislative to intervene between those who
have labor to sell and those who have capital to bu Il
with, the better will it be for the parties immedia
interested and society at large. In 9th words that
1t is true wisdom to give to each individual much
control over his bargain is, may be- consist.
| ent with good faith and the public interests.
Corporal punishment being wholly inhibited by our
laws no recourse to It, under any circumstances can
be tolerated for the enforcement of labor contracts;
neither the other hand is it to be endured that per
sons who agree for stipulated wages to give full
ton, from dishonest design abandon their employers
take advantage of seed time harvest or anT urgent
emergency to desert them and refuse to discharge those
duties they had voluntarily bound themselves perform
In my opinion therefore, any laws you may, in the
eTClse Of Your wisdom and judi ment enact for the egu
lation of this most delicate relation il would be well
rather TO aim at means Of enforcing upon the contract
ing parties due respect for aud compliance with their
bargains contracts than to suggest dictate what
may be by others supposed the interest of either Left
TO themselves to make their own bargains alth0U
doubtless ovcrreaching may at times occur on
whole it will be found think, the only satisfactory
safe par The laborec has the right take his services
where they Wl be best appreciated and no interference
with him for doing can be permitted by the laws
Intimately connected with the labor system of 80
State indeed of the utmost Importance in corsc-
tion if not Identification Herewith, is the
ment of immigration. Iii worthy Of your maurZ
sderaon whether some special encouragement m= not
be with propriety given to concilate some portn Of
that perennial current of human labor which has hth
erto set from the eastern to the western hemisphere
and been absorbed to the lasting benefit Of the hitherto
free sections of the republic. Should present embsr
easements render pecuniary assistance for the promotion
of the object at the moment eypedent would ask You
to remove all impedmens, least, TO free immigration
whether they exist hospital taxes in other injud
cous determinations The establishment BY solvent
company of line ofirst class steamships, 10 Ply sm'
monthlyor frequently if the enterprise viii pay
between Liverpool and New Orleans, presents an o.
portunity for opening up Louisiana to European mint
grafton which am Of opinion ought to Strengthen
and sustain The mayor of New Orleans, with BIS &C.
customed watchfuness and intelligence, where the n
erests of the city and State involved has hem
forms me, communicated to the agent Of the llns a
steamers referred to his official desire gige his COM
pany every facility pdssblein the harborof New Orleans
and has offered to make contingent contract win Did
allowed for its submission TO his principals for then az
prova and ratification This proceeding 50 c0n9des
ate, expedient and wise have fully sanctioned anl