Baton-Rouge Gazette from Baton Rouge, Louisiana • Page 1

cf Baton Rouse Gazette. Volume IL. Published every Saturday BY T. DEVALCOURT, BATON-ROUGE. NEW-ORLEAN9, Dec.

20. Monday laft being the day appointed for the inauguration of the new Governor, at 12 o'. clock the Senate repaired to the Pa' of the Reprefen atives. ort after the general afsem-' bly had met together, Governor Villere, accompanied by a number of officers of the frate, apprared and -untroduced Mr. Then as B.

Robertson the Gov. ernor elect. Juge Mathews of the Supreme Court, having ad-: miniftered the oath of office to Mr. Robertion, a falute was fired by Capt. Builson's company of artillery, belonging to the Legion of Louisiana.

Whereupon Governor Robertfon delivered the fpeech which will be found below. On his leaving the general afsembly he was accompanied to his residence by Mr. Villere and the other authorities. General Plauche, commander of the Legion, the ftaff of that corps, and the officers of the militia, repaired to Mr. Robertfon's houte, to compliment him on the occasion; that example was followed by a number of private citizens; all were received by the new Governor with great affability.

It may be faid that the whole of the ceremony was gone through with all the dignity and pomp of which it was fufceptible. Courier. Fellow Citizers of the Senate and of the House of Representatives, I approach the honorable fiation to which I have been appointed with unfeigned diffi. dence. Confcious of my want of ability, I should shrink from the task it impofes, if it were not for the hope of a continuance of that indulgence which my poor endeavors to lerve the public have fo often received.

Happily however for mankind, government is not that myfterious difficulty which, for bad purp ofes, it has been reprefented to be: it is not so far above the powers of ordinar, capacity as art and cunning would make us believe. The propagation of this idea has been fatal to the liberties of the eft part of the world, and well fublerves the views of the designing few, in giving them illimita ble control over the deceived and credulous many. Fortunately for us too, the higher powers of government are not confided to an executive magistrate--they are placed in later hands. The people of America had the wisdom to make thofe the depositaries of their more important interefts, who are belt known, and moft immediately refponsible to them. 'The Legislature is here, under the confutution, the paramount authority; and thofe who, with reference to the frates, or the United States, have advocated the fuperior pretensions of pre- governors, or judges, have departed from the plaineft, as well as the molt facred principles of republicanifm.

J.et the slaves of Europe and Number 44. prove and de velope them, and where the God of Nature has done fo much, do I tomething ourfelves, that we may not seem infensible of the bounties He has beftowed. In leaving for a moment our state, and reflecting on the character and course of the general government, it is gratifying to find so much to admire, so little which offers ground for cavil objection. Compared with the other governments of the earth, it towers high above in the wifdom, economy and virtue of its measures. Res pected by the monorchs of Eu.

rope for its power, and feared for its purity, it receives, as it merits, an al nost undivided portion of the affection of its citizens at home. Yet I should deem myself wanting in my duty, if I were to omit an exprefsion of regret, at a tardiness on its part with reference to subjects of vital importance to the interest not only of this state but of the western country at large. Eighteen years have elapsed fince happily for us, we formed an integral part of the Ameri can confederacy. The general government then became the owner of an extensive and valuable domain. This before the change of government, was parcelled out, and given to thuse who would emigrate and settle in the country, now it is neither given away nor sold, and extensive tracts which, if inhabited would add to the wealth and strength of the state, still remain waste and uncultivated.

This has not been the case in other parts of the United States; and although it is admitted that, with refpect to us, there are was satay atta ed by the secretary, that our tle to Texas was as clear and indisputable, as that to the city of -Orleans itself. In the correctnefs of this fentiment I heartily concur; and it is to me a fubject of regret, that after asferting and proving our title to that fine country, it should be abandoned, with its inhabitants, to a foreign and despotic government. The interests of Louisiana, of Mifsifsippi, of Mifsouri, indeed of the whole south and west require, that if it be not too late, that extensive and valuable territory should be refcued from the fate that awaits it, a fate as melancholly for itself as disastrous to us. A great length of time has not elapsed since it was a lavorite wish with some of our statesmen, to abandon for a certain number of years, the navigation of the Mitsifsippi. I It will not be long ere the yielding up our right to Texas will be considered as equally shortsighted and impolitic.

