Semi-weekly Louisianian. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1871-1872, 1871-12-07

secure access 20 the balance BY the hard '
settler who msy wish 10 avail himself al
them: bu: cauli"n should ever be exercised
in attaining go desirable An object
Educational interests may we'll be serve! by
| the grant Of the proceeds of the sale OF
public lands to settlers do not wish to
lie understood as recommending in the least
degree a curtainicnt of what is being done
! by the general government for the cncour-
aseinent of education.
! The report of the Secretary of the Into
rior. submitted with this. will give you all
! the information collected and prepared for
| publication in regard TO the census taken
! during the year lS10-the operations of the
| Bureau Of Education for the year, the
Patent Office, the Pension Office, the Land
! Office, aud the Indian Bureau. The report
Of the Commissioner Of Agriculture gives
the operations of this department for the
| year. AS agriculture is the groundwork Of
our prosperity. too much Importance can
not be attached to the l,bors OF this depart
ment. !, is in the hands of an able head.
| with able assist ants, all ,ealousiy devoted
! to introducing into the agricultural produc
| tions of The nation useful products adapted
TO any of tho various ciiilstes aud soils OF
our vast territory, and to giving all useful
information rs To the method of cultivation
OF the plants, cereals and other products
adapted to particular localities. Quietly
but surely tie Agricultural Bureau il work
ing grcc: national good, and if duly sup
ported, the more widely its influence will DO
extended, and tbs less dependent We shall
be upon the products Of foreign countries.
The subject of compensation to tho heads
of bureaus and officials holding positions of
responsibility, and requiring ability and
character to fIl properly, is one to which
your attention is invited but the officials
receive II compensation equal to the re-
spectab,e support Of a family. while their
duties are such ~ to involve millions OF in
tercst. In private life, servic-s demand
compensation equal to the services ron.
dcred. wi-e ECONOMY would dictate the
same rule in the government service. |
have not given the estimates for ths support
of government for the ensuing year, nor the
comparative abatement bet weeu the O. xpendi-
lures for the year just passed and the one
just preceding, because all these figures are
contained in the accompanying reports or
in those presented directly To Congress.
These estimates have my approval.
More than riK years have now elapsed
since the last hostile gun was fired between
the armies then arrayed against each other;
one for the perpctuztioD. the other for the
destruction Of the Union. 1t may we'll be
considered v Wne;her i: il not now time that
tue disabilities imposed by the fourteenth
Amendment should be removed That
amendment doos aOt exclude the ballot. bot
only imposes the diea6;lty W hold Office
upon certain classes. When the purty OF
the ballot 10 secure, msjOritics are sure to
elect officers refecting the views Of the MA
jority. do not see the advantage or pro-
priety Of excluding men from Office merely
because they were, before the rebellion, Of
standing and character sufficient 70 be
slected to positions requiring them to take
oath to support the constitution, and ad-
mitting to eligibility those entertaining pre-
ci>sly the same views, but of less standing
in their communities. 1t may be said that
the former violated AL oath. while the latter
did not. The lsttsr did not have it IN thsir
power TO do SO II they had taken that
oath. it can not be doubted that they would
have broken it, ~ did the former ciass.
II there are any great criminAls distin-
guished above ell others for the part
they took in opposition to the government.
they might, in the judgment OF COngr-ss,
Do excluded from such m amnesty. This
subject 10 submitted for your careful con-
siderStion. The condition of the Southern
States is, unbappily, not such ~ su true
patriotic citizens would like to see. Local
ostrscism for opinions sake, personal VIC
lrnce or threats toward persons entertain
ing political vicws opposed to those enter
tanned by the majority of the old citizens,
prevents emigration and the flow Of much
needed capital into the States lately in re-
belion. 1t will be q happy condition of the
country when the old citizens of these States
will take an interest in public affairs, pro
mulgate ideas honestly entertained, vote
for men registering their views, aud tolerate
the same freedom Of expression and ballot
in those entertaining different political
convictions.
Under tho provisions Of the act of Conl
gress, approved February q. 1871, q terri
torial government was organized in the
District Of Columbia. Its results have
thus far fully realized the expectations Of
its advocates. Under the direction Of the
territorial officers q system Of improve
ments has been insugurated, by means of
which Washington is rapidly becoming .
city worthy of the nations capital. The
citisens of the district have voluntarily
taxed themselves to a large amount for the
purpose Of contributing to the advancement
of the seat of government. l recommend
liberal appropriations on the part Of Con-
grcss in order that the government may
bear its Just share Of the expense of carry
ing out judicious system of improvements
BY the great fire in Chicago the most i'm
portant of the government buildings in that
city were consumed. Those burned had al
ready become Inadequate TO ths wants Of
the government in hat growing city, and,
looking to the near future, were totally in
adequate. / recommend, therefore, that An
appropriation be made Immediately to pur-
chase the remainder Of the square ON which
the burned buildings stood, provided it can
be purchased at - fair valuation, and pro-
vided that the Legislature Of Illinois will
pass law authorizing its condemnation for
government purposes. and, also, approprist-
ing IS tmuch monev 80 can be expended
toward the erection Of new buildings dur
ring this fiscal year.
The number ID imnigran:A ignorant of
our lave, habits, etc, coming into our
country annually has become 80 great, and
impositions prscuced Hpon them 20 numer-
Gus and fragrant elat l suggest Congres-
sional action for tAeir proseciion 1t seems
to me fair subject of legislation by Con
gress. l can not nov state rs fully -
desire the nature of the complaints BY i'm
migrants of the treatment they receive, but
will endezvor TO do 40 during the ,essiou of
Congress, particularly il the subj ct should
receive your attention. 1t has has been tho
aim of the administration 10 enforce
honesty and efficiency in all public
ofices. Every public servant " no has .,o-
lated the trust placed in him has been pro-
ceeded against with sll the rigor Of the
law. If bad men have secured places, il
has been the fault If the system established
BY custom for making appointments. or the
fault Of those who recommend Tor govern
ment positions persons not sufficiently we'll
known tc be pereonslly responsible, or Who
have letters indorsing the characters OF
office seekers without proper sense Of the
grave responsibility Which such . courss
devolves upon them. A civil service reform
which can correct these sbuses u much de-
aired in mercantile pursuitA. The business
man who gives letter of leo 'muendstiOu
to friend - snsbls him to obtain credit
from Q stranger is regarded - morally 70
sponsible for the i,t gritty of his FREUD, and
his ability to met his obligations A TO
formation Law which would enforce this
principle against sll indorsers Of psrsous
for public place would insure great csutiuu
In making recon mendauons.
A ssluiSyy lesson has been taught the