The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1874-01-16

4So OE4NC4C anu ACAg 1OkSCNCO v L IA Y
Vincent, parish Of Livingston, where
the parish officers were prevented by an
armed body from taking possession of
their Offices.
On May /, Brigadier General A. 8.
Badger proceeded to St. Martinsville,
parish of st. Martin, with q detachment
OF $50 men and one piece Of artillery,
for the purpose OF suppressing disorder
and of aiding the civil officers. A large
force under command of Adelaide De
Blanc, styling himself Colonel of the
st. Martin militia, evacuated the town
upon their approach. The Metropolitan
detachment occupied the courthouse and
installed the legal officers, and Mr.. De
Blanc's command dispersed.
On October 4, Captain Joseph, with
one officer and twenty-five men, were
sent to COvingtOn, St. Tammany parish,
to afford protection to the authorities at
the opening of the parish court.
On the nineteenth of October last q
detachment of Metropolitan cavalry,
consisting of Captain Snow, Lieutenant
Vanklrk and twenty-five men, reported
to deputy United States Marshal T. W.
Dekiyne as q posse cOmmittatus.
Ozark, for the parishes of Grant, Rap
lug AAU NoL hOu4Cls dl1N GttlSO III IlC
execution of the United States war
rants for many of the C0lfax murderers.
In all these expeditions the objects
Tor which they were undertaken were
accomplished, and the behavior of the
troops while on duty has been ut all
times such as to merit high cOmmenda-
ton.
You will probably be asked to reim-
burse the city of New Orleans for
amounts paid the Metropolitan Brigade
while on service as State militia also
to make appropriation for the pay of
brigade as militia. These claims seem
to be just, and / commend them to your
favorable consideration.
New Orleans.
LEGISLATION REQUIRED.
The interests of New Orleans are so
closely interviewer with and SO impor-
tant to the welfare of the State atlarge,
that | bespeak for the requirements of
the city a very large share of your at
tentlOn. In the year that has passed
the commerce of New Orleans has in
creased, but not to the extent that it
should have done. There are many
hindrances in the shape of unnecessary
inspectors, Vexati0ns port charges, IL
cences and m%OnopOlies which should
be removed or lighteDed as far as DOS
sible by Legislative action. In particu-
lar | recommend the abatement, by
some appropriate legislation, of the
grievance known as the towboat mo-
nOpOly, which is generally recognized
as an incubus, not only on thecOmmerce
of the port of New Orleans but on that
of the whole Mississippi valley. There
is much scope for beneficial legislation
with regard to the general interests of
the city, and a number of measures
adapted to this end will, I understand,
be laid before you.
EXCESSIVE FEES.
The fees Of ~notaries public, clerks of
court and sheriff, as at present allowed
by law, or at least as charged, are enor-
nous and oppressive. Rather than in
the heavy penalties of litigation,
people prefer to submit to wrongs which |
the courts of justice we're created to re-
dress. A law which reduces these costs, |
and fees will, | am certain, meet with
maintenance of prisoners in the |
Parish Prison, which is now imposed by |
law on the sheriff at an extravaganza |
rate of remuneration, should be res |
tOred to the control of the city. Al
of nearly $4,000 a year would |
thus be effected. The compulsory fees
paid for the prosecution and conviction
OF criminals and the charges of the city |
cOrOners are also excessive. The cOrO-
ners should be paid by fixed salaries,
and the fees of the criminal sheriff and
attorney should be either limi-
ed or reduced.
CRIMINAL COURT.
Many complaints are made regarding
the administration of criminal law in
New Orleans. While crime generally
is perhaps held as fully in check now
throughout the city as in years past,
still it cannot he denied that, to an ex-
tent altogether unwarranted, criminals
go UNPUBLISHED. It has long been APP
parent that one criminal court is in
to try and dispose of all the
business of a city containing
so large and heterogeneous o popula-
ton as New Orleans. RECOMMEND that
an additional criminal court be imme-
created; one to have jurisdic-
ton in cases of misdemcanor, and the
other court to take exclusive cogni-
of all cases of treason, murder,
felony or crimes punishable with death
Or imprisonment in the penitentiary.
This will not necessarily entail the ex-
pSLAoC VI III C%AAAlG4p4IA SOuIOt DIS plOUd-
bly, one of the existing district courts
with advantage be dispensed with:
Agriculture.
RESOURCES OF LOUISIANA.
The agricultural resources of Louisi-
ana are extraordinary. Her products
are of peculiar value, and the fertility
Of her soil with the genial favor of her
produces larger values upon
comparatively less labor than, perhaps,
any similar extent of arabic territory in
the world. These products may be set
down in chief at the following estimates
IF weights and values, based chiefly on
the census of 1870:
Cotton, $50, 1872 $35 ,O0O,0 600
100000 hogsheads ...-.......... 2,500,O00
$4,000 barrels. 100000
Rice, 5000 hogsheads .-...-...-.... 100000
$54, 100000
Here is an aggregate value Of more
chan $5O,000,O00 It is gratifying to note
the increase of the rice crop. AS d crop in
which the agencies Ofearth and air leave
little for labor to do, it especially COM
mands itself to the landowner. The
Increase of the rice crop from 600
in 1850 to nearls or quite 10000
300 pounds in 1878 shows the adaptation
Of our lands to this species of cultiva-
lion. a1'
The recent financial panic has afec-
ted the Northern States more than the
The latter have gone through
their greatest financial difficulties, and
their products must steadily increase.
SUBDIVISION OF LANDS.
Not least among the propitious in
locations of the future lis the growing
tendency of the colored people to ac-
lands and to become proprietors
Is well as tillers of the soil. On the