The New York Herald Newspaper, January 5, 1875, Page 3

NEW YORK HERALD, TUESDAY, JANUARY 5, 1875. —TRIPLE SHEET. ~ TOQUSANA DRAGOONED, United States Soldiers Break Up the Legislature. THE CONSERVATIVE COUP D'ETAT. Five Members Rejected by the Board Seated by the House, KELLOGG COMMANDS THE FEDERAL TROOPS. Manly Protest of the Demo- cratic Speaker. Conservative Members Marched Out Be- tween Files of Soldiers. GREAT INDIGNATION AND EXCITEWENT. The People Quiet and For- bearing. Statements to the Herald by the Leaders. New ORLEANS, Jan. 4, 1875. The morning opened with everything qaiet. The United States troops were stationed upon the levee and St. Louis street, and consisted of the whole of the Thirteenth infantry, Companies A, G, F and H of the Third infantry, seven companies of the Twenty-secona infantry, Company L of the First artillery and Company H of the Seventh cavalry. Che excitement was intense, POSITION OF THE GENERAL OFFICERS, General De Trobriand was in immediate com- i.pnd of the United States forces, and General Emory temporarily established his headquarters at the Custom House. General Sheridan was at the St. Charles Hotel. Governor McEnery established his office at Antoine’s restaurant, on St. Louis street, within @ few yards of the hotel. General Ogden’s headquarters were at No. 71 St. Louis street. He assured your correspondent that the White League were only under arms to preserve the peace, and regarded any conflict with the troops as impossible. ADDITIONAL INDIGNATION ‘Was manifested among the people at a ramor that the Returning Board was again in session and in- tended promulgating additional returns so as to pecure contiol of the House. THR.BXTERIOR OF THE STATE HOUSE looked very Warlike. What with the crowd onthe streets, the presence of the military, the stacked arms, occasional rolling of drums and the anxiety Gepicted upon every countenance, the scene was voryimpreamive. The conservative members, num- bering fifty returned members and about twenty contestants, were in caucus in @ room adjoining the Hall of Representatives. THE CONTESTANTS ‘were admitted to the floor of the House. Ginty forty-two radical members were reported as present, They claimed the co-operation of nine conservatives. Lowell was nominated in caucus last night for Speaker. Estellette, who has con. servative sympathies, refused the honor. Governor McEnery informed your correspondent that he ex pected a conservative defeat in the House. In case of a triumph he apprehended either the in- atigation of a riot in the House by the radicals admitted to the lobby or else the retirement of all the radical members, who would organize separ- ately and be recognized by Kellogg. ORGANIZATION OF THE HOUSE. At twenty minutes before twelve M. the mem- bers entered the hall from the caucus room, and the organization began. Ex-Guvernor Habn was the radical and Wiltz the conservative candidate for Speaker. The conservatives felt more con- Adent than before. The crowd increased around the State House, and Governor McEnery issued the following avpeal to the people:— GOVERNOR M’ENERY’S APPEAL. NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 4, 1875. 1 appeal to tne people to be calm and patient. Any pubiic disturbance will thwart our plans and lose us the struggle. Conduct yourselves, there- fore, with caimness and dignity and all will yet be weil. JOHN McENERY, Upon organizing Wiltz was elected Speaker pro tem, of the House, The Senate did not organize. KELLOGG’S PEREMPTORY ORDER. The following is a copy of the oficial orders Issued by Kellogg for the occupation o! the State House :— [SPECIAL ORDER NO. 1.) STATE OF LOUISIANA, ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE, NEW ORLEANS, Jan, 2, 1875, {Extract.) First—It having come to the knowledge of the Commander-in-Chief, through reiiable authority, that bodies of men acting together by force, with intent to offer violence to the persons of the Gen- eral Assembly and to resist the laws of the State, are threatening and are likely to assemble for the aforesaid unlawful purposes on Monday, the 4tn Gay of January next, Major General James Long- etieet and Brigadier General A, S, Badger will order such part of the State militia as they may have in readiness to assemble at the State House in New Orleans on the 4tn day of January, 1875, to ald the civil authorities in suppressing all and any such threatened violence and supporting the law. Second—In order to prevent the aforesaid yio- lence and resistance to the laws the State House ‘will be kept closed and free from intruders, or from any mob or disorderly assemblage or gather- ing, on Monday, January 4, 1875, and as long thereafter as may be necessary, except such per- fons as may be designated in paragraph third of this order, Third—No person wiil be admitted to the State House on the first Monday in January next, 4th | Inst., except members of the State government, Members of the General Assembly or persons claiming to be members thereof, judicial officers, members of Congress, officers of the United States civil, military or naval service, and the forces pro- tecting the State House, Fourth—Major Generals Longstreet and Campbell and Brigadier General Badger