New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-01-12
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE.

| the affairs of the State in clear and sue
cinct manner. He clearly demonstrates
hat the people have made satisfactory
progress in developing the material re-
sources, especially the staples, while the
enactment and enforcement CT salutasy
laws have preserved the peace Of the en-
tire commonwealth. At last Governor
Of Louisiana can report to the General
Assembly that great and exciting cleo
ton has taken place in New Orleans with
on. fight. Shades Of all the Red Bills :.
To what are we coming? No knock
downs 10 one not even Irish and Dutch
men, driven from the polls; ard no employ
ment for sLoulder-hitters: Yet thisj 1s-
s,7redly, is the position to which We have
been brought by Republican rule.
The incoming crops os cotton, sugar
| and molasses are large beyond recent pre-
cedent, and though they do not command
the famine prices that prevailed during the
war, are yet some points above the average
rates previous to that event It is certain
that there is {. fair margin let. for profit
10 the thrifty farmer, who has been
faithful, 20 his own interests, and looked
| well to MS crops and field hands. Under
the system Of free labor there is less risk
| 10 the proprietor than there was under
The system of slavery. Possibly there Is
more personal labor imposed upon the
planter. but as he is no more exempt
from me general doom pronounced
asairs: Nan after the fall than his hired
laborers are. we can not consider that as
mu4h Of calamity. Fortunes can not
be made in {. single season, no, IS it de-
s:rable that .hey should be. It is not
promotive OF general prosperity to have
affairs SO managed that q lucky individual
here OF there may reap the benefits OF the
,abors of al 10y whom he is Immediately
s,.rro1nded. 50 that the complaints OF
ruined fortunes which we hear from
eroakers. and torebodings Of disaster from
such as Governor Warmoth characterizes
az false prophets" IRE not applicable
10 the mass OF the people, who
now share 10 the results Of their own
work, bu: certain would-be Iabobs,
, who ere compensated in proportion
20 :he e.ertions they make, like other
mer, anc who can no more command the
enforced obedience Of several hundred
men :os life. Their complaints Of ruin
are applicable only to their own fortunes.
which they rust build Up by the usual
appliances Of industry, economy. skill
and :air dealing. The ''o.d baronial
days have passed away. with slavery,
piracy and similar institutions. The
people @. Louisiana are now building on
a s,.re and lasting foundation and with
nc steps backward, they will achieve N q
few years q position far in advance OF any
eve, occupied 10y their predecessors. and
equal 70 tina. Of the people .! the sub.
staI.:al Northwestern States. This sys-
ten Q: development viii benef: the
masses. though It may deprive a few hun
dred capitalists from their worted owner
ship @: The whole !and-the souls Gld
bodi.s IF .he mass @: the people included.
The Governor urges tie passage 9: a
.av TO punish bribery and corruption Of.
public officers. The want Of such law
has long been telt. and the fec. that there
IS none OF Oh: statute books IS ore Of the
ma.Yeis Q: our jurisprudence. While
;.pon me subject Of criminal laws. We
v-ili suggest the expediency o: SO revising
our Jury system that offenders can be
brought.to ne-ited punishment n spite
Of free employment o: money. While
the accused should be entitled 20 every
means 20 establish his innocence. the
public good demands that the guilty shall
be punished and prosecuting officers,
Judges, ilries and witnesses should be
held to strict accountability 1o1 the
manner il which they discharge their re-
spect;ve duties. Under the present
farcical jury system. there is but
little Justice executed. Small offend
ers, pilferers OF leaves OF bread,
and pickers up Of t-ihes u small
value receive the full penalty Of the
| law, while the red-handed murderer, who
| has slain his friend in moment Of anger
| or drunkenness, or the bold and success
! ful swirdler, thief and burglar walks the
streets with head erect. He has bought
and paid out Of his ample fortune or his
stealings verdict of mot guilty from
twelve good men and true" and is ready
to make fresh investment at the first OPP
portunity. We hope, therefore, the LeGsia'
lature viii not only insert a clause in OIL
statutes to punish bribery, br: viii also
place in his or other responsible hand
the power to see that oil orr criminal laws
are faithfully executed.
Governor Warmoth evidently deems !:
ine1pedient to longer assist private cor
pcratious out OF the public funds. The
tables presented to his Excellency IL
Auditor Craham's annual report are no
specially favorable 20 the idea G. :'.rthe
lavish expenditures in that way. So Ions
as such names as the Pontchactrain rail
road, the Mexican Gulf road. Tie Ope
lousas, the Jackson. the Nashville, ant
half a dozen other even more disastrcu
speculations appear n the coupon &C
counts of this city and State, they vii
stand as monuments Of graspinG pecuia