Baton Rouge tri-weekly gazette & comet. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1865-18??, 1867-01-29
Governor Wells Message.

noon, the Gath inst, for the annexed
synopsis of Gov. Wells Message to
the Legislature, which we suppose
was laid before that body at the
opening of its session yesterday.
We do not remember when it has
occurred in this State before, for a
journal to obtain access to a docu.
ment of the kind or to so familiar a
knowledge of its contents as to an
ticipate for SO many days in advance
of its delivery, its publication in the
shape Of what appears to be pretty
complete outlining Of the views and
suggestions of its author, and given
apparently in the order in which
they are treated in the original docu-
ment. How the Picayune managed
to get sight of the bantling before its
birth, is a matter best known to that
journal. AT any rate, we commend
our esteemed contemporary for the
enterprise it has evinced in the case
The positions assumed by the
Governor in his Message upon the
various political topics of the day,
will take no one by surprise. His
gubernatorial career has been singu-
larly' diversified by alternate pros
and cons, and as undecipherable to
the many who have tried to keep up
with him as the famous riddle of the
Sphinx. Elected to his office by a
people who looked upon him in the
light of representative man, fitted
to lend influence and aid to the
Presidential policy of reconstruction,
he chose, after while, to take
another track and to plant himself
upon such measures and doctrines as
are Numerically opposed to the
policy in question. This, together
with a reticence Of expression aud
conduct during times Of public COM
motion when it was important and
to be expected that he would give
some signs of official life and energy,
has rendered him obnoxious to many
grave charges against his character
on the score Of political Inconsistency
and infdelity.
But, we are losing sight of his
Message-a synopsis of which rs
given by the Picayuue, as follows:
The Governor takes strong Radi-
cal grounds in the matter of Federal
relations. He approves of the con-
stitutional amendment, favors its
adoption by the Legislature, but he
does not think that it should be con-
sidered as the final condition of So
curing admission of Southern Repre-
sentatives into Congress.
He assumes Congress will require
that the Southern States, by lrgisla.
tive enactment shall enfrancbise all
their citizens, and believes that such
is the determination of Congress,
which no action on the part of these
States will change.
The Governor refers to the riot Of
the Both Of July last. In this con-
nection, he alludes to the attempt to
hold him responsible for its origin,
and challenges investigation, both as
to his official acts and private con.
duct with reference thereto.
He denouuces the sault upon
and killing of the members of the
and citizens who were
present, as an unawarranted and I'M
provoked massacre, for no other rea-
son than to crafty the hatred felt by
the police and mob on that occasion
towards those who were known to
to be loyal in their sentiments to the
Government.
The Governor reviews the condi-
ton Of the State Treasury for the
past and present year. He urges
the prompt payment of the obliga-
tons of the State, and the paramount
necessity of maintaining its credit.
To accomplish this, in choosing
between the alternatives of borrow
ing and increased taxation, he has
no hesitation in recommending the
latter.
He also recommends that limi- :
tation be placed upon the issue of
city notes, which is imperatively de-
handed by the interest Of the tax