are intrusted with the execution, By order of the Commander-in- Chief, HENRY STREET, Adjutant General, H. J. Camppsut, Major General First division, L. 8... D, THE COUP D’RTAT Made by the conservatives was by electing Wiltz by acclamation temporary chairman, who or- dered Vigers, the Clerk of the old House, to call the rol, Morreil and Lowell protested, and some solsy fiibustering followed. Finally, Vieers aban. doned his desk, and ‘Tresevent, of Caddo, was ap- pointed by the Chair. A motion was then made toadmit the members claiming seats from the Parishes not acted upon by the Returning Board. Carned. A motion was then made to go into an election for Speaker. After more peed the motion was carried, and resulted as follo Wiltz, 53; Bahn, 2; Wank, I—the radicals not voting. Tne Senate organized Ht without holding session, Its President and the. Governor refused to recognize Witz as Speaker, They claimed (hat the Hall of Representatives was in the possession of a mob, and not a Legislatare. The radicals } went into caucus, with the intention of organiz- ing as @ Legislature which Kellogg and Antoine would recognize, When your gorrespondent as ‘this time left the State House if wag filled with radical politicians, Kellogg and Dibble were tu close consultation with General de Trobriand, and \elegraphio correspondence was fapidly going on between the Governor and General Emory. The radicals determined not to recognize the Wiltz House. Outside the door of the State House there was a large delegation of conservative sergeants- at-arms to prevent the egress of members. It ‘Was the intention of Wiltz to hold the House in continuons session all day and night, The crowd about the building was not so large as in the morn- Ing, but exceedingly good-humored. McEnery’s headquarters were crowded with leading conser- vatives, all of whom appeared Jubilant and confi- dent and conyineed that they acted strictly within the pale of the law. INVASION OF THE STATE HOUSE. At a quarter past three o’ciock P, M. the United States military moved up in front of the State House, completely surrounding it, when General de Trobriand entered and proceeded to the House with @ military order unseating Speaker Wilts and the five members claimed to have been irregu- larly seated, Wilts immediately corresponded with McEnery, and, opon the recommendation of the latter, was about withdrawing with all the conservative members, The military order was Presumed to have been issued by Sheridan in re- sponse to an application from Kellogg for armed federal assistance, The excitement grew interse, but was not violent, WENEBY’S AFTERTHOUGHT. ‘McEnery afterwards advised Wiltz toremain in the chair until ejected, and he consequently per- emptorily refasea to obey General Trobriand, who appeared on the floor, backed by about thirty men, About four o’clock De Trobriand, who had retired momentarily, then entered with Generat Campbell, who pointed out the five members to be ejected, each of whom, alter making a protest, was marched out between two United States soldiers, Without these the polical complexion of the House stands fifty-two radicals to forty-nine conservatives. Wiltz made a manly speech, deny- ing the right of United States troops to eject him, and declared that it could only be done by bodily orarmed force. Wiltz was finally ejected by the troops, and all the conservative members with- drew. Speeches were made to the people from the conservative headquarters by Wiltz, Marr and Ogden, who advised them to return to their homes and preserve peace. The conservative members met in caucus at seven o'clock P, M. THE EJROTMENT SCENE, , From three o'clock P.M. to forty-five minutes past three the scene in the House was a compara- tively quiet one. At that hour, when General de Trobriand entered, in company with an ald. and walking up to the Speaket’s desk informed him that he bad two documents he wished to have read to the House, excitement ran nigh. Vigers, the Clerk, being prevented, the aid proceeded to | read them, One was an order on the Clerk of the House to have the five recently elected members Pointed out to him, and the other, oMicially ad- dressed to himself and signed by Governor Kel logg, was to the following purport:— “An illegal assembiy of men having taken pos- session of the hall of the House of Representatives, | | rest were sent back to the barracks about ten and the police being unable to remove them, I re- spectfally request you to remove therefrom all per- sons not entitled to remain.” General de Trobriand then said, “I must now request members herein indicated to retire. My orders from General Emory are to comply with all requests made and Instructions given by Governor Kellogg. Speaker Wiltz then rose and said he desired to state that the House of Representatives of the State of Louisiana had been duly organized, and wished to know whether General Emory was aware of that fact, General de Trobriand answered that he didn’t know whether General Emory was aware of it or not. The Speaker then asked whether it was bis in- tention to remove from the body gentlemen who had been seated in It since its organization. General de Trobriand answered that he was not there to decide the