THE STATE OF LOUISIANA.

LOUISIANA, one of the most important of the United States, lies between 29° and 33° North latitude, and between the meridians of 88° 40′ and 94° 25' West longitude. It is bounded north by Arkansas and Mississippi; east by the Mississippi and Pearl rivers, which separate it from the State of Mississippi, and by the Gulf of Mexico, into which its southern extremity projects; south by the Gulf of Mexico; and west by Texas, from which it is divided chiefly by the Sabine River. This state is 340 miles long, and 228 miles wide,-with a superficial area of 44,215 square miles, or 28,297,602 acres, of which only 20,231,897 had been surveyed in 1847.

The whole southern portion of Louisiana, from the Pearl to the Sabine, consists of low swampy marshes or vast prairies. The tract about the delta is one continued swamp, destitute of trees, and covered with strong reeds five or six feet high. Along the gulf or sea, marsh extends far into the country, and passing this the land gradually rises, and here the prairies commence. A large portion of this tract is annually overflowed by the rivers. By a survey made by order of the general government, in 1828, it was found that five millions of acres, or a little more than one-sixth of the state, was subject to this periodic inundation, and that but a small portion of this was fit for cultivation. In the alluvial territory are small bodies of prairie lands, slightly elevated, and of great fertility. More extended prairies constitute a large portion of the state. Pine woods, which have a rolling surface, are extensive, and have generally a poor soil. The greater part of the prairies has a second-rate soil, but some parts of those of Opelousas, and particularty those of Attakapas, are extremely rich, and feed large herds of cattle. The lands along the Mississippi are considerably higher than those further off, in consequence of the river depositing more largely on its banks, and it has become necessary to raise artificial embankments or levees to protect the rear settlements from inundation. On the east bank, the levees commence sixty miles above New-Orleans, and extend down the river more than 130 miles. On the west shore, it commences 172 miles above NewOrleans. The northern part of the state has an undulating surface, and is covered with a heavy natural growth of white, red and yellow oak, hickory, black-walnut, sassafras, magnolia and poplar. The bottoms along the Red River are from one to ten miles broad, and are of great fertility. On the uplands, which are sandy and less fertile, pines and various kinds of oak are found. The lower courses of the Red River have been denominated the "cotton planter's paradise."

The staple productions of Louisiana are sugar, cotton and rice. Sugarcane grows chiefly on the shores of the gulf, and especially on the bayoux and mouths of the delta and Mississippi. None is grown north of 31° N. lat. Cotton is grown everywhere. Rice is principally confined to the banks of the rivers, where irrigation is easy. The quantity of land adapted to sugar has been computed at 250,000 acres; the rice lands at 250,000 acres, exclusive of submerged districts which might be improved; and cotton lands at 2,400,000 acres.

The climate of Louisiana is more extreme than in the same latitudes on the Atlantic. The summer heats are higher, and the cold of winter more severe, owing to the cold "northers" which sweep over the frozen countries

The southern portions of the country, being wet and marshy, deany in summer and autumn, and the cities are frequently ed with the yellow fever. The more elevated parts of the state have dare Picasant and salubrious.

1 Mss sippi River runs through the centre of southern Louisiana, and gnore divided into several mouths, forms of the land a number of large

' islands. The Atchafalaya leaves the Mississippi a little below Red River, and is supposed to carry off as much water as that river brings 122. The Plaquemine, La Fourche, Iberville and other outlets, leave the Mssissippi in like manner at various points, and carry off considerable waters to the Gulf. The Red River crosses the state from west to east, and enters the Mississippi 240 miles above New Orleans. The Washita runs in southerly direction, and falls into the Red River a little above its entrance to the Mississippi. The other rivers are the Tensas, Sabine, Vermillion, Leche, Pearl, Amité, etc. The largest lakes are those of Pontchartrain, Maurepas, Borgue, Chetimaches, Mermenteau, Calcasieu and Sabine-all south of 31° N. lat. The coasts are indented with numerous large bays, and lined with islands and sandbars.

Louisiana is divided into two districts, and each of these into several parishes. In 1850 it contained 511,974 inhabitants, or one person to every 55 acres; and these were distributed in the following proportions:

The number of dwellings in the state in 1850, amounted to 49,101, or one to every 10.3 persons; and the number of families 54,112, or each family contained 9.4 persons. The difference in the proportion of the dwellings and families throughout the state is 5,011, and of this difference 4,144 occurs in the parish of Orleans. The deaths in 1849--50 numbered 11,948, or one in every 47.9 of the inhabitants-in the eastern district, one in 40.5, and in the western district, one in 46.7; in Orleans, the mortality was one in every 32.7 of the inhabitants.

The agriculture of Louisiana is devoted chiefly to the production of cotton, sugar, rice, etc., which articles constitute the staples of the state. Of cotton the present annual production amounts to over 266 million pounds, of sugar not less than 300 million pounds, and of rice perhaps six million pounds. Indian corn is the only grain planted, and the annual crop of this is not more than ten million bushels; nor are the miscellaneous crops either much varied or large. Of live stock the state has an abundance, and, except in respect of sheep, these all thrive well. In 1850, there were within the limits of Louisiana 13,422 farms and plantations under cultivation. The manufactures of the state, except in the large cities, are of little consequence: of the 1,021 establishments producing $500 dollars and upwards annually in 1850, no less than 900 were in Eastern Louisiana, and of this number 521 were in Orleans parish, 147 in that of West Feliciana, and respectively 54, 49, 36, and 33 in the parishes of Jefferson, East Feliciana, Livingston and St. Tammany. Seven parishes had none. In Western Louisiana, the parishes of Madison, St. Landry, Rapides and Carroll had respectively 24, 18, 11, and 10 such establishments, and in nine parishes in this district there were none. The articles of manufacture are various, but chiefly such as are incidental to an agricultural country, and to the necessities of the commercial towns. Nothing, however, is manufactured for export, except the sugars. The forests produce little or nothing, nor are there any mines wrought; and hence the only exchangeable articles produced in this state are its agricultural staples, sugar and cotton.

