Louisiana capitolian., 1880-01-24

controversies; but the great majority o
citizens are limited in their means, ant
it is to their moderate resourcee that tht
cost Of obtaining justice at law ought tx
be adapted.
i Wise constitutions, just laws, learned
and honorable judges and skilled coun
sellors reflect honor upon any common
wealth; but the highest boast of fret
and well-regulated State is that hel
courts of justice are always open, il
fact as well as in form, to the poor and
4 humble as well as to the rich and pow.
erful.
| STATE HOUSE AT BATON ROUGE.
/ Article $50 requires the General As
/ sembly to make the necessary appropri-
alton for the repair of the State House
at Baton Rouge and for the transfer OF
State archives. The will of the people
| in restoring the ancient seat of govern.
| ment should be met by the General As.
| sembly with prompt obedience, and be
| carried out in good faith without any
| avoidable delay. The condition prece-
dent to the closing of tho contract for
| repairing the State House is the pay
ment into the treasury of the sum of
thirty-fve thousand dollars by the city
of Baton Rouge. The State House
should, if practicable, be so far compile
ted as to accommodate the General AS
sembly at it's next biennial session, be-
ginning on the second Monday in May,
1852, which is required to be held at the
seat of government. You will be called
on to provide by law for selling, leasing,
exchanging or otherwise disposing Of
the property now occupied as State
House in New Orleans. The resources
and liabilities of the State are such that
this property cannot justly be retained
for other public purposes or in the ex-
pcctatiOn of an increase of it's market
value.
Article 154 provides that the General
Assembly may determine whether the
laws are to be published in the French
language, and may prescribe the manner
of such publication. The same article
enables the General Assembly to direct
the publication Of judicial ADVERTISE
ments in that language in certain desig-
mated cities and parishes. In portions
of the State the French language is en-
ployed to so great an extent as to render
the publication of laws and judicial ad-
vcrtisemcnts in English only constant
and annoying Inconvenience.
Article 15S empowers the General As
sembly to provide for change of venue
in civil and criminal caees.
Article 16O empowers the General AS
sembly to determine by law the mode
of filling vacancies in all offices for
which provision is not made in the con-
stitutiOn.
The statute in this case should be
comprehensive, plain and explicit, SO
that no doubt may ARISE as to the will
and purpose of the Legislature.
PAUPERs.
Article 1863 devolves upon each parish
the duty of supporting all infirm, sick
and disabled paupers residing within
its limits. The Legislature should pre-
vent by law these unfortunate classes
in any parish from becoming u charge
on other parishes.
The rule is wholesome and just and
under it's benefcent influence the atilic
ted poor of every parish will find shell
ter, subsistence and protection, but
provision must be made against mendi-
cant and vagrant pauperism, so that
each parish shall only be called upon to
sustain and protect its own impoverished
and helpless inhabitants. The increasing
numbers, insolent behavior and mali
cious audacity of a class of healthy vag-
ab0nd mendicants, who have recently
invaded Louisiana, call for reprehensivc
penal legislation.
Under article lSl, which provides for
the proper organization of the militia,
the General Assembly is required to
prescribe all necessary regulations rela-
ting thereto
The right to keep and bear arms for
self-defence or public safety is closely
allied with the duty of being provided
with such arms and in readiness to use
them upon the call of the proper author
ity. For this purpose the mass of citi-
zens should at all times be prepared to
obey the lawful call Of the State or Fed
eral government, whenever it may be
to take up arms for the MAIN
tenance of authority or the execution of
law. While hoping that such necessity
may not arise, it is none the less our
duty to be ready with our resources,
trained and organized whenever
the dismal blast of the war may summon
us TO the field.
hold military instruction, training
and discipline to be necessary part of
the proper education of the young men
of the State. There is no more apprO-
pirate emblem Of a freemcn's duty than
The well kept rifle that hangs over his
hearthstone.
No young male citizen of the Republic
should hold himself as accomplished
and educated unless he has become IA
miliar with the duties OF a soldier. In
rhe organization, arming and drilling of
voluntary military corps the young men
,f Louisiana have manifested zeal and
martial spirit that reflect honor upon
them. The expense to the public treas
Try has heen but little in any case, while
II many cases the various corps have
provided themselves with arms, accou-
jrements, uniforms and every essential
for immediate use entirely
It their expense.
The young men who have become old
enough to bear arms since the close of
he war are rapidly learning military
luty and discipline under the instruc-
ion and by the example of their thor
'ughly experienced senoirs. They merit
he commentator of all patriotic cici-
ems, and the encouragement and foster
ng care of the State government.
ARBITRATION.
Article 165 makes it the duty of the
General Assembly to pass such laws as
nay be proper and necessary to decide
differences by arbitration. Any provl-
ion by statute fitted to diminish the
Expense of litigation and prevent delay
n the settlement of suits would be
Welcome addition to our jurisprudential
ystem. A large proportion Of civil ca
es arise between citizens who are equal
y honest and equally willing to abide