legality of the action of any member, but only to obey orders, and hoped that his presence alone would prove suficient to en- force them, To,this statement Speaker Wiltz re- phed as follows:—“While I am Speaker of this House J am obliged to you for your consideration in coming here alone, and, while I respect you asa gentleman and a soldier, yet 1 cannot instruct its members to leave the hail. You must use force to compel them.” General de Trobriand responding that he would make @ show of force, immediately retired and shortly returned with a file of fifteen United States soldiers, who were halted in the rear of the hall. He then advanced and ordered Vigers to call the roll, Vigers endeavored to take possession of the clerk's desk, but Was prevented, the Speaker warning him not to do It NOISY MEMBERS encouraged him with shouts, bat the Speaker was | firm and Vigers proceeaed to call the roll in front Of the desk, Against this the Speaker protested, and required General de Trobvriand to state to the House explicitly that he bad sumicient force to secure the calling of the roll, At the conclusion of this ceremony Vigers was requested by the General to point out the members to be ejected. Not being able to comply, General Campbell was summoned and proceeded to designate them. AS he did so each individual in turn was taken in custody by two soldiers, and, after making a formal protest, was marched out of the Legis- lative hall, When Thomas Vaughn, of Caddo, A SILVER-HBADED OLD Man, was accosted by General De Trobriand and his guards, be rose very slowly to his feet and said in most solemn and impressive term: “A general of the United States Army bas placed his hand upon my shoulder and commanded me to leave the Noor of this House, As a member of this body, duly elected by the people of Caddo parish. end as an American citizen believing that the rights of American freemen are not yet all dead, I desire to enter my solemn protest against this outrage.” He was then marched out by his captors amid the Profound silence of the tate so noisy Assembly. Almost entirely similar scen re enacted in ‘tbe case of Jeffeys, Luckets and Stafford, of Rap- ides; Dunn, of Grant, ana Kelly, of Winn, who severally entered their protests and were marched out amid the indignant hisses of all assembled, After their ejJectment General Camp- bell approached General De Trobriand and asked bim 10 request Speaker Wiltz to allow Vigers to take his seat, Upon the request being made the Speaker refused to recognize Vigers im any ca- pacity, and stated that Campbell, not being a member of the House, had no right to speak upon its foor. Campbell expostulated and explained, Whereupon De Trobriand interceded and in- Sormed Mr, Wiitz that he must obey orders, WILTZ STILL DECLINING TO SURREXDER, he ordered up the troops trom the rear and the ‘work was accomplished. Vigers dashed into his feat, and Speaker Wilts, gazing upon the scene tn silent indignation, stepped slowly down from his desk in 8 most impressive manner, and with a voice broken with emotion delivered the follow- ing remarks:— WILTZ’S LAST PROTEST. “In the name of the people of the United States, and in the name of my bleeding State, and in the name of the God of Justice, l again enter my sol- emn protest agatnst this interference. Gentlemen ofthe House of Representatives, your Legislature has been invaded and taken possession of by the military forces of the United States, Under these circumstances Ido not consider it my duty to longer remain.” He then stepped down amid en- thustastic applause. He then slowly left the hall, followed by all the conservative members, During the progress of the concluding events, Mr. Lowell, one of the radical candidates for Speaker, pro- nounced his protest against the employment of United States troops and said he had been elected by civil authority and did not wisn to be seated by military authority. THE INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE. An invitation was presented to the Congres sional committee to attend the organization of the Legislature. Mr. Phelps moved its acceptance. Mr. Potter objected. He said that during the morning he had tried to pass the State House and had been repulsed by the police, supported by the United States miltsary in the surrounding streets in force, Every citizen bad as, much right to be present as a committee of Congress, which body bad absoiutely no authority whatever over the or- ganization or action of any State Legislature; and he thought, therefore, the committee should not be present in tts official capacity. The committee, however, decided to go, and with them went the Clerk and Sergeant-at-Arms. They were stopped as they approached the State House, and only allowed to pass after obtaining permission from the officer in command, THE FRAUD CONSUMMATED. After entering the House of Representatives they were admitted to tne floor, except Mr. Pot- ter, who declined to enter, and remained without the bar and shortly alter left the building. After the conservatives withdrew the House organized and elected Hahn permanent Speaker and Vigers Clerk. Upon motion of Lowell a committee was appointed to wait on Governor Kellogg and no- tify him that