The prosperity of Louisiana, however, depends mainly on its commercial facilities. Its own products, compared with those which are deposited at its ports from other states and countries, constitute but a small moiety of the aggregate of its commercial material. The value of merchandize deported on the Mississippi alone to and from New Orleans is immense, although its increase has been materially checked by diverting the current of the trade of the upper valley to the Atlantic ports by means of railroads. The character and value of goods received at New Orleans from the interior for the year ending with August, 1851, were as follows, and it may here be premised that more than one-fourth is transported to the Atlantic ports coastwise, and is thence exported to foreign countries:

"

. 17.... 90,033,256

is sent to the interior consist of various manufactured articles, domestic, West Indian produce, the sugars and rice of Louisiana states, and such other staples as are not produced therein. Commerce maintained directly with foreign countries, amounted in to the following values: exports, $38,105,350, and imports, 0,499. The exports are those named in the above tables. The im

Le chiefly from Europe, South America, the West Indies, etc. The g employed in the foreign carrying trade in the same year, amounted 41 vessels, and 720,790 tons, viz., 898 vessels, and 350,850 tons enAd, and 843 vessels, and 369,937 tons cleared the ports. The registered apping owned within the state amounts to 83,668 tons, and the coasting apping to 160,631 tons, of which latter 144,723 tons are navigated by

The shipping built in 1849-50 amounted to 1,592 tons.

The

Of late years the trade of Louisiana has been diverted from its natural channel by the enterprise of the North in building railroads from the seats f production to the Atlantic ports, and by this means affording a more easy and expeditious mode of transport to the markets than by the rivers. The merchants of this state, however, have determined to compete in this respect with their northern brethren, and although so well supplied with navigable channels, they are now canvassing the propriety of extending lines of railroad from New Orleans in all directions. It is apparent, indeed, that without these the commercial superiority of New Orleans must wane. principal lines proposed will extend from New Orleans through Mississippi, Tennessee, and Kentucky, uniting with the several systems completed and progressing within those states. Direct lines will also communicate with the Atlantic states, and also westward, penetrating Texas, and ultimately extending to San Francisco. Many of the proposed lines will no doubt be completed within the next few years, and all may, in course of time, be brought into operation. At present the state contains only a few miles of Jocal railroads. It has also several canals, and quite a number of excellent turnpikes,

In December, 1850, there were in the state five banks and 29 branches, the aggregate capital of which was $12,370,890, the circulation $5,059,229, deposits $8,464,389, and other liabilities $1,334,232. The assets consisted of specie, 85,716,001, specie funds $1,200,000, loans and discounts $19,309,108, real estate $2,255,169, and other items $4,268,045.

The principal provisions of the new constitution of this state are as folLow: The three departments of the government, Legislative, Executive, and Judicial, are to be kept entirely and for ever distinct. No citizen can be at the same time clothed with functions pertaining to two of them. The Legislature is to consist of a Senate and House of Representatives. The Senate will consist of thirty-two Senators, elected for four years. The House of not more than one hundred, nor less than seventy Representatives, chosen for two years.

The pay of mem

No minister of religion is eligible to the legislature. bers is fixed at $4 per day; but no session shall extend beyond sixty days; any action at a later period of the session is absolutely void. No member is eligible, except by popular election, to any office which may have been created, or its emoluments increased, while he has been a member.

The Executive department consists of a Governor and Lieutenant Governor each chosen for four years. Each must be at least 35 years of age when chosen, and must have been for fifteen years a citizen of the United States and a resident of the state. The Governor cannot be re-elected while in office. No member of Congress, officer of the United States, or minister of religion, is eligible to the office of governor or lieutenant-governor. The latter presides over the Senate, and has a casting vote (only) therein; and, in case of the death or incapacity of the governor, succeeds to his functions. The governor has the Veto Power, which can only be overruled by a vote of two-thirds of each branch of the legislature. The Secretary of State shall hold during a term of the governor.

The right of suffrage is extended and restricted as follows:-Every free white male, twenty-one years of age, who has been for two years a citizen of the United States and a resident of the state, is entitled to vote. Absence from the state for ninety days (except of a continuous householder) interrupts and vitiates the acquisition of residence. No soldier or sailor of the United States, pauper or criminal, shall be entitled to vote.

A state census was taken in 1847, preliminary to a new apportionment; the next in 1855; thence every tenth year. The sessions are to be held at New-Orleans till 1848; afterward at such place as the legislature shall designate.* Once fixed, this place shall not be changed, except by the consent of four-fifths of the legislature. Elections are to be held on the first Monday in November, on each alternate year. One-half the Senators first chosen, (to be designated by lot,) go out at the expiration of two years; and half a Senate with a whole House are to be chosen every second year thereafter. The legislature is to assemble on the third Monday in January, and to proceed to choose a United States Senator, if there be any vacancy, on the next Monday thereafter.

The Judiciary is to comprise a Supreme Court, composed of a ChiefJustice, appointed for eight years, at a salary of $6,000 per annum,-and three Associate Justices, also appointed for eight years, with an annual salary of $5,500. Those first appointed will go out, respectively, in two, four, and six years, so that, while judges thereafter shall hold for eight years each, there shall be a new one chosen by each legislature. The legislature is to divide the state into Judicial Districts for six years, not less than twelve nor more than twenty in number, each presided over by a District Judge, not less than thirty years old-six years a resident of the state, and five a practitioner of law; salary, $2,500 each.

Baton Rouge has been chosen as the seat of government.