This message, delivered by Governor Thomas Overton Moore of Louisiana, provides a detailed look at the state of the state at the start of 1861. The message covers topics such as the economy, infrastructure, and security, as well as discussing the political landscape of the time. This is an essential primary source for anyone interested in Louisiana history during this era. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.