New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1857-03-16
SPEECH OF HON, E, wooLpR1pGE

am forced, far their intentions construed, to
concede what they claim yet whatever may have I
been their intentions pure and Invested OF
party prejudice-the country will and must regard
this as violent patty measure. brought forward to
build up and strengthen one party at the expense of
the other; as measure comforting, for party pur- I
poses alone, patronage and extraordinary powers on
the executive-powers such as were never before in
times OF peace conferred the executive of any
State in this Union My heart and Judgment tell me
this bill is wrong in principle and policy, hence my
opposition. Did it emanute from my own party,
promising to bring triumph and to that party;
much as am devoted to the principles which we es-
po,lse satisfied am that in the triumph of those
principles the ultimate peace prosperity and happ-
ness OF the country will be best attained that our
national stride to power influence and position among
the nations of the earth must depend, in great de-
gree, on the prevalence OF those principles-stil
under the oath have taken here, as a member of
this house in view Of the rights of the people of
Orleans: in Justice to my own individual sense of
duty for the honor of the heretofore proud ard spot
less name OF Louisiana my opposition to the meas
IRE would be no less determined than it now Is.
To give my objections to the bill in regular Order
am opposed in the first place. to its title, not set
ting forth in substance its contents 1t is entitled San
Act to Regulate Elections in the Parish of Orleans"
while its title should be An Oct t0r ne BenettQt The
| Democratic party Of Louisiana. While | yield to
its authors all honesty of intention claimed by them,
am constrained to say its effects and consequences
must be to build up and strengthen the Democratic
| now the dominant-party, If indeed 1t can be pro-
ducve OF any effects other than resistance and blood
shed from those whose rights are so wantonly at
tempted to be trampled upon. Sir, while my desire
is to move in this opposition with all calmness and
cauton-respectng the feelings and opinions of 9th
ers-stern duty requires me to call things by their
right names, and attribute the votes and conduct OF
| gentlemen on this floor to the true motives which
| PROMPT them. When say this measure is supported
by the Democratic wing Of this house with the OBJ
iect and intention of Strengthening and benetng the
Democratic party when say il is an act for the
benefit Of the Democratic pary-hat it IS legislation
E,r hny-a
all candid minds must confess on reading the bill.
Each parish in the State possess and exercise the
right of selecting their commissioners of elections
This bill proposes to draw an nvdous distinction be-
tween Orleans and the other parishes. 1t is hypothe
Gated on the idea that all the other parishes are
worthy and capable OF managing their respective
elections except the parish Of Orleans and therefore
it must be placed, like infant idiot, under the
control of guardian and that guardian is to be the
Executive of the State, clothed with powers conferred
upon him in the name of Democracy, snch as only
dictators possess. The Attorney General, Register
of Votes, Mayor Of the city, and two citizens to be
appointed by the Governor are to constitute Central
Board of Commissioners, with exclusive power to
appoint all commissioners of elections in the city and
parish of Orleans of which Central Board the At
tornev-Genera is to be rr-0tici0 President, and
another member thereof its Secretary majority OF
the members to constitute quorum for the transac-
ton of business with power and authority to adopt
such bylaws and rules as to them may seem fit.
Next comes the main feature OF the bill e The
Governor shall, by and with the consent of the Sen
ate, appoint a Superintendent OF Elections ST.
perintendent! How mild his title. Yet Napoleon
at the head of his army was vested with no more
arbitrary power than is proposed to he given to this
Superintendent He is to hold his office for the term
of two years, receive annual salary of three thou
sand dollars, with power and authority to appoint
four staff officers, (mOdesty designated III the bill
Chief Deputes) removable at his sovereign will and
pleasure These four Chief Deputies are to be com
mssioned by the Superintendent, their seniority oil
rank fixed by him. They are to receive each an an
u,Inr rgf md doll IN hn orrInt
and equipped as to the Governor and Superintendent
may tit, and are required to submit Themselves
in obedience to the commands Of the superintendent
Sir does not the picture begin to assume warhke
appearance Does it not shadow forth conflict
bloodshed and carnage? We have already the mai1
ingredients of an army; we have the Governor ~
commander-nchief, even now er.oticio in possession
of the State arsenal and munitions of war We have
field leader a lieutenant general, in the person o
the Superintendent: while the four Deputies assunl
ing each the rank assigned him by the Superintend
ent, complete the list Of chief officers. What more
sir. is necessary to constitute an army! What Tea
ture is wanting to render this. it really is, bill t.
