Year: 1870

the ends OF justice and the pro-
lection Of public interests may re-
quire. The fiscal year ends on
the thirty-first ofDecember, which
prevents my having the reports
Of the financial officers Of the
State in time to present in my
message either a full exhibit or a
full discussion Of our financial
affairs. So soon as these reports
are received L will lay before you
my views as to the best method
Of providing for the liabilities Of
the State as they mature.


THE LEvEEs.


This is subject Of great mag
nitude and difficulty, and one of
primary Importance to the State.
No matter what plan may be
adopted for the work, nor through
what agencies, public or private,
it may be done, an adequate and
permanent levee system should
embrace in it's sphere Of opera
tions at least the three States of
Arkansas, Mississippi and Louis
lana, aud will for its success de-
mand the hearty operation of said
States. This is indeed a work of
SO much magnitude, and so gen
eral in it's interests and relations,
as in my Judgment, to demand
legislation and aid from the ma
tiOnal government. The millions
of acres Of fertile land permanent
ly reclaimed by such system of
improvements would, in it's annu-
al return Of revenues to the coun-
try, amply provide both for the
construction and maintenance Of
the levees. Looking to this end,
I recommend that the Board of
Public Works be authorized and
instructed on behalf of the State
of Louisiana to bring this subject
to the attention of the Legisla-
lures of Mississippi and Arkansas,
and before the National Congress,
and to solicit from them such ac-
ton and cooperation as may be
necessary in the premises. In
the meantime the levees of Louis
lana demand your prompt atten-
ton: I cannot too earnestly COM
mend this subject to your c onsid-
Grafton. Next to the peace and
order of society, it is the most
important matter that you will
consider during the present ses-
sion. On the erection of these
levees depends the prosperity OF
three-fourths of the total popula-
ton of the State, they being
necessary for the protection of at
least twenty-five parishes which
furnish more than three-fOllrths
of the revenue for the support of
the government. The Board of
Public Works will lay before yol,,
at an early day, their annual
report, showing the condition of
the levees, and containing the
estimate of their engineers, to-
gether with their recommended
tons thereon, relative to the work
to be done in the current year.
l recommend the assessment Of a
special tax for levee purposes, and
in order to meet the Immediate
wants Of the Board, l suggest
that you authorize the Board Of
Public Works to issue certificates
Of Indebtedness, bearing interest
to be paid as rapidly as this tax
is collected.


PUBLIC. EDUCATION.


You need no lengthy and Ia
bored discussion to impress you
with the Importance of education.
Without it the duties OF Il citizen
are difficult, and we who have
enfranchised race and have
taught that American ci tizenship
is the crowning glory Of our Re-
publican institutions, must appre-
ciate that education is the first
and most indispensable want of
the citizen. Self protection and
self government alike demand
the enlightenment of the masses.
The report Of the superintendent
of Public Education will show
you the impracticable character
of the present law. The machin-
cry is cumbrous and expensive,
so much SO that it has proven q
failure. 1 respectfully suggest
that the plan be simplified, the
districts enlarged and powers and
tln