The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1873-05-17

all must it is the only government.
in the State, and must remain 80, At
least till the national authority shall
determine otherwise. Upon myself,
therefore, and the other officers Of this
government, falls the responsibility
Of sustaining it in the interests Of
public order. and for the prevention Of
anarchy. The very men who are now
clamoring against the State govern
ment would be loudest in their de-
nunciation if we failed in the discharge
of our duties and allowed lawless
violence, such as 50 recently dis
graced this city, to prevail nnpunished.
Disagrceable as that duty is, it is my
purpose to enforce the laws and to
maintain the authority of the State,
and much as may shrink from the
exercise Of harsh remedies, I feel bound
to apply them wherever necessary.
The people are paying their taxes,
burdens0me as those taxes were made
under the late administration, with
remarkable alacrity. The State has
already paid off S15O, 600 Of overdue
interest left as legacy by the out
going administration, and will soon,
l trust, be in q position to pay it's cur
rent coupons. Every dollar received
for interests scrupulously appropriat-
ed to that purpose, and the State
officers are further endeayoring to
restore to the interest fund, where it
belongs, that considerable portion Of
the delinquent taxes which, by u law
passed under the late regime, was
applied to the payment Of registered
warrants.
The agitation which now convulses
the State proceeds principally from
three classes. First, IL body of worthy
citizens unversed in politics, some Of
whom did not even vote at the last
election, who have been blindly
misled into the belief that no portion
Of the present State government was
elected. Second, disappointed poll
ticians dependent upon Office for their
livelihood. Third, the men connect
ed with the monopolies and traudu-
lent schemes originated under the
late administration, and whose only
chance Of protecting their interests,
now threatened by my administration,
and preventing the shameful rObbcr-
les perpetrated upon the people from
being brought to light, lies in agitation
and anarchy. The public disorders
and the sentiments OF ostrncisln and
antagonis,n engendered by these three
classes, aided BY a subsidized partisan
press, are a standing menace prevent
ing capital and labor from coming
here. The tide Of immigration turns
aside from the tempting climate and
productive soil Of this State, and the
army of European laborers, warned
away by lawlessness and insecurity,
passes on to Texas or the West. The
State is ycarning for the aidot foreign
capital to renew its levees, foreign
labor to revive its agriculture. But
it Is absurd for any community that
encourages law1essness to hope for
the confidence Ut the capitalist Or tho
aid Of tho industrious lab0rer. Moth
ing can save the State but the enforce
ment Of laws that will insure to all
citizens security in the peaceful exer-
else Of all their rights. Prosperity
can only come to Louisiana when laws
are enforced, when turbulence is put
down, when hostility Of races ends,
and when all citizens are willing to
accord to each other what the law and
justice and good policy demand.
1t is my earnest desire to- establish
just and economical government, to
reduce the present taxation, and to
promote the internal Improvements
which the State so much needs. /,
therefore, appeal to all good citizens
to support me in the execution OF the
laws, the preservation Of the peace
and the suppression of that lawlcss
| violence which has so injuri0usly at
fected the interests of the city and
State. TO this end, l AM determined
to employ all the resources OF the
State, and to invoke, if necessary, the
power of the general government,
WILLIAM p. KELLOGG,
| Governor of Leuisiana,