: organize standing army in the parish OF Orleans?
:, Sir glance your eye over the DIST section of tn
BILL and there you will find vested IN the Snperntend
ent power to raise trOopslbsoue, unlimited power
such kings dare not exercise in times of war
yet sir, power is there given the Superintendent
draft soldier every man in the parish of Orleans
the number is unlimited except by his sovereign plea
, sure, none exempt The man of God, whose mis-
sion is peace and love and purity Of heart, may b
required, at the mandate of this Superintendent t
cast aside the Book of Life, quit the sacred desk am
. exchange his priesty garb for a soldiers jacket
Gmybearded sires, long retired from the scenes ans
conflicts of active life, may be summoned from thei
quiet retreat to bear arms once soldiers Til
section provides for the equipment of the force thu
secured subjects them to the command Of the Super
intendent and his deputies, provides for their pay
the rate OF SO each per day, and suspends the lay
against carrying concealed weapons. Sir, what moEe
! now ask is necessary to constitute standing army
i1rlv OtiirnrP6t
=, And in order to expedite the Superintendent i
mastering this force, (for it has been shrewdy SD:
pected some might not be inclined to serve whe
}, drafted penalty of five hundred dollars is attached
:, in each case of failure to attend when
moned-the penalty to be recovered by simple motto
in court, without personal service of citation til
l. to be tried by preference without the intervel
d ton Of jury Or the right of appeal and the part
# thus found guilty to be doomed to perpetual mprsol
ment until the fine with all costs, is paid. Are nt
\ these extreme measures? Is not this eXtrerr
Ae penalty? And above all, is not the mode Of enfor
a ing the penalty more extreme still
c Sir, it is thus to attain evil ends extreme
- unusual means are resorted to. Are not the PEN
n provisions of this bill enough to shock the sensblit
~ Of Russian serf? What, sir, must be their et!ec
upon American freemen outside TIE walls Of this car
"a toll, where the demon party holds not in slavsh bo
Il dage the human heart as here When read by Il
III noble nativebOrn sons of sister States what ind
e. nation must be felt? can well imagine with VIII
It. contempt for their authors these provisions will
ps read by the bold and hardy of the West. Ana
for the benefit Of of the political parties in Il
- State. Though in the minority, were such b
e, brought forward by my party for shame | Won
le hang my head and shrink from the gaze Of brave
Il honest men,
~ 1t does to me, SIR if principle, and the attai
" ment OF the countrys good aud not the spells of off
It. the object of this party,n the ajority they
as they would have the courage to defend their rights
the ballot-boX elsewhere. Sir, embarked in Il go
cause, armed with patriotism and justice, the bra
It grow holder and the tmid take courage: even co
g ards in defence Of rights unquestonable, become r.
at olnte but in bad cause--a cause which has for
n object Oiy the procurement of place, power and spoi
% in cause like this it is not to be wondered that
IN bold of heart grow faint and the strong falls pc
re eress
n This and only this can account for that unaatt'
,o cry of help help uttered by the party having
nv majority, and now in power Yes, sir, they have
majority in this house, majority in the other end
u.s. this capitol and claim large majority in the Sta
ag and yet sick child they cry for heip-tor prot
~ ton against the minority. Sir, in good cause, W
- ever yet knew brave man to beg for assistance vii
en- the conflict even-handed yet, with every adv,
tge, with three to two they Cone pale and trembi
yn as if chased 10y speCter, AID ask for standing
Ia, to protect them
'e Sir the country well knows the object and INTENT
of this measure the mind at once leverts back to
TX scenes which were enacted at Paquemine and eI
where in 1874. In Pluquemine alone, to strength
this party which calls rhelp, by fraud, procn
is ment and corruption, the number Of votes polIed