Louisiana capitolian., 1879-07-05

Eats throughout the State. III ID not |
that corrupt men or corrupt influences
will not reach tho governing power
ut Baton Rouge. But what LIDO claim
is that the corrupting influences are
greater In slarge and
city like New Orleans. II
Is my sincere belief that We owe It to |
tho people to make the transfer. He
went on to show that legislation would
be freer In nm interior city. The Gen.
eral Assembly would rot be exposed
to the tumults& and popular excite
,ments following every important tques-
ton OfState.l For instance, no added,
what would have beengthe condition
Of affairs in Louisiana Il the Legisla-
ture had been sitting ID this city dur
Ing the Know Nothing excitement Of
l855-6i And such Disturbing causes
IRE likely to arise at any moment. Z,
] need scarcely to add, Mr.. Presi-
dent, anything more to the powerful
arguments no ablyadvanced by the
distinguished representative from the
parish Of MorehouB. Twill say, how.
ever, In support, nat the experience
Of tho past shows that since the CAPT
tai has been at Few Orleans, We can
but point to q lolg unbtokcn series Of
misfortunes and troubles. The Cres-
cent City dung those years had
ceased to lOokt0 the extension Of her
commerce. H. Louis, Chicago, Mem.
phis aud otlrr cities penetrated with
their railwiy trains and steamers the
ve,y heart Il the countries tributary
to the tratb Of this city. The White,
the Arkansas, the YazOo, the Ouachita
aud the HID rivers even were plucked
Of their golden harvests, while the
merchants and business men of New
Orleans had turned their attention
toward the political schemes, even
the slpculations in the States paper
along Carondelet.
MrPmsident, your intelligent and
libetl-minded merchants see that the
capital brings a curse to this city, and
hrge number Of them want 1t re-
npved, 80 that the attention Of this
community may be directed toward
ne material development OF both city
md State, and less to political scllem-
hng. .a,
In 1861, SIR, the route from Baton
Rouge tn Pontchatoula- some forty
miles only--had been surveyed. The
contract to purchase tho iron had
been made. Through that way the
capital would be within three to four
hours run Of the metropolis. The
Crosse Tete railroad had reached
within thirty miles Of Opelousas. A
line Of palatial steamers was in opera
ton between New Orleans aud Bayou
Sara.
That section Of the State comprising
the parishes Of Ibervillc, East and
West Feliciana, Livingston, St. He
lena, Pointe Coupee, with East and
West Baton Rouge, containing q popu-
lation Of nearly eighty thousand souls,
were beginning to feel that tho loca-
ton Of the capital within their centre
was attracting population and adding
to their facilities of communication,
thus enhancing the value Of the lands
and otherwise aiding in the rapid dc.
velopment Of that portion Of the State.
The same results would now follow.
Through the New Orleans Pacific rail.
way to Baton Rouge will be connect.
cd with this city and with the South
ern parishes BY its connection with
Morgan's Louisiana and Texas road
The first named line will also place
the capital in direct rail communica-
ton with Shreveport and the Red
river valley, while other contemplated
lines will have in the adoption Of thit
measure a strong incentive offered
them to proceed to their completion.
The reduction in the salaries o1
public officials adds to the necessity
Of removing the capital to an interior
city, where the cost Of living is much
lower than it is in this large and at.
tractive metropolis.
| Mr.. President, I fully represent
the sentiments Of my constituents
when assert that no section Of thu
State is more friendly than theirs k
the growth, the greatness and tn.
happiness Of the Crescent City and it,
generous and gallant population
Every conceivable tic YIELDS ou1
destinies with those of this grand city
The representatives Of our sector
have always. been found ready to vot.
necessary credits and withstand tn,
burdens thereby imposed, 10 that you
jackson road, your Mobile road, YOU
Opelousas and Texas road, your New
Orleans Pacific road, and in fact every
public enterprise tending to the de.
velOpment of the resources Of any an(
every part Of our commonwealth.
When the seat of government wal
at Baton Rouge, that little city wa'
but small village. Under th'
shadow of the classical and PROUD
edifce that the wisdom aud patriotism
of the men of l845 caused to be erected
there, in due time 5000 souls clustered
around it's beautiful site. Mr.. Presi
dent, by the ruthless removal Of th,
capital, accomplished by virtue Of th'
power of the bayonets Of the army o
the United States, the advancement
and the prosperity Of our section ha
been summarily arrested. For year
have used, to the utmost, my humble
capacity and energies, to urge upo1