The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1870-01-12
Gov. Warmoth's Message.

atiyes of the General Assembly
In welcoming your return to the capital, cohgfatu
late you the improved condition OF public AFFAIRS
The primary cause of our late civil may be traced
to antagonisc conceptions of the genius OF the Ma
tional Government Superadded to this cause of STRIFE
was an equally radical difference in the Interpretation
of the organic law. Legislation il the presence OF
such antagonism for separate communities with amer
ent industries and customs, and ethical ideas, lnVoV
ing great moral and industrial questions, must at all
times be exceedingly difficult, and necessarily furnish
occasion for discomfort and irritation.
Under such circumstances of embarrassment it was
that ambitious and evil used the passions anu
prejudces of the hour to prcpitate the fearful sfaS
gle out of which We have just emerged But TINS as
other evils to which is subject, has proven to be
not without compensative good. Not only great ma
teria but benetcent political and social changes have
followed therefrom. These changes so necessary 10
national progress and growth, by the exercise OF
of extraordinary forethought in the structure, ana
an equal amount of moderation, prudence and Tor
bearance in the administration of government might
have been realised without conflict between the con-
testing parties. But human nature is too limited IN
knowledge and too impusiye and improvldent Ill &C,
ton, to have expected from it peaceabe solution OF
these issues The realisation to the people Is worth
the costly price paid for it. The shock that startled
and stunned the country has advanced US to the front
rank among the nations of the world. Upon the
wreck of personal hope and private fortune we Will
lay the foundations of broader and more generous
civisation and build up NOR desirable anu perma-
nent prosperity and out of this national travail there
shall come tarer and stronger national lie Inc
strongest tendencies of the American people, as man
Tested not only in the war, but equally in the late
popular elections are personal freedom and national
authority the largest liberty to the individual and the
ampest and fullest obedience to the Government.
With the vndication of the national authority, ana
the restoration of peace, these tendencies have be-
come more fully expressed in the laws of the land and
| I'll nv tho whole neone liberty OF
opinion, of speech and of action and protection to
life and property shall become the heritage of Amerl
can citizen. congratulate you, gentlemen, upon the
good feeling that exists among the people OF Doth
races and the cheerulness with which they are accept
ing the new order of things, and the earnesness with
which our people are addressing themselves to further
and protect the great interests committed into their
hands A benefcent Providence has aided US In the
restoration of fortunes by granting an abundant
yield of the products of the soil and unprecedented
health among our population.
NV congratulations ended, allow to call your at
tenton the grave matters of interest that will claim
your careful consideration and judclous action during
the present session of your honorable body.
FINANCES OF THE STATE.
The financial condition of the State claims your care
full consideration. 1t is such as to embarrass my ad-
ministration and the credit of the State tested by
the prices commanded by her securities, is not salts
factory.
Every production that satisfies a human want may
be considered utility and the aggregate utilities of
State constitute its gross wealth. But much that is
produced is currently consumed SO that the excess OF
produced utilities the consumption OF the same
constitutes the net wealth of the State and is the basis
of its credit.
Again, much of the excess of this production goes
into private enterprises and reappears in produc-
tive FORMS that only part be safely and legiti
matey relied upon to pay, in the form OF taxes the
constantly recurring expenses OF government and the
principal and interest of her securities Measure the
wealth of Louisiana by the sum of her products; sub
tract thererom much will meet the current wants
of her people and the current expenses of her govern
ment, and there still remains marg in of unconsumed
and unapproprated values sufficient and available to
give her rst-cass credit among political communities.
There is no need therefore, far ability is con
cerned that her bonds should sell for less than their
par value. But credit does not depend alone upon
the solvency of the party whose securities upon
the market but also the sutficency of the arrange
ments to pay the principal and interest they may
accrue. Both nust be provided for amply in amount
and surely in method. wise of the State credit
sustained by judicious legislation and administered
by faithful officers is all that is necessary in the prem
ises We have not always used the credit of the State
for practicable and feasible purposes but STILL if need
be- in great works of internal Improvements, under
proper checks and restraints her credit might be safely
used to much greater extent than has been already
done. She is amply able to pay her debts. Why
should her securities be depreciated One vital cause
of this is be found in the legislation of the State
Inheriting large floating indebeness with the ma
ured coupons 1861 to 1868, you found your financial
situation critical and compelled to levy the one
per cent tax for special purposes, and at the time
the general tax of one quarter of one per cent TIC
tighten the burdens of taxations you, in your last
sion, authorised each of these taxes to be paid in ma
tured coupons and warrants of the Auditor of Pnbit
Accounts consuming thereby much of the revenue
Of the State as leave unprovided for the interest
E large portion of your public securities, and the
Treasury of the State without sufficient funds to NEE
the current expenses of the Government. The law il
defective either in the amount of the tax levied il
permitting warrants without limit, to be substituted
for the tax. But potent cause OF our tnanca
embarrassment and deprecated credit, than de
fective legislation will be found u the maadministra
ton of the Auditor of Public Accounts, who, taking
advantage of this law and the necessities of the people
has prosuted his office by practicng extorton upo1
individuals and fraud upon the State. The conduct
this officer has been reprehensble in its characte
and so damaging in its influence upon the fnanca
condition of the State that shall at early day. maxi
it the subject of special message to your honorable
body that you may take such action as the ends 0
justice and the protection of public interests may re
quire. The fiscal year ends on the 3lst December
which prevents my having the reports of the fnancia
officers of the State in time to present in my messag
either full exhibit full discussion of inancia
affairs. So these reports received, l vii
lay before you my views to the best method of pro
tDe laDllIeS OF the State as luey mature
s THE LEyEES
This is subject of great magnitude and difficult
and one of primary importance to the State. No mat
, ter what plan may be adopted for the work, no
through what agencies, public private, it may b
done an adequate and permanent levee system shout
embrace in its sphere of operations, at least the tire
States of Arkansas Mississippi and Louisiana, and vii
for its demand the hearty cooperation of SAT-
States. This is indeed work of so much magnitude
and so general in its interests and relations as in
Judgement, to demand legislation and aid from tn
National Government. The millions of acres of fert
land permanently reclaimed by such system ofimprove
ments would in its annual return of to th
country amply provide both for the construction ant
, maintenance of the levees Looking to this end,
recommend that the Board of Public Works be au
thorsed and instructed on behalf of the State of Lou
isiana bring this subject to the attention of the Leg
islatures of Mississippi and Arkansas and before TIN
National Congress- and to solicit from them such actor
and cooperation may be necessary in the premises
In the meantime, the levees of Louisiana demand you
prompt attention l cannot too earnestly commend thi
subject to your consideration Next to the peace ant
order of society," it is the most important matter tina
you will consider during the present session. On th
erection of these levees depends the prosperity o
three-fourths of the total population of the State
they being necessary for the protection of at eas
twenty-five parishes which furnish more than three
lourths of the for the support of the cavern
e ment. The Board of Public Works will lay before yol
at early day. their annual report, showing the con
dton of the leyees and containing the estimate o