Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1879-04-19
LOCATION OF STATE CAPITAL.

We take great pleasure in reproduce
ing the following article from the N.
0. Times, Oh the location OF the Capt.
tai, as the first one coming from an
influential daily Of the Crescent City.
The Times has risen above local pre-
JUDGES, and in a manly tone advises
the passage of this measure, without
the consummation of which there can
never be thorough reform in Louis
lana. We hope to see our other New
Orleans friends recognize the justice
of the cause that we have been advO.
eating, and that i'll doing so they will
be contributing to the le storation of
good government and the welfare of
their city and State:
One of the most important subjects
which the convention will consider is
the location of the seat of government.
Passing by the claims Of the town of
Baton Rouge, arising out of the recent
vote upon the proposition to remove
the capital to that place, we will brief
ly examine the merits Of the question.
Should the convention conclude to
recommend the location of the capital
at any other point than New Orleans
it is apparent that Baton Rouge
should be selected. 1t has the adj
vantages of a central position, a high
and healthy situation and above all u
suitable and handsome capitol build
ing which the people of Baton Rouge
are willing to repair and tender to the
State. Besides, Baton Rouge is al
ready the location of most of the pub
lie institutions of the State.
But the real question is II broader
one than the selection Of Baton Rouge
or some other place. Should the seat
of government be located in the me-
tropOlis of the State Or in a small
town in the country?
There are strong arguments on both
rides of this issue. Those who favor
"A city as the seat of government in
sist that the representatives of the
people can only be brought into full
sympathy with the general agricultu-
raj, financial and commercial interests
of % State when surrounded by met
ropolitan influences. Speaking of olll
own State they say that New Orleans
is the head of the commonwealth and
that the Executive should reside here
and the laws should be here discussed
and framed
On the other hand, the objections to
locating the seat of government in a
large city, to be surrounded by the
corrupting influences of city life and
the dangers of mob government, have
been often discussed and agreed to.
Indeed, so fixed has the idea become
in the mindsof Americans that alarge
city is an unfit place for the capital,
that almost every State in the Union
has chosen some small city or country
town as its scat of government. AL
bany, Harrisburg, Columbus, Frank
fort, Springfield, Columbia, Jefferson
City and Sacramento, instead OF New
York, Philadelphia, Cincinnati, Lou
isville, Charleston, Chicago, st. Louis
and San Francisco. Not less was the
notion impressed upon the people OF
this State before the war. The cree
ton of handsome Capitol building
and other public structures at Baton
Rouge indicated that they did not
intend to return the seat of govern
mcnt to New Orleans, where it had
formerly been. 1t was only during
the war, in 1864, when two thirds of
the State was outside of the federal
lines, that the military convention
fixed the capital i'll the city. The APP
prehension of getting too near the
Confederate forces was doubtless the
controlling impulse to induce the
change. Matt Wells and his govern
ment were safer here under the guns
of the feet. SO in 1868 by a natural
development of the same influences,
the capital was retained in the city.
In those days the proposition to a city
radical to go into the country was
enough to conjme up visions of ku-
klux, knights of the White Camelia,
and all that. But the convention soon
to assemble will consider the question
Independent of political fears. We
believe that if the people of Baton
Rouge will convince the members that
the change can be made again with
out much cost to the State, that there
will be a majority in favor Of the pro-
position.
OF course we may expect that the
politicians in and about New Orleans
of both parties will bitterly oppose
the removal of the capital. This is
one of the reasons why we favor the
change. Most of these men, if they
had to leave the city, could not attend
the general assembly; how much bet
ter off the State would be! And then,
what relief to the Executive-how
much more time he would have to
attend to the serious duties of 'his
Office, if he could get rid of the impor-
tunities of New Orleans politicians.
There are two other reasons why
we think it would be well to make
the proposed change: First, if the
General Assembly would meet
away from the city and its tempta-
tons, we think that the State would
get more and better service from the
country members. Second, if the
capital were not here there would be
fewer New Orleans lawyers in the
Legislature, ga consummatiOn de
voutly to be wished"
We submit the questions for the
presently. o. Times.
Short reckonings make long friends.