The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-01-05


fouT tfcusani seven hundred sd four VO.as L.
704l. hut did not give General Grant single vote.
Eilbt other psrifhes, 20 wit: Bienville, Bossier,
Cs66O. Clsiborne. horehouse Union, St Bernard
ard Saline gave Eve thousand FIVE hundred and
twenty voies Is 500 FOR tie Constitution, out cas-
obly ten tl0} votes for General Grant. Tselty.
enc parishes, casting for the ratification Of the
new Constitution, twentysix thousand eight hun
dred aid fourteen votes (26,Sl4 gave General
Grant only FIVE hundred and one (50l) votes, and
the whole State polling 10 April for the COnstitu-
ton and the Republican State ticket. sixty-one
thousand one hundred ar 6fty-two (6l,l52) votes.
or majority OF seventeen thousand four hundred
and thirteen az ABB, gave General Grant ia No.
vembeT, following, only tEirty-four thousand eight
hundred and fifty nine ga $500 votes.
give these statistics not in a partisan interest
but 10 snow you more clearly the utter disregard
exhibited in large portions of the State for the
rights Of those opposed TO the old governing Glass
and the lnadequaey OF the laws TO protect the
citizens IN the exercise of their civil and political
rights. The State government, stripped by act of
Congress Of the right exercised by all but ten
States OF the Unon-that of org AIMING militia for
the enforcement of its laws-was compelled to
rely entirely upon the general government for
force with which to maintain its authority. Fore
seeing the complications which were likely to
arise from the temper of large class of our popu
lation, growing out Of the hostility to the newly
enfraDchised race, and the sudden transition from
military government, under which we had lived
for eight years, to civil government, the Leglsla
ture passed joint resolution instructiDg the gov
ernor of the State to call upon the president, in
accordance with section four of article four of the
Constitution of the United States, for force with
which to maintain the authority of the govern
ment and execution of the law. 10 my letter
transmitting your resolution to the president,
informed him of the numerous murders
armed secret political organizations then in
their incipiency, and of their purposes of the
insecurity of life and property and of the inabili-
~ OF the state government, owing to the act OF
Oh farw nAfW md Tho
disorganized situation Of the new government, to
enforce the statutes and protect the people. Un-
der the Constitution and laws Of the government
it was manifestly the duty of the president to COM
ply with the demand of the State, and forward an
adequate force for the purposes stated, even if
he had called out the militia of the several States.
While his treatment ofyour demand was respect
full he nevertheless exhibited his want of sympa
thy for the suffering people OF our state, and re-
turned, in answer to your appeal for troops,
orders which might be construed to mean some
thing In Georgia, but which in Louisiana might be
ssid to consist only OF words. These orders were
made public and served only to inform the lawless
that they need have no fear from that quarter,
and could prosecute their anarchical schemes to
the limit OF their purpose.
Thtreports of the supervisors of registration and
the State registrars, which will be laid before yon
at On early day, will give you, in detail, informa-
tion of the manner in which the late election was
conducted. | recommend that such additional
legislation as may seem necessary be adopted to
prevent recurrence OF the events Dy winch our
State has been disgraced, and some check put
upon the lawless, so that they shall not profit by
violation of the laws and by resort to violence
and intimidation.
THE STATE DEBT.
The suditor and treasurer will lay before you,
at an early hour, their reports. The statement of
the debt made by the treasurer, on the nineteenth
of November shows that the total bonded debt
of the State exclusive of the bonds owned by the
State and held by the treasurer, ia six millions
seven hundred and seventy-one thousand three
hundred dollars ($677l ,300). This sum might be
reduced s37l 600 by the sale of consolidated city
bonds and city railroad bonds, which have, from
tine TO time, been purchased, and are now held
and owned by the State for the school, seminary
and redemption Of the State debt funds.
The total floating debt of the State is estimated
by the treasurer at 81 929500 62, for the entire
payment of which the Legislature at its last SEES
sion passed an act evyiDg special tax OF one per
cent. on the movable and immovabe property Of
the state. TO be collected upon the assessment of
1861, the latest assessment at the time completed.
Ia payment Of this tax it is provided that all State
notes, past due coupons and the warrants OF the
auditor on the treasurer shall be receivable tits
expected that enough will! be received from this
tax to discharge the entire floating debt and leave
surplus of Eve hundred thousand dollars.
The estimated receipts from all sources for the
year ls6S, based upon the assessment rolls of
lS67, amounting to 1851 900 600, under the pres
ent rates of taxation will amount to 81 So 75O,
willie the expenditures, including interest
On bonds, according to the general ap'
preparation bill, will amount to sl,945, 1oo,
leaving deficit al the end of the year of s63 OBS,
which it is expected will be liquidated by the
special tax Of one per cent, which, If realized,
will entirely relieve the treasury, and enable the
State in future to meet its liabilities and pay cur.
rent expenses for support of the government
without resort to an increase Of taxation.
disposition has been manifested by some of
| the people not to pay this special tax, and, ln-
deed, there was an association organized to resist
Il t. 1l1a hsse HfafW md hQN
the president of the association, himself very
| large taxpayer, with large number of the lead
| ing members, had been most prompt in paying 1t,
| and the opposition suddenly died ont.
The MODE of enforcing the collection OF taxes
is very imperfect and inefficient. 1t is one of the
| first duties of the citizen to promptly pay his
| assessment to support tie government. When
| the State has to buy on credit it has much more
to pay in the end. If citizen does not pay his
| taxes according 10 law, his property should be
Sc zed and sold TO some one who will discharge
the obligations due to the state.
| Our debt is smaller than that Of almost any
other State in the Union. With tax roll OF
! s25l COO 0O0-with bonded Indebtedness which
can be at once reduced to So 600 ,000-there is no
reason that our credit should not be at par ex'
cept the turbulent disposition manifested Dy q
large portion of our population. This will grad
ually subsde. The recent good crops will increase
the value Of our property, and the wealth Of the
people. Our inviting soil and climate will stimu
| late immigration, so that we can safely predict
that within two years the State will be restored tc
something like It's former prosperity.
THE LEVERS.
The levees are in bad condition. Wholly
| neglected during the war, cut by the army il
many places for military purposes, it will require
| large sums TO restore them. 1t is believed thai
| the general government may be induced to aid il
! the work, either by subsidy CT by lending iii
| money OF credit to the State. The leyees mus
be rebuilt and kept in repair. The value of the
| lands protected by them from overflow is inesti
mable. and great interests, State and national
center in the crops produced by them. The re
port of the board of public works will show the
| progress they have made in this department.
| am sure their efforts will be appreciated by the
Legislature and the whole people. | shall have
occasion at an early day TO address you more fdl.
| ly on this important subject.
| EDUCATION.
It is TO be regretted that the last Legislature die
| not pass some laws on the subject of education
Al this time the school system is wOfully defec
| tive. Outside of the parishes of Orleans and JEFF
ferson, public schools have always been q failure
and here at the capital, where il is in its grestes