New Orleans daily crescent., 1866-01-31

mother tongue was English as well as those whose
vernacular was French. for whom it was
useless to publish anything; but those CreoIos in
his parish who took interest in public
affairs, were gentlemen of education equal to any,
and understood English az well as French. Mr.. T.
euoglzed the French language, but however ad-
mlrable tongue it confessedly was, still il was
not the language of the country. As to the argu-
| ment that the treaty of cession obstacle in
this connection, he could not see the strength OF
it. Twenty or twenty-five years ago. when very
large portion of the most intelligent inhabitants Of
the State understood little or nothing of the Eng
lish language, such an argument would have force,
because it would rest upon public necessity; but
now the condition of affairs is vastly different in
the spread of English in the State. Missouri and
Arkansas originally constituted part of the ter
ritory ceded to the United States by Napoleon,
yet no one ever heard of legislative proceedings
being published in French there, nor of complaint
because they were not so published.
Mr.. Deporter made few remarks in opposition
to the bill which were not audible at the reporter's
! table.
Mr.. Bailey considered that too much Importance
was attached to this subject of publishing the
journals He had never met any one yet who had
read the official journals either in French or Eng
lish and member though he was he had no. read
the journal of the extra session. much less had he
ever read the official proceedings of preceding
sessions. lie thought the whole thing of publish
ing the journals should be abolished.
Mr.. Elan, in the Chair, remarked that the Con-
sttution required the publication in English.
Mr.. Bailey thought then one language woald be
sufficient
Mr.. Williamson said that among the whole Of the
constituency hn ha5 no Of
there was not perhaps twenty whose mother tongue
was the French, but he would not give his sanction
to any measure deprving the original population
of Louisiana of the right of reading in their own
language the proceedings of their law makers.
He had not heard single reason to Justify the
Withholding Of this privilege to the Creole popQIa-
ton that would not apply with equal force to the
English speaking population. 1t was true that bat
few read the journal whether in French or Eng
llsh, but however few, neither Class should be de-
MED their right through the parsmony Of the Leg
i5lature.
Mr.. Mcconnell referred to the fact that every
Creole gentleman on the floor opposed to the
bill, as an irrefutabe answer to the argument Of
MI Tucker that the educated portion of that class
were indifferent on the subject It was an old
established custom Of the State, custom dating
back to its cc-son, to publish the laws and legis-
latiye proceedings in both languages and he could
not approve of an innovation, in disregard Of the
opinions wishes Of so large number of citiaeng
as the ancient population constituted. He re-
garded publication in both languages as tha.ee.-
tied practice Of the State and should uphold il az
such. He moved to lay the motion to commit on
the table.
Mr. DeLabarre seconded the motion and il pre-
vailed.
The next motion in order was Mr.. DeLaoarres
motion to postpone Indefinitely.
Mr. Tucker, in Difference to the views Of the
large number of gentlemen in the House repre-
sentlng the views Of the ancient population, would
vote for the indefinite postponcment.
Mr. DeLaberre s motion unanimously adop-
ted, and the BILL was, therefore, indefinitely post
poncd.
MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS.
Ms. McFnery re-introduced his bill, which failed
among the unfinished business of the extra seq
sion, for the relief Of Judge Richardson, Of Mon
roe. Referred to Comm lttee on Claims
Mr.. Richards called up the bill authorizing the
Governor to lease for period of ten years, the
Mechanics Institute fora State house, and to have
such alterations made as would adapt it to that
use. After some discussion the bill passed with
an amendment reducing the term Of the lease to
three yea.s.
Mr.. Eustis called up the Senate bill providing
for the election of parochal and district officers
throughout the State, and the bill was passed
unanimously, without amendment and without dis
cussion.
The bill Introduced by Mr.. Jonas and reported
fa9orably by the Committee on Banks and Banking,
authorizing all the banks of the State to discount
paper atcght per cent. per annum came up in itg
regular order.
Mr.. Jonas explained the object Of the bill to be
to put all the banks in the State on the same foot
ing. The National banks and the free banks we're
allowed to discount at eight per cent, but the old
chartered banks were limited to six per cent.
Mr. Walker was opposed to change in the rate
OF interest in the present state of the country If
the banks had money to loan, they should loan i.
at the legal rate. AS an amendment, he moved
that the rate Of interest be fixed at six per cent for
all the banks.
Mr. Jonas remarked that gentleman know that
money would not be had from the banks, and
could not be had elsewhere at that rate for the
reason that it was worth much more. Two Of the
old chartered banks had passed conn aratiycly un-
scathed through the war, and these banks would
discount paper if they were allowed to receive a
reasonable rate of interest. Six per cent was the
rate incorporated in the charter some twenty-five
years ago, when morey was much cheaper
than it is now. All these banks asked was to be
put on the same footing with the others.
Mr.. Elan was also opposed to the bill, seeing
10 occasion to change the rate of interest.
Mr., Mcconnell advocated the measure as one
calculated to enable parties to avoid exorbtans
street interest.
Mr. Jonas further observed that banks will not
Oan at six per cent. when they can make legti-
nate of their funds, which will yield eight er
cent.
Mr.. Walker insisted that the banks should be
held to their original contract with the people of
he State. Under that contract they had been en-
ahled to make great dividends, and he saw no rea-
son for allowing them to augment their profits. If
they were using their funds in violation of their
charters to eyade the interest laws, they should
be deprived of their charters
Mr.. Mcdonnell, to Illustrate the difficulty Of get
ting money below reasonable market rate sug-
gested that, although il bank did discount not
over six per cent. could be charged, yet the inet-
tuttpn could net be compelled to discount any in
dVidn"! ; otc TIN Object Of the bill was to in-
due Il en- . J. nd and r"lttvc the community.