The State Register: Comprising an Historical and Statistical Account of ...

In May, 1700, Bienville, by order of Iberville, ascended Red River to Natchitoches, and on May 28th, Iberville sailed to Europe, leaving the command to Bienville.

Garrison built on the Mississippi, near where fort St. Philip, at the Plaquemine bend, now stands.

In 1712, The King of France, by letters patent, ceded the civil jurisdiction of Louisiana to Crozat.

In 1716, Bienville was appointed to command at the Mississippi. Hitherto, this truly estimable man had acted in a subordinate station, and, though his brother Iberville was nominally the founder of the Colony, the active operations were performed by Bienville. Vigilant, humane, and just, he conciliated the savages by his urbanity, and repelled their violence by his courage. In the spring of 1717; barracks were erected on the left bank of the Mississippi river, and a city laid out and named frem the then Regent of France, New Orleans.

Louisiana, as ceded by France to the United States, is bounded South, by the Gulf of Mexico; East, by the State of Mississippi and Perdido rivers; North, by the State of Mississippi, and an imaginary line connecting with the northernmost part of the 49th degree of north latitude, and Southwest by Mexican provinces, containing in the agregate 945,860 square miles of surface.

This immense surface is now divided into four sections:

The State of Louisiana, bounded by the Gulf of Mexico on the South; by the Sabine river and a meridian line from 32° to 33° North latitude, on the West, and by the States of Arkansas and Mississippi, North, and by the latter on the East.

The State contains, in round numbers, 46,000 square miles of area and is watered by the Mississippi, Red, Ouachita, Atchafalaya and Pearl rivers, together with the numerous other streams of lesser note.

The balance of the Province of Louisiana is included in Arkansas, Missouri and Texas, and the Indian Territories in the Northwest.

Louisiana is perhaps destined to be among the most remarkable upon which the happiness or misery of mankind have ever been or will be felt. It is the most extensive, unbroken, continuous body of productive soil on the globe. The climate the surface, and the animal and vegetable productions exhibit an endless variety.

The circumstances, however, which render the political and moral picture of this State peculiarly distinctive, is, that almost the total of the productions of the industry of its inhabitants, and that of the whole Valley of the Mississippi and its tributaries, must flow to one

common centre.

New Orleans, alone, will be forever what it is now, the mighty mart of the merchandise brought from more than a thousand rivers. Unless prevented by some great accident or misrule in human affairs, this rapidly increasing city will, in no very distant time, leave the emporium of the East far behind.

With Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore, on the left, Mexico on the right, Cuba in front, the immense Valley of the

Mississippi in the rear, and California on the West; no other such a position for the accumulation of wealth and power ever existed.

By a careful and repeated admeasurement of the Mississippi river and its tributaries, we find that they drain a country of more than 1,400,000 square miles. If this wide expanse was peopled equal to many of the older States of the Union, which, according to the present progress of events, will, in less than two centuries hence, contain 100,000,000 of human beings, who will send the greater portion of the fruits of their lobor to New Orleans.

Few subjects have attracted more attention than the effects of local climate. The malignant fevers of the Southern States; their nature, origin, cure, and the certainty and uncertainty of their recurrence, have exercised the pens of the most scientific medical men of the age.

It is melancholy, however, to find that learning and the severest philosophical inquiries have failed to produce any certain or fixed facts as to the effect of climate in producing or perpetuating destructive malidies.

One will contend with great zeal for the contagious nature of yellow fever, whilst another with equal earnestness considers this disorder a severe type of billious complaint, aggravated by a morbid atmosphere; and we find that both parties produce the same evidence to probe the corrections of their antagonistical conclusions. Upon the subject of health all men are deeply concerned, and a knowledge, the want of which, has consigned many valuable lives to an early: and premature death Whatever may be the difference of speculative science between the members of the Medical profession, upon malignant fevers, they fully agree that the best preventative, is temperance, cleanliness, and wholesome air and food.

That a great portion of the distempers of warm latitudes can be guarded against, I cannot entertain a single doubt.

Temperance, fresh air, good sound food in plenty, and above all, cleanliness of house and person, will contribute much more to secure cities and countries from pestilence, than all the sanitary regulations that were ever framed for that purpose.

An immense population must, in a few years be concentrated on the alluvial lands of the South, and as every facility is given by our form of government for the adoptian of a prodential system of Police, evils may be prevented, that have heretofore carried their ravages over cities and countries.

The importance of proper sanitary measures, ought to be constantly before the eyes of those who have the administration of Louisiana in their hands. The importance of these measures to the yet unborn millions of human beings should make us vigilant. We should not view future generations like distant nations, with whom we hold no intercourse. We should remember, that in proportion, as the present generation wisely provides for the happiness of its posterity, so will the reactive respect be from the latter to the former.

There cannot be any of the inhabitants who do not anticipate the

SIG. 11.

rising greatness of our State. Yet we find but few who ever take into consideration the most suitable means to secure and accomplish that greatness. Robert Fulton has secured to himself immortality by perfecting and introducing to use the expansive power of steam. Jenner gained a name imperishable as literature, for disarming the virus of small-pox.

That man, who uniting energy of mind to political authority, who shall, in Louisiana, provide means to remedy the mischiefs now emanating from the annual inundation of the Mississippi, and widens the surface of arable land, and lessens the diseases of those who are "to exist upon its surface-such a man would receive the spontaneous respect of his cotemporaries and the lasting gratitude of every suc ceeding generation.

There is nothing imaginary or delusive in this prospect. Every-.. thing is practicable to be accomplished with the resources of our people.

A glance at the map of the Mississippi and tributary streams, gives us full conviction of the importance of the City of New Orleans; but it demands deep reflection to foresee that it is necessary to preserve the lives of thousands and tens of thousands, who will daily visit this mighty and increasing emporium.

Immersed in their own present concerns, most men never bestow a thought upon any subject upon which they have no direct interest. This has been, and doubtless ever will be, the common routine of human affairs!

There are noble exceptions to this principles. Let us hope that Louisiana will add on more.

Let it not be considered useless or unprofitable to appeal to the wisdom of the administrators of our national or State Legislature, to call their attention towards a city, which, in the common course of events, must have a deep interest in the future progress of happiness, health, and power, in the United States; to a city whose name has become dear to the whole American people; as a scene where the nation gained-imperishable renown; and to a city, upon the prosperity of which, depends that of an immense number of the inhabitants of our Union.

The general Government is ever engaged in providing security against the attacks of invaders.

It should not be forgotten, that there are enemies who have carried death and ruin into cities, and against whose attacks, cannons or forts would be no defence.

It is against this insidious foe, whose approach is slow and silent, whose deadly weapons are aimed at youth and beauty, as well as age and decrepitude. That national precaution ought to be most carefully taken.

T. B. R. Hatch, Governor's Private Secretary,

James Cooper, Governor's Messenger,..

W. W. Farmer, Lieutenant Governor, and President of the
Senate, $8 per day during the Session of the Legislature,
Andrew S. Herron, Secretary of State,.

$4,000 1,000

360

2,000

Augusté Duplantier, Clerk,

1,000

C. E. Greneaux, Treasurer,..

2,500

George P. Briant, Clerk, ".

2,000

Samuel F. Marks, Auditor of Public Accounts,.