The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-02-15
THE STATE CAPITAL.

THE STATE CAPITAL.
| II Ia about time that Louisiana settled the
Capital question, now and forever. We DC
eupy pretty much the same position in this
matter rs West Virginia, which Inns changed
It's capital dozen times, to the utter con
fusion Of geogtaphers and the untold In
| Jury Of ,al the interests Of the State Louis
lana has made almost as 9nany changes
Twice has the Capital been removed from
New Orleans and twice has II been returned to
this city. after unsuccessful experiments ut
converting country towns into capital cities
To-day proposition for third removal
comes up again
The era Of fictitious State capitals Is long
since past Their advantages are no longer
recognized our people have no more intention
of going back to this old system for the senti-
they have Of adopting stage coaches, because
these were the cunveyances used by our states
men In the happier and more prosperous days
of this republic. Baton Rouge will bring tls
back to good government no sooner than
stageecoachcs.
In support of The remarkable proposition to
change our capital, IL Is stated that In most
Of the other States the metropolis is not the
| capital. This is only partially true. In some
Of the older States interior towns were selected
rs the capital because the larger cities were
| at the time these States were born in the pos
| session Of the English In the new States the
general principle pursued has been to locate
| the capital as near the centre of the State as
| possible. and In the place easiest of access to
all the inhabitants. Public buildings were
erected and all the machinery Of government
put In operation ut these towns. Aftsr going
to heavy expenses for these buildings. the
| States have deemed 1t unwise to make any
change OF to remove the seat Of government
to the industrial and commercial capital, al
though such changes have been warmly adj
vocated III u large majority Of the States.
Massachusetts, wisely located its sent Of
government at It's commercial and industrial
capital and has had no reason TO regret this
Boston has certainly exerted no demoralizng
effects on It's legislation. Al.
Many Of the older States have found 1t ad-
vantageous TO follow the example of the old
! Bay State In this matter. Rhode Island, for
instance, has selected Its metropolis Provi-
dence. as It's permanent capital. while ConneG-
ticut. two years ago, acted similarly, and con-
fined it's capital to Hartford. It's largest city.
In Virginia the disadvantage of having the
capital located ut . small village, Williams
burg soon became apparent. The Governor
pardoned u criminal whom Williamsburg
wanted hanged. The result was that the
town rose and the Governor narrowly escaped
personal injury from mob. Wd,en the
1
Legislature assembled It wns asked to
move the capital from Williamsburg to
some largo city, where such outrages could
not occur, and where the Gove1nor Of the
State WOULD not be at the mercy of provincial
sentiment and village politicians and bullies.
BY an overwhelming majority the Legsla-
ture Of Virginia then decided to remove the
capital to Richmond. the metropolis. the
largest commercial and manufacturing city
Of the State.
But perhaps q case more identical to that of
Louisiana was the capital campaign that
ended but n few weeks ago in Georgia. The
| fight was between Atlanta the largest city OF
the State. and Milledgeyile, the old capital
Miledgevile was rich in ancient memories
| and offered in addition 100000, in case it
was selected as the scat of government
| AS to Atlanta, Is was asserted that it
was built up during Radical rule and 1850
ciated with Radical memories. The people of
Georgia had just wiped out the old Radical
constitution and adopted a new one. They
We're asked to wipe out this last relict Of Radi-
cal rule by aboshing tho Radical capital Of
the State and moving the seat Of govern
ment to Milledgeville where their fathers had
met in happier days, and given the people
better legislation. Old sentiments, old ideas
and old memories were appealed to in support
Of Milledgeville. And finally, it was asserted
that by burying themselves in that town the
Legislature of Georgia would escape the cor
ruption Of the banks and corporations. The
fight was an earnest one, but when II cametC
n vote the people Of Georgia almost unani-
mously decided in favor of Atlanta. They
recognized the fact that things had changed
since the war, and refused to let sentiment
overcome sense Above all they recognized
the cowardice and absurdity Of protecting a
Legislatures purity by banishing it to a
country retreat, under the ridiculous belief
that enemies could not penetrate there and dc
their work much more effectually than in the
open light Of a large city.
In every case, therefore, where State cap
italShas been moved, it has been found neces
sary to move it nearer to the arteries Of trade
and commerceoin every case it has beer
moved to the metropolis and true capital o
the State Fictitious capitals such as Mil
ledgevile Washington MISSY, Williamsburg
Newport etc, have not only become unfash
| ionable but impossible In no instance has