Sugar planter. [volume] (West Baton Rouge [i.e. Port Allen, West Baton Rouge Parish, La.]) 1856-1925, 1858-03-13
Speech Of Hon. Henry W. Allen
+ oHYclnsIEG BKYoU pLAQUEMlNE-

On the evening Of the Sd inst, the bill NJ
= |thorising and requiring the State 11ns11ee
t and Commissioner OF the I'd Swamp Ian
. Distr:ctto close Bayou P~'aquen1ine. came II
, for discussions, when Mr.. ALLEN addresse
? the House#iu substance as follows .
Mr.. Steak FRI shall preface my argn
, n,ent in behalf Of this measure. with a lev
remarks which may seem torelen 10 N
question at issue, yet a sense OF justice 4
those who advocate this bill, renders then
necessary. in consequence OF the line OF a.
} g%u,nent pursued by its opponents.
When tins neasure~was under discuSSfo
on Yesterday, the gentleman from Jefferson
who opposed it, charged that it bad been un'
fairly brought into the House. The ri'argt
is unjust. and | challenge proof. | call uPo'
the honorable gentleman to make goou hi
charge or at once to withdraw 1t.
Mn. BEm.ss here stated that proposition.
had been made by the friends OF the bill K
member. of the House having no interest II
the result. that il the aforesaid members
would support this measure, certain local
schemes of their own, would receive the
support of its friends.
Mn ALLEN continued-Grasted sir, and
do Won call that unfair! Is tS&nniaEr TO Sc
cure votes for your own bill, by voting for
the bills OF others Has It come to this that
q representative upon this floor cannot ap-
proach his colleague with this propositions:
hay9a bill which is equitable and exPedlent
If You can and will support it, will use
| whatever of influence ] may possess, to Sc
cure the passage of your bill y but he must
be charged with unfair dealing? Sir, doubt
| If there DC a single member upon this floor,
who has not approached and beenapproached
with propositions similar to this. | venture
| the assertion that # the gentleman from JEFF
| ferson has not he is the oniy ore whose Rep
| resel.tative tosa, has shielded hin, from such
| unfur offers. / again deny that there is any
thing unfair in such propositions. 1T duty
of the Representative is first to consult the
general good, and when he finds fhatsloraf in
terests do not conflict with that, it IS his right
hay. bis duty. to make the best bargain he
c: n for his immediate constituents, by the
use of all his personal and Representative
Dopuiarity AID influence. This the friends
Of this measure have done. II single mem
Der will charge that a bride has been offered
to secure votes Tor this bill, stand prepared
to meet the charge-hut until this is done, I
shall dismiss the charge OF unfairness: as all
insult to this House.
Mr.. SpEAKEy.-I was panied to hear the
gentleman from Assumption, who lett his
seat to oppose this measure on yesterday,
speak so ais~pazagiDgly Of the Supreme Court
OF oar State. The good taste Of any one
who would attempt 20 throw ridlcule upon
that tribunal. may we'll be doubted; but such
on the part Of one occupying the
and honorable position Of Speaker |
of the House Of Representatives.. is highly /
re nrehensible and altogether without excuse !
The Supreme Court, as every s~choolboY ,
should know. is d coordinate BRANCH OF this |
government, and the highes, tribunal known
in the State. Whatever MAY be the opinion !
Of any one as 10 the capacity Of It's individual
members, its msndatas 1sust be obered and
It's decisions should be treate! with respect.
contempt for the judiciary, and Yo,1
snnlhiIate government and break down the
which protect Us in property. li!,er-
sark Of our government shall be a subject Of
sct'ie.
Again. / regar: the remarks Of the gen.
Assumption in relation to Nr. Bal
ely as IN extreme bad taste, and uujnstiabIv
Sir, OF the gentleman whose conduct
nd opinions have been treated with SO much
12' &C ga Il VIC hE GSh III HAS q hit!i u
nan;a 70, science. lie came to this State q
aere youth. and when hot a youth, the quick
exception OF that Distinguished man and
Bile engineer. ex-Goy, Hche7t, discovered his
atural talent and appointed him Assistant
where he might follow the bent
! his mind, in his search after scientific
nowledge. II vas while thus employed
nd before be had attained the aye Of majori4
be made the report. from which quota
ons were made, as an Offset to his present
and since the gentleman from As !
imption had been so informed. and informed |
10, that ripper years had changed his npini- 2
as. take it as unkind in that gentleman to I
ave quoted Mr.. Bai'ey's youthful report. |
lthout making this statement. What sir. d
Guild the gentleman from Assumption think : :
the man. who, in order to Prove i%rconsis- /
ncy upon his part, would quote some school ;
~ opinion deli sered by him in some de- !,
ltlng society. upon parliamentary practice. !,
opposition to the able and correct opinions .
IS now able to give? But the unkindness 0
the gentleman towards Mr.. Bailv, does s.
stop here he went farther, aud insinuatet 4
at Mr.. bailey had some interest in c%on1in" d
re to log roll" this bill through. Sir, Is
+. Bailey has 70 such interest OF his own ~
serve: nor has hs attempted to =" log roll u
e bill through. He is the Chief Engineer Sc
the New Orleans and Opelousas Railroad tf
Company is deeply interested y
the fate of this bill. as unless the Ba YOU y
aquern!ne is stopped, the water which it re
on the road: will continually inter- ST
pit its operations. I. view of the interest re
the Company in tue result Of this measure. cf
ave OF absence was granted to Mr. Bailey, 70
ho vas authorized to visit the Canitai for NJ
e purpose of atfording the friends of the
.aast're, the advantage Of his acquaintance al
It'll the subject. i have myself solicited his az
mons, and was materially assisted by him q
collecting statistics and facts upon this %
estiou: bat | deny that he has unsolicited pi
pressed or offered his views to any mem as
r; MUCH less has he ever attempted to log If
this bill through the House. al
Now. Mr. Speaker. having as trsl1t satis- W