Year: 1871

proof that is just to all is best for all.


The rise in real estate; the increase in
home and foreign trade; the augmented
commerce of this metropolis Of Louisiana,
and of the South, though unfavorably af-
fected by the European war; the addi-
tional lands put in cultivation in the
past year; the gratifying progress toward
good railroad connection with different
parts of our State, and of the Union; and
the growth of our principal cities. are
some among numerous evidences Of the
rapid recovery OF, all the business in
terests of the State from the prostration
which followed the war. 1t only needs
that legislation should lend such addi-
tional encouragement as it legitimately
can to these interests, and, above all, that
it should refrain from imposing any new
and unnecessary burdens upon them, to
cause our State in the next two years to
surpass in material progress and pros
perity any previous era Of its history.


In the last summer, while that scourge
of the South, yellow fever, has repeated
its ravages in neighbOring cities, our
chief city, New Orleans, has escaped
with o comparatively small mortality.
This may be attributed to the increased
skill and care of the health and quaran-
tine officers, and the proper enforcement
of the quarantine regulations. This fact
might lead to the inquiry whether q
judicious system of sanitary arrange
ments, on an enlarged scale, and based
upon known scientific principles, might
not Danish this pestilence from our
borders entirely. The Importance of such
contamination in every moral, social
and physical point ofview, renders in a
matter worth of grave consideration. The
pecuniary loss alone inflicted by the pre-
sence of this fever, or the bare rumor of
presence, upon all branches Of trade, has
been estimated, by practical business
men, at several millions of dollars an
nually. 'iaa.t, r I .aa
A growing spirit of harmony and good
will, between the different classes of our
people, has been strikingly evinced dur
ing the last year. 1t has been seen in a
strongly pronounced disposition ON the part
of all good citizens i'll most parts of the
State, without respect to partisan differences,
to preserve order, enforce the laws, and rem


der obedience to all legally constituted au-
thority. The devices and Vaccinations of
evilly disposed demagogues and restless and
irresponsible parties, who seek to profit by
times of alarm and violence, have been set
aside by the good people of this State, who
are most deeply interested in its peace and
prosperity. The result has been that this
disposition, aided by the sMutary laws pa g.
ed by the General Assembly, and by Con-
gress, have secured, during the last fall, the
most quiet, peacable and orderly election the
State has witnessed for many years. In for
mer elections, even within two years, New
Orleans and the State have been the scenes
of violence, riots and bloodshed, which have
disgraced their name, and greatly injured all
their interests This fall, an important and
exciting election was held without any con-
flict or disturbance, and with scarcely an ar
rest. Such a thing was never known in New
Orleans before. feel especially gratified to
be able to lay this before you as matter of
record, because the Last General Assembly
deeply impressed by the alarming and in
creasing violence and lnwleasness displayed
in our elections, and their lamentable effects
upon every interest of the State, had with o
view to remedy these evils, enacted strin-
gent penalties against such offences, and for
their more certain enforcement had clothed
the executive with ample powers, have
endeavored to use these powers with moder-
alton and impartiality, but with firmness
and with the single aim to preserve the
peace and to secure to all men, irrespective
of party, race, or color, the free exercise of
al their rights as citizens.


That have been able to do 10 without
arraying against the law any class or party,
may he accepted as a proof thnt the laws
were wholesome and wise, and that the peo-
pie, as whole, have been satisfied that
their execution was faithful and impartial


can not pnss from this subject to other
details, in justice, without calling your st-
tention to the general and peaceable acqui-
essence of our people in the results of the re-
policy Of the general govern
ment Their acceptance of it as q inality
has been much more satisfactory in Louisi-
ana than in any other State in the South.
= L.