The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1878-01-23
MESSAGE OF THE GOVERNOR.

All CShtII UI 4lE Upf In .NUh.
Gentlemen of the Senate and House of
Representatives.
The circumstances under WhjcI,
your present session opens differ so
greatly from those of the last few
years, that they Will attract general
attention and give rise to universal
congratulation throughout the State
and country. A year ago yon enter
ed upon the discharge of your res
ponsible duties under difficulties
such as have rarely been encounter
ed by a Legislative body. Not only
had your deliberations to be directed
to the correct solution Of problems
of the greatest gravity aud impor
lance, but those deliberations had to
be conducted amidst the teverish
anXieties which attended the tempo
rary struggle to resist your righLful
auth GRITTY. ..
To-day peace aud qniet prevail
throughout the State political ex
element has ended; the voice Of the
people is everywhere respected; the
rights of all are fully guaranteed q;
the laws, through The Instrumental
" of the Courts, are pr"per V and
impartially administered aud en-
forced; and, in spite ot the nurropi
tous season, which has disappointed
| The expectations Of our agricultu-
rists ana married to some exlcut the
bright material prospects Of 1877,
there exists strong feeling Of hope,
relief and content among al; classes
in Louisiana.
The situation is, therefore, favora-
bic for the prompt dispatch OF public
business, and for the calm discussion
Of the best mode of administering
; the affairs of the State. Your Judi
cious course in the past, and the
great measure of relief which has al
, ready resulted from the same, have
caused public hope and public conf,
dence to be centered on your action
at this session.
| am satisfied that everything will
. be accomplished which the occasion
permits.
ATTORNEY GENERAL.
Resulting from the past confusion
Of public affairs, the Attorney Gene
RAILS office has been burdened with
| great and important labor, which
! has, by his own and the Assistant
t Attorney Generals exertions, been
successfully conducted. Your atten,
| ton is called to any recommended
tons he may make.
, SECRETARY OF STATE. b..
The Secretary of State having sub
$ mitted to me his annual report,
transmit it to you. You will observe
Q that he asks attention to the abstrac
ton from bis Office Of tue STANDARD
:. weights and measures, provided fol
under existing laws, which calls fo
replacement thereof, proper appro
priation on your part being necessary
to that end.
FINANCE.
The reports Of the Auditor anC
Treasurer, not having been submit
r ted, it is impossible for me to stat
with certainty the fiscal operation
of the government during the pas
year. | shall not, therefore, atlemp
to do so. However, from the infor
!; nation which has been conveyed T.
t me, it seems that the belief may b
: Justly entertained that all the war
e rants issued for the year 1877 will b
e paid from the collections made dur
ing the year.
: The value of warrants for 1877 ha
r ranged from ffty-fve cents in Marc
to ninety-nine seven Fights in De
cember, and finally par, which is,
marked Improvement over forme
years. This fact is largely due t
R the reduction Of expenses and of til
\ aggregate of appropriations made b
you at your last session, and is a
indication of what may be anticips