New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-01-04
THE EXECUTIVE MESSAGE.


millions, with possible taxation of three
or four cents on the dollar to meet its in
terest and liquidate the principal, has
been already reduced to a nominal amount
! of less than twenty millions, and can not
impose upon the people and property Of
Louisiana a debt of more than fifteen
millions, or tax Of more than one to one
and half per cent This ascertains and
ends the liabilities Of the State for the
remainder OF the present century. To
have effected the economy was much; to
have arrested the capacity to create debt
was more glory than usually falls to the
lot OF single administration.
The Democratic party attempted the
defeat of Governor Kellogg with the aid
of his predecessor, the bequeathed obliga-
tons Of whose administration amount to
S46,1S3, 9o7 so. With the demonstrated
reforms Of the present administration, we
should think the Democracy would see
the abyss which they have escaped by the
defeat of their candidate, with the
auspices and allies to whom he would
have been under obligations Even the
most obdurate landlord should, we think,
congratulate himself on the burdens
which have been lifted from his property.
Now, let the Democratic majority address
itself to the reformation and reduction of
the city debt, now under the administra-
ton Of its own party, and the angry agi-
tations from this source will be put at
rest.
Prominence is given in the message to
the subject of leyee repair, and this is at
least Of as much importance to Louisiana
as the sheathing of ship is to the safety
Of the cargo. With rotten levees Louisi-
ana would be swamp. People would no
more put their capital or labor upon its
crops than they would ship on rotten
and unseaworthy hulk. We have never
appreciated the argument that because tie
Mississippi was an inland estuary, the
government was thereby authorized to re-
claim the lands on its shores. 1t was
spurious argument limited to the right to
improve the navigation on the river, not
the agriculture on its shores. The true
argument for national protection to this
great and peculiar field Of production,
lies in the broad doctrine OF the
common defense and general welfare. To
provide for the permanent growth OF
special products, is measure that Sc
cures the importation, and prevents the
expectation, Of specie; an element essen
tial to the defense and development of the
public. AS a measure Of public policy,
the protection of a sugar and cotton field
stands on the same footing as the con-
struction of military road, or the grant
of alternate sections. The reconstruc-
ton of the constitution, and the large
national powers exercised under it, during
and since the war, have silenced the
school of strict constructonists. We hear
Southern Democrats demanding large
appropriations for the Southern Pacific
railroad and the Mississippi levees,
on the ground that the public money
devoted to internal development ought
to be applied equally to the various
sections We have seen these appro-
priations stated as two hundred mil l.
lions are to fourteen millions. VEL
do not now see that a single Sout1e.D W
Democrat objects to accept feds' sssse in
for Improvements vi n~ ';
States. There is therefore no Lot ms ar
for an argument or an el'n! mp the con-
the government w., ,rantaees IF
sideration Of the couuoa 'S'@ aD.;s., ~ =, 81
sneh works and nsw The q"es.'0n 10 pr
~ sal ao .ala' sl the uedts. The i'm ar
be decided upon Pc, ,liaoad and levees in an
will will be 'i ;usuerapt0 determine whether ', D.
VIII oe i GSrpsny can comply with its ex
'ne Lev because solely as there is FRI
'oA' ',.ssnsihle organization charged with 90
.ss duy the nation can not be ez- liza
.ssad to undertake the reconstruc- he
~ and maintenance of the levees. wl
, argument of his exceilency to I'll
-e that the telons of the State me-
be relied on for its protection tends civ
IMPAIR the total dependence Of the tbs
g upon national aid, which constitute on,
great argument. We shall incline to or,
} that the number of offenses will be .de
ced under an improved morality, de,
er than to rely upon more effectual ex,
rcement of the laws to securea steady NJ o
ly Of convict labor. 1t is proper that no,
siana should throw herself upon the too
NAL Justice, and contribute no more to oo1
great work than her ratable proper anf
of the public revenues or of the pub inc
-edit. Why should Louisiana be COM WI
d to guard national crop against wit
e waters of score of States? Why off
Id we alone man the breastworks lint
b protect the national lands and the wb;
NAL crops against the invading waters? Me,
siana should be as we'll entitled to re- ~,
back from the national revenues any o,1
" expended in defending this from MI,
as Texas would in repelling the va,
anches. mo,
is natural that his excellency should ho,,
upon the measures of his admins a.;
IN which have indicated the Repub- 4ho,
party from the charges made by its Tho,
Grant opponents We have contended