490 LOUISIANA. 



lakes, whose shores are enveloped in the most gloomy forests of oak, 

 cypress and ash, upon whose boughs, the long moss, or Spanish 

 beard, is suspended in enormous masses, almost shutting out the light 

 from these dreary spots, while underneath there is an impenetrable 

 thicket of underwood, and smaller trees and vines, These masses 

 of moss bear some resemblance to the shattered sails of a ship after 

 a storm, the canvass hanging down in a thousand ragged shreds. 

 Chateaubriand compares them to enormous ghosts ! 



Manufactures and commerce.... As yet but little progress has 

 been made in what may strictly be called manufactures in Louisiana. 

 The chief attention of the people has been paid to the cultivation of 

 the cane and cotton. The sugar plantations are the most profitable 

 establishments. The duty levied by the government on foreign sugar, 

 operates as a bounty nearly equal to the original value of the com- 

 modity. The whole quantity exported from Louisiana and the Flo- 

 ridas in 1802, was only 1,576,933 lbs. The quantity made on the 

 Mississippi alone, is now estimated at 10,000,000 lbs. Cotton is also 

 a great staple; in 1812, 20,000 bales were exported. Tobacco, of a 

 very superiour quality, is cultivated in great quantities ; and much in- 

 digo is raised. In the first five months of the year 1812, produce to 

 the amount of 2,000,000 of dollars was received at New Orleans 

 from the upper country. It consisted principally of flour, cotton, 

 bacon, lead, lard, whiskey, pork, corn, tobacco, and rope yarn. In 

 1810, there were in this state 993 looms, 87 blacksmith shops, 16 

 tanneries, 17 distilleries, 11 drug manufactories, 2 rope walks, 2 

 powder mills, 3 salt works, 34 saw mills, 90 sugar works, 29 brick 

 kilns, 40 indigo works, and 14 cotton presses. The exports from the 

 portol New Orleans in 181 1, amounted to 2,650,050 dollars; 2,501,842 

 of which was domestic, and 148,208 foreign produce. In 1812, the 

 exports were, domestic, 1,033,759 dollars; foreign, 36,930 dollars ; 

 total 1,070,689 dollars. 



Government.. ..The powers of government, as in the other states, 

 are divided into the three departments of executive, legislative and 

 judiciary. The governor is elected for four years, and is ineligible 

 for the next term. He must be 35 years of age, have resided in the 

 state for six years, and hold landed estate to the value of 5000 dollars. 

 The legislature is composed of a senate and house of representatives. 

 The state is divided into fourteen indivisible senatorial districts, each 

 of which elects one senator. Senators serve four years, with a bien- 

 nial rotation of one half. A senator must be 27 years of age, have 

 resided in the state four years, and possess landed property to the 

 value of 1000 dollars. Representatives are regulated by the number 

 of qualified electors. For this purpose a census is taken every fourth 

 year. Their number cannot be less than twenty-five, nor more than 



fifty- 



There is a supreme court, composed of not less than three, nor 

 more than five judges, with a salary of 5000 dollars per annum. The 

 district court is composed of a single judge for each district, usually 

 composed of several parishes, with criminal jurisdiction in all cases, 

 and civil jurisdiction to any amount. The laws of Spain are in force, 

 as far as they do not interfere with the present institutions, and where 

 these are silent, the laws of France and the civil laws prevail ; the 

 common law is also resorted to. This mixture leads to considerable 

 embarrassment and uncertainty in the administration of justice. 