Shall I be excufed too, for expressing my decided opposi tion to the attempt now making in Congress to encourage manufacturing establishments at the expence of the agricultural, commerce and navigation of the United States. I consider their interference fot fuch a purpofe, both unjust, and unconstitutional, and fear, if they prevail in increasing the duties a- greeably to the Tariff proposed at the last session, the ef. fect will be, in addition to the injuries already stated, to deminish the revenue, to increase smuggling, and every species of vicious and irreguiar traffic. as we forgive men we eousness that would convert the circumstance into purposes of un holy ambition. In Indulging for a moment in a still more wide and distant view, it is gratifying to perceive with what steady steps truth and lib.

erty advance in the overthrow of religious and civil Their march is in mockery of priests and mouarchs; the reign of the throne and the pulpit, the day of the crown and the tiara have past away. The prestiges of palaces and powers cease to dazzle and deceive. Kings, nobles and monarchs. must submit to become men upon earth or seek a world better saited to their claims. The benighted inhabitants of Europe awaken from the stupor by which they have been long debased, begin to assume that attitude which will entitle them to respect and sympathy.

I heartily congratulate you as freemen, as republicans, on this state of things, and earnestly hope, and sincerely believe succeeding will continue to furnish cause of rejoicing to all who take an interest in the happiness of the human race. The constitution makes it the duty of the governor to lay before the general assembly, infor. mation respecting the situation of the state, and recommend to their consideration such measures as he may deem expedient. Placed as find myself at the threshold of public affairs, this cannot be expected of me at this time; least of all is it now necessary the task has been already performed. My excellent and virtuous predecessor has called your attention to measures which if adopted cannot fail to promote the happiness and prosperity of the etate.

1 concur with him in They must be founded on pure and stable principles. Their character should be and republican. The geand object of knowledge of sience ing the advancement of truth, no regard should be had to parties or sects, whether civil or religious. To render useful here, a nice discernment and discriminating judgment must be exerted; it ill not suf. fice to imitate too clo ly the systems of other countries.

To a- dapt then to the exigencies of our community, regard must be bad to the peculiarities aria at al a variant population which so specially distinguish us. Seminaries thus constituted will inmortalize your labours; generations yet unborn will revere youe memories; and distant posterity will rise up and call you blessed. The state of our jurisprudence may be considered as somewhat defoctive. I earuestly recommend to you the adoption of a system which reflects 80 much honor on the wisdom and humanity of sone of the other states of the union. Penitentiaries and horses of correction and labor have superceded the sanguinary practices of former daye, Surely a sufficient experiment has beeu made of the effect of severe punishments.

Nothing but an crease of crime has been the consequence, it is high time to reject European principles of a civil as well as of a political nature. Ameri cans ought to think for them selves. Fortunately for them, they have few long established and inveterate prejudices to eucounter, little to unlearn. pared with other people, their minds, far from being pre-occupied, are in a situation to receive the purest lessons of reason and Asi advice and recommendations. tim He has called upon you to bepre ow on the yonth of our country, brii at degree and kind of educacon which is necessary to make mi useful members of society.

a government like ours, restgro as it does on the broad the of popular will, it is in vain to wal pect great results, if the genertive mind be not enlightened; perget ps it is not going too far to say, at every blessing incident to the titl cial life, springs out of this inciple, and that a diffusion of th howledge will always be accomnied by freedom, good morals an ad productive industry. Permit me to, propose to you ge the first instance the endowing pI schools in each of the parishes the state; and a careful exanide ation into the condition and in rcumstances of those already ca kisting. Do they subserve the arposes for which they were esblished? Do they furnish the leans of a plain though limited ducation? Do they give to the outh of the country an opportality of acquiring the elements of the knowledge? These are the kind institutions which first demand ur care; we will afterwards atend to the higher order ofinprovement, and having insured all a portion of instruction, provide facilities for those who, rom situation may be enabled, and from inclination induced, to pursue science into its more diversilied and elevated branches. Collegiate institutions to anwet the wants and expectations society, ought to be ed on the most liberal basis. They must be founded on pure.