the House was organized and ready to proceed to business. The Governor then, through his private secretary, transmitted his annual Message and returned twenty-eight bills without his signature. Upon motion of Dewees Tyler, Johnson and Ward, of Red River,; were sworn in, and the Speaker appointed a committee of seven on credentials. At six o’clock they adjourned until to-morrow at noon. At fouro’clock the State House was en- tered and occupied.by United States troops, and is now strongly guarded outside. About half the force remain on guard during the night, and the o'clock. NO APPREHENSIONS ofany attack are entertained. The excitement incresses in the city, butis not of an aggressive nature. The hotels and public resorts are crowded with people discussing the eventful affairs of the day. QUIET AT THE STATE HOUSE. Your correspondent visited the State House to- night and found it very quiet. All the members are sleeping In the building. Governor Kellogg was alone with afew friends in his private office, and being interrogated in behalf of the HERALD, made substantialiy the following statement :— GOVERNOR KELLOGG’S STATEMENT. I was anxious for a quiet and peacefal organi- zation of the General Assembly. I did not attempt, during the session of the Returning Board, to influence in any manner its proceed- ings, When It made its returns, leaving the House close, the Senate having two- thirds republican members, I hoped for an amicable settlement of all dissensions. I asked the Congressional Committee to investigate the election of 1872, and was willing to abide by their decision. Last evening a committee w atted upon me and requested that the democratic mem- bers returned as elected, as well as their contest- | ants, be allowed to come into the State House at nine o’clock A. M. and hold a caucus in one of the rooms, I consented cheerfully to this arrange- | ment, with the understanding that there would be no attempt upon the part of those contestants not returned by the Board to prevent by force a regu- lar and legal organization of the House. I in- sisted that our party should put in nomination AN UNBXCEPTIONABLE MAN for Speaker. Ex-Governor Hahn, who was elected by both parties from St. Charles parish, was then nominated. When the hour of meeting arrived it was found that three of the opposition members were absent and two of tne three of our members, who haa been detained, haa succeeded in reach- ing the State House. We thus had filty-two mem- bers present, and were confident of the support of two of the opposition—a clear majority of three. The law provides that the Secretary of State shall make the old Clerk of the House supply a list of members returned as elected. This had been done, and upon the assembling of the House the Olerk proceeded, in conformity with law, to call the roll. Before he had finishea and announced the result ONE OF THE OPPOSITION sprung to nis ject and moved that Wiltz be made temporary Speaker. The vote was put by this member and declared carried, whereupon Wiltz, with two or three men, sprung upon the platform, wrenched the gavel from the Clerk and declared himself Speaker of the House. Several democratic contestants immediately rushed forward, and were burriediv sworn in. the regular Clerk being nusned | from the pistform with the lists of pistes Tre-~ turned members in his possession, and which he retained. Some thirty or forty desperate charac- ters had succeeded in effecting an entrance to the Ball, eluding THE VIGILANCE OF THE POLICE, who were immediately declared sergeants-at- arms, throwing open their coats and exhibiting Prepared badges. The hail was immediately turown into contusion, and a prepared roll of the democrats and their contestants was commenced to be called, when the republicans attempted to leave the hall, Moat of them succeeaed in getting out. Three or four were prevented, a3 they say, and, threatened with blows and pistols, pushed to the Speaker's desk and compelled to be sworn in. AS S00D ag possible they also left the hall. In the meantime a protest to me was pre- pared by @ity-cwo members, @ clear majority of those regularly returned and who were thea present im the State House at the firatattempt st organization. This protest set forth the character of the revolutionary proceed- ings; the forcible displacing of the Clerk; the swearing in of the contestants, &c., in detail. In the meantime, the Senate had organized with twenty-six Senators out of the whole thirty-six. Upon receiving this protest I ordered a squad of Police to appear im front of the hali door, then closed by the democratic sergeants-at-arms, and demand admittance, Their numver was found considerably augmented by a number of persons who had, during the confusion, slipped in as rein forcementa, The strvets began to be blocked up all around the buliding, and [ immediately TELEGRAPHED TO GENERAL EMORY at the Custom House, requesting nim to move his troops to aid the police, about Afty in number, in clearing the street in front of the State House. This was done, troops occupying the centre of the street, It was now evident that resistance would be made to the police entering the hall, The crowd was augmenting every moment and danger of