The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1867-02-06

penury and want. On representations mad,
to me by the authorities of the parish O
Assumption, and by the Representatives
from the parish of Terrebonne, OF the ad
dltional distress that would be entailed or
these parties by the payment of taxes OF
their lands under the circumstances; / as
sumed the responsibility of directing thu
tax collector to suspend the collection o
the taxes in such cases on proper evidenc,
being furnished to him that the lands werf
OVERLOOKED and the crops destroyed.
For the parish of Assumption tablear
to the amount of the tax, with list of the
names of the persons in whose favor it was
RENTED, has been furnished me- and I ann
pose similar list will be made in the case
of the parish Of Terrebonne. The Justice
and necessity of the relief granted is so 40
parent that | entertain no doubt of YOU,
approval and ratification ofmy action in
the promises, and that you will extend
similar relief to these in other parishes
who were SO unfortunate as to lose theil
crops by the action Of the food.
j.. THE GREAT PARIS EXHIBITION.
Through the exertions of commissioners
appointed by me on the part Of the State
and particularly by the indefatigable yea
and industry of Mr.. Edward Gothiel, q laud
able feeling of pride has been stimulated
AMONG our people to see our State repre-
sented at the great worlds exhibition
Samples Of our great staples specimens O
nearly every product Of our soil, as we'll as
articles Of mechanicism, have gone forward
and will attest to Europe, more powerful
than language, that Louisiana is the Indies
Of America in her natural gifts. 1t has
been suggested that the interests of the
State would be further advanced through
the medium of this great exhibition and
assemblage from oil parts of the habitable
globe, for the Legislature to prepare an ad
dress to be disseminated BY the commits
sioners, rendering general invitation and
welcome of our State and people to the
capitalist, the artlsen, mechanic, and labor
ers Of Europe, and ehumerating tile rare ad.
vantage possessed and benefits to be en-.
Ijoyed by the adoption of our State as Their
future home.
It is proper that I should state that the
commissioners have had to incur expense
in the way of advertising, printing, and fol
packages. The amount required has been
generously advanced by MI. w. 3. Pike
and I think it bnt RICH. and proper this ex.
ipebse should be reimbursed by the State
/ also commend to your consideration the
claims of Mr.. Edward Gothiel for the valua.
bic services he has rendered in this connec.
ton, having devoted his time and labor
since last May almost exclusively in the
performance of his duties as commissioner
and / would respectfully suggest that some
compensation is due to him for the sacrifice
o! his time and business.
CITY OF NEW ORLEANS.
invite your attention to the affairs oI
the city of New Orleans, the most populous,
as well as the first commercial city in the
South, intimately connected with the vital
interests Of all parts Of the State, and pos.
sessing controlling power in the legislative
councils. Its wise and proper administra.
ton concerns the people of the whole State,
ard 1t is your duty to see that the laws
enacted for its government are faithfully
executed, and to legislate for it's advance
ment and extension of its commescial ad.
vautages. 1t is we'll known to you that the
city Of New Orleans has issued at different
times large amounts of obligations Of
Indebtedness in the form Of currency, and
has at the present time several millions OF
dollars of these notes aAoat, the issue OF
which is in contravention OF the statues OF
the State. If no limitation is put upon
these issues, they may go on to an extent,
involving the property of the city and
creating debt unknown to the tax payers,
in proof of which may be cited theiact that
no official statement has been published
showing the amount of these notes in cir
culation. In making these remaks. / have
no intention of casting discredit on these
notes. The security for their redemption
is beyond question, but independent Of the
want of authority for their issue, / regard
the policy as wrong, tending as it, does to
extravaganza, and believe, for the interest
of the tax payers, that their further issue
should stop. In this connection, deem it
me duty to refer to grave reports, charging
maladministration of an important trust
fund, confded to the care of the city
authorities, and which demands investigas
ton at you hands.
A serious impeachment to the free COM
merce of the city and to the whole valley
of the Mississippi is OF annual occurrence
by the accumulation of deposit on the bar
at the mouth Of the river, preventing the
entrance and departure of vessels above a
certain draft. At this time, a feet of more
than twenty ships loaded have been detained
from this cause for weeks, entailing loss
on capital invested in ships and cargoes
that would constitute q sufficient sum to
maintain an adequate depth Of water annual
ly, by the agency Of proper means. ! con.
slider it to be the duty of the national gov
eminent to undertake this work, and res
pectfully suggest the expectancy Of yonr
uniting in a memorial to Conc.ss.. nru,no
upon them the Importance Of making ee
aeaual appropriations for thatpursose. 4
GENERAL REMARKS /.
There are many other topics concerning
the public interest that l might touch upon
were itpracticable to do so within the limits
Of this document. Ny aim has been to
present to you such general views and
recommendations at deemed appropriate
to our present condition and conducive to
the general welfare.
In all legislation calculated 10 secure that
end it will be my pleasure to cooperate
with You.
J. MADISON WELLS,
Governor.
l@- The Pope has decided to abandon
the temporal power of Rome to the
municipal authorities.