New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-12-12

Dy the late CIVIL SCrlI6 as to make the dutIe
OF the General Assembly exceedingly deli
cate and difficult, but c0nceding pure mo
tlves and integrity to your predecessors, i
is probably neither uncharitable nor unjust
to assume that they have failed largely il
| realizing the reasonable expectations Of tht
citizens, because they have notsutficientll
studied the condition and wants of tht
State, as a condition precedent, to the enact
| ment Of laws for the government of thu
same. Inconsiderateness and haste have
heretofore constituted the vice Of our State
legislation.
/ respectfully suggest that you, appreciat
ing your obligations to the people whom
you represent, not as partisans, but as citi
zens, address yourselves to the work o.
correcting any defects that may, by expe
rience, he found to have attached to the
legislation of your predecessors whether
the same may be in the laws regulating the
political rights of citizens, such as registra
ton and election acts, or the financial inter
est OF the same, such as the statutes affect
ing the expenses of government, COLLECTION
of taxes and public securities and would
earnestly recommend your honorable bodies
to enact such registration and election laws
as will secure to each citizen, upon the
basis of exact and equal justice, the pos.
session and exercise of the right of sui
frage, so that it shall not be in the power OF
any officer or officers, charged with the ex-
ecution Of the laws, to reproduce the as
founding and anomalous condition and
complications that were exhibited in the
late S ate election.
The rights of the sufragans, without re-
spect to race or condition in life, equally
and perfectly secured, so that the vote
of each citizen shall tell in the election with
the purposes for which it was cast by the
voter, we will have laid the foundation,
broad and deep, for public order in the
State, and good will among its people.
The best interests of the people of Louis
lana demand that we shall no longer live in
the semi-revOlutiOnarY condition that has
characterized us for the last several years,
but there must be, by attention to the mat
tiers herein suggested, established such sta
bility in the government Of the State as will
produce the popular conviction that the
political rights of the citizens do not depend
upon perpetual cOatpS detdt or exceptional
legislation for their security. The public
quiet thus secured by satisfactory adjust
ment of the political questions that now
disturb the quiet of the State, | would re-
spectfully suggest that you further the pub
lie content and prosperity, by initiating and
perfecting, such legislation as will reduce
taxation by providing not only for the re-
ductiOn of expenses Of the government, but
the more economical collection and faithful
expenditure of the public revenues.
Reformatory legislation is not only need
ed but practicable in the direction sugges-
ted, and urge such specific attention to the
subject as it's gravity demands. In harmony
with the general suggestions herein contain
ed, and without anticipating or torestalling
the more elaborate recommendations that the
Governor elect will make to you when you
shall meet IN regular session in January
next,I deem it appropriate to call your at
tention to se9 eral particular subjects oflegis
lation.
THE PUBLIC DEBT OF THE STATE,
By provision of the constitution, the
maximum public debt for = period OF
years is limited to the sum of So, 600 600.
The impression has obtained that a large
amount Of the State securities outstand-
ing, are invalid because either created in
violation Of the constitutional reBtric-
ton referred to, or without warrant
of law. Under the vague and inconsid-
crate legislation that has heretofore ex
listed vet said securities have the formal
qualities Of valid indebtedness. So preva-
lent is this opinion, that many Of our most
substantial citizens are indispOsed to pay
their taxes, least the same should 90 to
satisfy these illegal public claims. The
circumstances considered Justice to the
taxpayers, no less than to the credit of the
State, requires your honorable bodies to
take adequate measures not only to ascer-
tain the amount of the public debt, but the
class of securities that make up the same,
that ycu may enact such laws in the
premises as are necessary to protect both
the citizens and the State,
THE PRINTING LAW.
The law now in force, though an improve
ment on the one superseded by it, is very
detective Whatever reasons may have ex-
listed to justify its original enactment, its
continuance On the statute books can no
longer be vindicated. 1t is Objectionable,
not only because liable to be used for parLi-
san purposes, but also for its costliness. 1t
should be so amended as to simplify it,
restrict it to the needs of the State, and to
remit the subject matter ct printing to
the more immediate control of the com
and parties interested therein and
charged with the expenses of the same.
PRIVATE CORPORATIONS.
Probably more than any other State in
the Union, Louisiana has granted special
and valuable franchises, and has attempted,
through corporations, to do what in other
States has been left to private enterprise.
Many Of these associations have succeeded
and become a benataction to the State, but
Others, even with protfered State aid, have
failed to comply with the conditions EN-
bodied in their charters, and are an embar-
rassmeut and hindrance to the industrial
growth of the State. You should institute
a rigid inquisitiOn in this matter, to ascer-
tain wherein they have failed to comply
with the laws creating them. Not only for
the purpose of enacting such legislation as
will compel them to meet their chartered
but also for the further purpose
of placing the proper law officer in posses
sion of such information as will enable
him, in case of default on their part. to
force them into liquidation.
In conclusion permit me to say, gentle
men, that you stand amid surroundings sig
and instructive. We have just
emerged from most exciting political con
test. The verdict of the people has been
pronounced for nationality and individual
liberty. Whatever of individual bitterness
or disappointment may have entered into
the late national and State election, the
people have, with great unanimity, declared
in favor of the healthy, liberal and progress
i've ideas advocated by the Republican par
ty; and as in the past, SO in the future, this
party of progress, bearing the charities and
the equities of the nation to all her people;
North and South, white and colored, holds
the reins of power, and will administer the
government so as to secure the greatest
good to- the greatest number. In the pres
ance of such q future, and with such gen
erous purposes ahead. / beg you, gentle-
men, untrammeIed by dead issues or living
to address yourselves to the
and responsible work before you,
wishing you a happy issue to your labors.
p 3. S. PINCHBACK,
Lieutenant Governor and Acting Gov
erDor.
(Mr. Allan, Of West Baton Rouge, in
The chair
On motion Of Mr.. Gair, of East Feliciana,
800 copies of the Governors message were
ordered to be printed.
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