vio- lence constantly increasing. I telegraphed, re- questing that a small aetachment of military be brought into the building to aid the Police, orders being given that no member returned as elected hor any regalar oMcer of the Legislature should be interfered with, bat that the mob and persons not returned as elected should be removed from the floor of the house, This was done, and the hall was cleared of all but the regular members and officers, The Clerk proceeded again to call the roll, which he still retained, announcing a quorum present. The fifty-two republicans and several of the opposition remained in the hall. The vote proceeded for Speaker, and Hahn re- ceived fifty-four votes, which was one majority of the whole number returned elected. We have good conservative Speaker. Iam opposed to any- thing like QUESTIONABLE MEASURES, such as unseating any of the opposition entitled to their seats, I am confident that a number of them will immediately come into our House. I hope for some speedy solution of our dimiculties, either by action of Congress or o:herwise. I am still willing to let the Congressional Committee decide as to the legal government, and if it is decided that I was not elected in 1872 I shall be only too giad to retire, Learnestly hoped for an amicable organization and regret the proceedings of to-day, but I became gatisNed that nothing short of a revolution would satisfy the opposition, Icannot see how, as long aswe maintain our present attitude, any serious diMicuity can prevail, and I hope ina few days that wiser councils will prevail. STATEMENT OF SPEAKER WILTZ. New ORLEANS, Jan. 4, 1875, Speaker Wiltz calied at the bureau of the HSRALD to-night and made the following state- ment :— Last evening a committee was sent to the State House to ask for a room ‘or the purpose of holding @conservative caucus this A.M. at nine o'clock. The request was granted at ten A. M. The caucus was held at hall-past eleven, the conser- vatives proceeding to the house in a body. At noon the old Clerk of the House, Mr. Vigers, called the roll and 102 members answered. I con- sidered that the formalities of law had been com- piled withand the organization rested with the majority. A motion was made and carried that I be declared Speaker pro tem. of the Bouse, Thereupon I took the chair, until then occupied by the Clerk. I then called upon Judge Houston, @ Justice of the Peace, who swore me in. The members were then sworn in by me. A motion was then made and carried to elect a temporary Clerk and a tempo- rary Sergeant-at-arms, A resolution was then Offered to seat the five conservative members ‘whose cages were not passed upon oy the Return- ing Board. The resolution was adopted and the five members were sworn in and took their seats, The House then proceeded to a permanent organ- ization, Governor Hahn and myself were NOMINATED FOR SPEAKER, acall of the roll was ordered and fifty-five votes were cast for me and two were cast for Hahn. I voted blank, making in all fifty-eight votes, fifty- six belpg a quorum. I was then declared elected permanent Speaker of the Hopse. The temporary Cierk was then elected permanent Clerk, and the temporary Sergeant-at-Arms permanent Sergeant- at-Arms. 1 then announced the House perma- nently organized, A motion was made and car. ried to appolota committee of seven on creden- tials, election and returns, During that time some of the republican mem- bers withdrew. The committee appointed con- sisted of five conservatives anda two republicans, The committee asked for end obiained permission to withdraw for deliberation, which was granted, An attempt was now made by some republican members to leave the hall. I then ordered the Sergeant-at-Arms to prevent them, This caused considerable confusion in the lobby, filled with Metropolitan police and radicals, admission to most’ of our sergeants-at-arms having been previously denied by Hugh J. Campbell, General of Kellogg's militia, 1 then ordered the Sergeant-at-Arms to clear the lobby, which was done, We were then WAITING FOR THE REPORT of the Committee on Credentials, a quorum of the members being present, when General De Trobriand entered the hall and informed me that he had recetved instructions from Governor Kel- logg to the effect that the House of Repre- sentatives was in possession of a mob, and desired him to clear the house of ali persons who were not returned by the Welis Re- turning Board, 1 asked that the document be read, and he offered it to Vigers, whom he sald he was instructed by Governor Kellogg to recog- nize as Clerk. I refused to recognize Mr. Vigers | proceedings of the House under federal bayonets. I and the conservative mem- bers of the House then withdrew. I de- 3 as Clerk of the House, and protested against the reading of any document by Vigers. Tae General then had the docament read by his Adjutant, who accompanied tim. The Clerk of tne House and myself declined to point out the members who had been seated by order of the House. The Generai with- drew after applying to Vigers, who was either un- willing or unable to point them out, General De Trobriana returned shortly in company with General Campbell, who pointed them out. Previous to the sappearancs