Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1872-03-09
THE LEGISLATURE.

On Thursday night the 28th OF last
month, the General Assembly Of Louis
lana, from which so much was expect
ell, and SO little received, adjourned
sine die, and its after fate as a bedy
might as far as the public is concerned
or thinks about it, be expressed in the
concluding lines of the loafers epitaph,
"where it has gone or how it fares,
Nobody knows, nor nobody cares"
Both the Governor and Lieutenant
Governor Of the State, pronounced it
the worst assemblage of the kind ever
convened, as the representatives OF a
great State, whose dignity it dis
graced, and whose best interests it en-
.tirely disregarded.
No one who is at all familiar with
the proceedings of the defunct body,
| or it's acts of commission or omission,
will be disposed to deny the truth ct
these charges, when applied generally,
but it also cannot be denied that while
many or perhaps most of its members
we're corrupt, selfish and grasping In
the extreme, there were others who
we're actuated entirely by conscientious
motives and desired to effect all the
good that could possibly be accom-
plisbed. That some good also was
Icomplished, cannot truthfully be de-
MED, in spite of the presence OF many
members, who were not worthy of the
position which we hope they will never
occupy again. We cannot exactly sag
to what extent measures of reform
were carried out, nothing like what
was needed or promised, we are sure,
but a half loaf is better than no blead
at all, and we have reason to believe,
that important beneficial changes have
been made in the election, registra
ton, revenue and general appreprIa-
ton laws, besides number of others
of more or less important charactes.
Besides this very considerable re
duction has been made in the expen
ses of the session just terminated
which will not amount to much moro
than one fourth of that last year, by
which reduction the people OF thu
State will save over 5000, 900 in taxes
tangibly, besides the beneficial effect
which such an evidence of econOm.
will have upon the credit of the State
both at home ana abroad. Upon TIN
principle then of given even the deyi
his due, there is something still to b
advanced in favor of body, who hav'
had so many sharp reproofs, from eveI
their best friends, and over who's
political bier no one will shed tear.
We notice that the Democratic pa
pers of the city, as We class them
though they have other appelation
for themselves according to their far
cy, have well nigh exhausted the W
cabulary of abuse upon the adoune
Legislature, and of course the countr
press will take up the tune and shire
!. it out through the State. DO they 9
, their examplars ever stop to thin
what part themselves had in bringin
about the state Of affairs, they SO lout
~ denounce and bemOan! Is it NJ
reasonable to suppose. taking INF
!, consideration, the amount of coed thu
: has been effected, and which eve
Democratic papers admit, that If Il
: whole limited tern of the session La
been devoted to Legislation, much mol
to the same effect would have bee
) accomplished And admitting TIL
fact, which cannot logically be denies
: it is TO the Democratic party aloa
who supplied the necessary and indi
pensible aid to Obstruct legislatio
, that the failure Of Reform Measur'
u may be ascribed.