New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1877-01-02

lands on the Teehe and elsewhere yield
one hundred and fifty TO two hundred dol
lars an acre and are taxed upon low as
sessmsats, not more than five to ten
dollars an acre, while lands in Western
States, assessed q hundred per cent
higher, are not One-fORFth as produO
tive. CHE State is defOient only in q
healthy public sentiment that will aid III
enforcing the laws and protesting all citi-
zens in their rights.
With peace firmly established and gen
eral acceptance of the results Of the war,
such as prevails in some sections of the
State, except when disturbed by organized
Revolutionary movements eetc foot by the
controlling few who terBsrise over the
Conservative sentiment Of the community,
/ Louisiana would offer an anequaled field
for the unemployed capital aud ill-paid
4 labor of other communities. In no other
State of the Union is the capitalist go fully
incurred against excessive taxation as in
/ this State under the recently adapted con
stit1tional amendments. In ne ether State
can equal returns be obtained for an equal
amount of capital invested in agricultural
pursuits.
1t would be gratifying to me If, IN review
ing the events ofmy four years term OF office
could point to railroads built, steamship
lines established, telegraphie communication
| extended, fertile lands redeemed froEa over
flow, natural resources developed, and,
above all, harmony and good feeling estab-
lished on firm basis between the two
races by an honest acquiescenee in the con
sequences of emancipation and entran6hise'
ment. j do not think these results are far
distant, butt would be encouraging to zote
more rapid progress in each direction. In
some parishes of the State, notably these
which are most prosperous and peaceful
and strongly Republican, kindly relations
exist between whites and blacks. The col
Ored people have become, to q large extent,
either the owners Of the lands they cnlu-
vate or Jointly interested with their white
employers in the products of their
labor. This of itself establishes com
munity Of interest and of sentiment
between the two classes. 1t was one Of
the recommendation strenuOusly urged in
the first message had the honor to adj
dress to q Legislature of Louisiana, that
the laborars should be given every oppOrtu-
nifty to acquire capital by fair means, that
they should be guarded from imposition,
and encouraged to invest their earnings in
acme permanent form, thus becoming CAPT
talists in interest and, by consequence, cap.
italists in sentiment, and, above all, that
they should be protected in the exercise Of
the ballot, the GU rantee and Safeguard OF
their rights. 10 this way, it seemed to me,
tagOnism between labor and capital
would be avoided and harmony would be
established between the races. Wherever
this policy has been carried out, peace
and good government prevail, the parish
debts are light, the parish taxes are small,
and the products of the soil yield bOunti-
full return for the capital and labor in.
vested. In these parishes, also, it is found
that the colored people, Justly treated and
protected, willingly accept the political
leadership of those upon whom, in former
years, they were accustomed to rely AT
the last election in this State g number OF
prominent native-born white citizens Of
Louisiana, identified in every respect
with the past history of their section,
but who had frankly accepted the
changed condition of affairs brought
about by the war, were elected to
responsible official positions by colOred
voters on Republican or independent tickets.
The hangings, wbippings, maltreatment and
murders resOrted to in other portions of the
State to influence political results are dem
Onstrated TO be not only crimes against
civilization and humanity, but political
blunders, bringing with them their own cor
receives through The election laws of the
State, which were called into existence to
prevent or remedy Just such acts. Ten
years or more Of emancipated slave labor in
the Southern States have shown that the
cOloFed people, a. race, when justly treated
and protected in their rights, are valuable
members Of the community, industrious,
peaceful and docile to fault. The only au-
theutic instances in history wherein they
have manifested opposite tendencies have
been where, once freed, the attempt has
been made to remand them to slavery.
In the communications have had the
honor to lay before the General Assembly
heretofore, have scarcely alluded
to political questions. There has been
much in our political history during
this time to call for comment, but ]
have preferred to oOnfne my recon-
mendatiOns chiefly to measures calculated
to advance the material interests Of the
State, trusting that time and retur 9ina
prosperity would soften asperities and har
moniously adjust the changed relations o.
capital and labor, and the political status o.
the two races.
Recent events, however, seem TO require
that should now refer ct come length tt
matters Of State and national peIicy. Grave
national issues depend upon the solution o.
political problems closely affecting thu
peace and prosperity of Louisiana. It hAl
become question for the nation to decide
whether the violent and illegal mean
which have been systematically pat foFtl
in this and other Southern States to pre-
vent, if possible, fair expression Of tn
viii Of the whole people at the ballo
box shan be allowed 70 prevail
The nation is confronted With the pos
sibility OF . presidential election Ringing Of
The votesaof States net long since d rebel
Hon againas the national authority, within
whose borders the three constitutions
auendments which embody the leading &
saes decided By the war have been virtual
" set aside by armed Vinlsnca, intimidafio,