of Gen- eral De Trobriand the Committee on Credentials nad reported, and eight contestants (all conserv- atives) had been seated by the House. When Generai De Trobriand attempted to eject Mr. Vangtn, from Caddo, Mr. Vaugnn protested. I di- rected Mr. Vaughn not to allow bimself to be ejected except at the polat of the bayonet. Gen- | eral De Trobriand then called upon SOLDIERS DRAWN UP IN LINE im the lobby of the House, with bayonets axed, and, between a file of soldiers, Mr. Vaughn was Marched out of the House, and successively, in the same manner, each member who bad been seated by order of the House was marched | ont, each member protesting and asking that bis protest be placed on the journal. Immediately thereafter the General approached me and in- formed me that, in obedience to his orders from Governor Kellogg, he would have the roll called by Vigers. I again protested against the execu- tion of such an order, satisfied that the House be- ing organized the Governor could not call upon the federal troops. General De Trobriand | ordered the roll called. Vigers was about to call the roJ, when I ordered my Sergeant-at-Arms to eject Mr. Vigers, which order was obeyed. The General thereupon called in a file of soldiers and surrounding the Clerk the roll was again about being called by him. I again PROTESTED IN POSITIVE LANGUAGE and gave notice that I would withdraw and ask the members not to participate in any further sire in addition to state that my object in organizing the House in the manner I did had several legislative Precedents, The whole pro- ceedings were copied from the journal of the radi- cal Legislature of 1868, of which | was a member, the legality ot which was afterward substantiated by all the courts of our State. GOVERNOR KELLOGG’S MESSAGE. New ORLEANS, Jan. 4, 1875, The following are the more important portions of Governor Kellogg’s Message to the Legisia- ture:— Since the adjournment of your predecessors disastrous crevasses in the levees have destroyed the crops In several sections of the State and pro- | duced much suffering among the people, which, however, has been greatly mitigated by the be- nevolence of the citizens of other States, notably of Massachusetts, and by the bounty waicn the general government has bestowed upon us with unsparing hand. Political disturbances of @ grave and a wide- spread character have also seriously impaired the prosperity of the State and retarded its industries. Both these causes have diminished the revenues and prevented a close collection of taxes; yet, in the year that has just passed, the receipts have been nearly equal to the expenses. The rate of State and city taxation has been largely reduced, and, for the firat time for many years, not one dollar hes been added to the public debt, which, on the contrary, has been sensibly redaced. Call- ing to mind the unparalleled diMiculties the State government bas had to encounter since the frst day of its inauguration, I may be pardoned for re- ferring with pride to these financial results, ob- tained under such adverse circumstances, PUBLIC DEBT AND TAXATION, ‘The total bonded and floating debt of the State when the present administration came into office, exclusive of the amount due tbe fiscal agent— viz, $150,000, which has since been paid— ‘was $23,933,407. (Auditor’s report of December 31, 1873.) It was increased the first year of this administration by the issue of bonds author- ized by acts passed by previous legisiatures, viz.:—Bonds issued to the New Orleans, Mobile and Texas Railroad Company, on a section of tweive miles of completed railroad, under act No. 31 of 1870, for $126,000, and bonds issued to the North Loutsiana and Texas Ratiroaa Company, under act No. 108 of 1869, for $576,000; making a | total of $24,634,407. The issue of the last named boads was rendered obligatory upon me by a de- ciston of the Supreme Court of the State. ‘The bonded and floating debt has been decreased as follows:— REDUCTION OF THE BONDED Dest. By the redemption of past duc bonds......... By, exchange ot 240 new bonis for $1,408,700 bonds at @ cents on the dollar gat of old outstanding. warrants By retirement of old o Troms back taxes of bsitety te: 4 ex: Tam ge unuer Funding bill of $18.7%,190 old warrants for $10%34% of consolidated 730, bonds. ....++ eeeeeee peeee *Lotal oenae of debt ipa Dissent, ad- ministration ..... +++. $1,308,569 93 | * Nore. —This total docs not agree with tigures, but is given as received by telegraph.—Ass. Paes. The rate of taxation in the city of New Orleans in 1872, when the present State government came into office, was:—State, including school, 21% mills; city, 30 mills, Total, 513g mills, Tne rate of taxation for the present year, as reduced by the measures passed by the last Legislature, is:—State, inciading schools, 14% mills; city, 25 mills, Tota!, 3034 milis, making & reduction of the taxation of the city and State under this administration of 12 mills, As the rate of parish taxation ts, by law, limited to the rate of State taxation, and the rate of State $69,000 00 561,480 00 taxation is now limited by a constitutional amend- | ment to 14% mills, including schools, 1t follows that in no parish of the State, outside of the parish of Orleans, can @ heavier tax than 29 milis be levied in any one year. In previous years the State aod parisn taxes in some pirishes of the | State reach as high as 70 milis. The act adopted rate of taxation for State purposes to 12% mills, exclusive Of schools; confluing the revenues or each year to the expenses of that year, and pro- hiviting the issue of Treasury warrants in excesa of the revenues. These amendments were adopted by the Legislature, and were submitted to eae people at tue recent election. It is a source of stcere gratification to me to know—though in the blind prejadice of partisan warfare the scope and purpose of these amendments grossly misrepresented and strong efforts were made to defeat them—tne peopie forma: ap- proved the Mnanciai policy of my administration, and ratifiea eacn of the amendments submitted to them by a vote much larger than that cast for either of the party tickets placed in the fled. 7 believe the effect of these amendments on the financial FUTURE OF THE STATE cannot be otherwise than most beneficiai, as the source from which the greater part of our burden- some State debt has sprung—namely, the issue of warrants year by year to excess of revenne—is thereby forever cut oi. The debt and taxation are so limited aud defined that when peace is once more restored to us capital can find invest- ment here without fear of oppressive taxation; and even our creditors, I think, will eventaaily find, in the greater security of their new obliga- tions and the great certainty of prompt payment of their interesi—principal and interest alike being secured under solemn guarantee of the constitation of tne State—many compensations for the apparent loss on the face value of their bonds. Previous to the ratification of the funding law by the people number of the creditors of the State availed themselves of its provisions, and now that the binding force of the iaw 1s placed beyond question I presume that most of the other cred- itors wiil come forward to fund their bonds. A dimicult and responsible daty will thus be thrown on , THE FUNDING BOARD. As at present constituted tnat Board consists of the Governor, Lieatenant Governor, Secretary of State, Treasurer, Auditor, Speaker and Fiscal Agent, Its operations thus far have been tor the most part guarded and conservative and marked by a disposition rather to discourage than encour- agé any large amount of funding until che status of she law should be Gnally settled. Now that the number of bods presented for funding 1s likely tobe increased, I think @ change in the composition of the Board is desirable. It seems to me right, for many reasons, that the Funding Board should not be composed of State oMoers, and I suggest that in a matter which affects so largely the interests of the business community, ‘that the annually elected Presidents of the Cnam- ber of Commerce, Cotton Exchange and Mer- chants’ Exchange, of New Orleans, ex offcto, to- gether with two citizens of known standing, to be selected by them, might very properly be consti- tuted the Board. I earnestly commend this subject to your early consideration as one of great Importance to the credit of the State. I jurther Tecommend that the funding of the debt and obii- mations of the State be reguiated by law in such a | manner as will enable the officers of the State and all taxpayers and creditors of the State 10 restst the funding of any illegal evidences of debt by Gucing evidence to establish their invalid charac ter. Next in urgency tothe condition of the State finances, the embarrassed and crippled condition of the city of New Orleans demands your atten- tion. The debt of the city, butit ap during a series ofyears of maladministration of the city affairs, sided by unwise legislative enactments, is now so great that the annual tax required to keep up the interest payments has become AN ALMOST INSUFFERABLE BURDEN upon the property of a large class of worthy ana | Jaw abiding citizens, who endeavor to pay their taxes when due, and an excase to other citizens generally, of greater means and less respect for law, to reiuse the payment of any taxes at all. The expenses of the city for a considerable period have annually exceeded its revenue, and the volame of its floating and bonded debt bas tnus increased year by year with accelerating rapidity. With «® view of checking this alarming tendency I submitted to the last lature,” constitatioual amendment, approved by the Uhamber of Commerce and the thea City Council, prohibiting any ‘urther increase Of the city debt in any form or under any pretext, and providing, under severe penalties, that after January 1, 1875, n0 warrant or certificate of debt should be issued by any officer of the city except against cash actually in the Treasury. This amend. Ment was passed by the Legislature, and thougb opposed at the late election on the same unreason- ing principles as the otber salutary measures o! this administration, was ratified by the people, and how forms part of the constitution of the State. RECOMMENDS A NUMBER OF MEASURES. He recommends a large number of measares, and adds:—I cannot too persistently urge upon you, gentiemen of tue Legisiature, the great im- portance of atonce carrying into effect the re- forms and reductions of the puolic expenaitures which I have indicated and others which will doubtless suggest themselves to you. Having scaled down our State devt to a point which will enable us, by economy, thrift and good manage- ment, to meet our interest promptly and greatly appreciate our bonds, we owe it to our creditors and to ourselves so to administer our afuirs as to secure to holders of our bonds the promised en- hancement of the State credit and to our tax- payers and people generally that relief from op- pressive burdens which will increase the pros- perity of the State and bring emigration and capital once more within our borders. 1 assure you that any well considered measures you may pass, havingin view tne lurther reduction of State and city expenditures and the (urther reduction of taxation, will promptly receive Executive ap- proval, IN CONCLUSION Governor Kellogg says:—You cannot be unaware that throughout a large portion of the State a con- dition of anarchy and violence has more or less prevailed for some time past; that the laws have been disregarded, blood has been shed, and the constituted authorities have been displaced by force. In the interest of the whole people let me beg of you to take immediate measures to secure the enforcement of that obedience to law, without which no civilized community can prosper. No amount of misgovernment, no oppressive taxa- tion, no usurpation of office, if such there be, can satisfactorily explain to the people of other com- munities the fact that there is less security for human life in Louisiana than in almost any other State of the Union; that grave crimes are committed and go unpunished of justice, the criminals often having the sympathy of the com- by the last Legislature providing for tne funding of the State debt, and the constitutional amena- ment connected therewith, which have since been ratified by tne people, form @ most important feature in the financtal history of the State. A FLING AT THE DEMOCRATS, When the present State government came into office the public debt, contracted by the previous democratic and repnblican Legislatures, was con- fessedly out of all proportion to the resources of the State, and the incoming administration had to face the alternative of repudiation or compro- mise with the creditors of the State. Believing that indiscriminate repudiation of the obligations of the State, whether justly or unjustly incurred, would be dishonest to our creditors and eventu- ally disastrous to the State, we sought first to test through the courts the validity of such bonds as were popularly believed to have been issued without adequate consideration, and then to effect such an adjustment of the remaining voted bonds as would be as fair as possible to our creditors and afford that reilef which was absolutely neces. sary to the taxpayers of the State. It will not be forgotten how carefully each step which led to the passage of the Funding bill was considered; how the advice of the Chamber of Commerce and the leading business men was asked and obtained, aud, finally, how the State, anxious to pay its Just creditors to the utmost limit 0; its capacity, Axed the rate of funding at a point tem pet cent higher tnan the limit which experienced financiers who bad examined into our resources deemed the State abie to pay. In connection witn the Fund. munity; that assassination for political reasons is practised and applauded, and that in the whole of northwest Louisiana there is scarcely a town where a peaceful, industrious citizen from another State could openly proclaim himself a republican and be permitted to pursue his avocation without annoyance or molestation. 80 long as lawiess- ness is known to prevail our railroads will remain unfinished and capital and emigration will seek other flelds for investment, THE GREAT NEGD OF LOUISIANA is peace, The evils complained of a1 ttely less injurious to the credit and pfosperity of the State than the sanguimary riots which have marked our history during the past year. And, let me add, gentlemen, by way of solemn w: that when, as we have recently seen in this city, the very children, taught by the example of theie elders, are permitted to resort to violence to en- fotce their peculiar opinions, we are sowing the wind to reap the whiriwind. Armed political or- ganizations that have recently been formed throughout the State are for the moment anited by ® common interest, but the time will come when they will no longer have a unity of parpose id then the lesson they have been taught that force can rightiuily override law may unhappily lead to otner scenes of violence and biooashed ; bot with A CHANGE OF COMBATANTS, Permit me We say, im conclusion, that no one can more earnestly desire some final sestiement of the diMcuities that for two years have disturbed the State than ido myself, Butl pave reaponsbilities 1 cannot avoid. [am sustained by the courts and ing bill | recommended to the Legisiature the adoption of THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS limiting the State debt to $15,000,000, Limiting the | recogaized by the President as Executive of tau CONTINUED ON SEVENTH PaGh