New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-03-16


But it was matter of State, of national impor-
tance and interest, and the whole State should bear
the burden. Let additional means be given to the
board of lcvee commissioners, if necessary. An
| attempt to throw the burden upon the city would
and should fail. His idea the committee
| should rise and report the bill back to be referred
| to a special committee to report tomorrow.
Mr. Jonas was also friend of these levee i'm
provements to restore the aluvial lands to their
| original productiveness. He had been disap-
pointed by the friends of the measure, to whom
its unconstitutional and unjust features were
pointed out at the extra session. They bad had
ample time to correct the defects of the BILL but
had failed to do so. The whole State should con
tribute to the work, for the man in the hills was
interested well as the in the alluvial lands,
as the levee improvements enhanced the value of
the lands of both This bill would afford no relief. |
An unconstitutional tax could not be collected,
for the courts would be sought for redress from |
the grievances. Not dollar would be raised !
under this bill until every judicial remedy was ex-
hausted. The great interests involved should not
be endangered by such questionable expert
ment. Mr.. j. therefore agreed with Mr.. McCon-
nell, that the most judcious course would be to
give the measure to special committee to digest
and shape it constitutionally and equitably.
The amendment of Mr.. Bailey was rejected. 81
yeas to AZ nays
Mr.. Mcconnell, with view of giving the bill to
a special committee moved that the committee
rise.
The motion was negatived 80 yeas, 4 nays.
, Mr.. Harrison moved to so amend that the alluv
al lands, whidl would be protected by levees, in
the parishes constituting the district should only
be embraced IN the provisions of the BILL
Mr.. McClosley regretted to see sectional line
plainly drawn in this matter to oppress New Or
, leans This was an odious measure, nothing but
scheme to give fat Offices to thirty-three people.
The taxation realized after their salaries were paid
f would not afford dollar to build leyees.
Mr.. Scanlan had been here for three days voting
against his colleagues from the city, because he
# thought in supporting the stamp act he was doing
that which the necessities of the State required.
& The bill now before the committee was clearly
unconstitutional, and he called upon all members
g in the House Who did not wish to be parties to
violation of tlr sanctty of an oath, to take their
Il hats and leave Mr.. S. left the hall upon con-
cuding his remarks.
in Mr.. McEnerr regretted the spirit being shown
here tonight ty the city delegation There should
r be no sectional feeling. There should be no city,
W no country but the good of all in view. None
tn were more deeply interested in the general well
ID fare and security of the country than New Orleans.
MS The spirit manifested was pitiful and unpara-
mentary, and lie trusted gentlemen from the city
10 would exhibit more dignifed and conciiatory
IS disposition THAI propositions to break quorum.
The questionbeing put on Mr.. Harrison's amend
d. ment it was discovered that the number present
d. was less than aquorum.
'e On motion of Mr.. Elan, the committee ant
he the chairman reported no quorum.
ID, Motion was made that the House adjourn.
Mr.. Tucker addressed the House advising calm
to ness and moderation, and moved that the sergeant
alarms be instructed to go after absentees. II
trusted the harmony which had characterize
he their proceedings throughout the session woul
not be Interrupted.
re- On motion ok Mr.. Snider, a call Of the Hous
he was ordered, and quorum answered.
he Mr. Snider moved that the rule requiring this a
his a tax bill, to be considered in committee of th
whole be suspended, and there being no objection
ak the report of the chairman of the committee Q
he the whole was received and adopted.
lis Mr.. Mcconnell moved reference of the bill t
to select committee, with instructions to report
an substitute basedupon the idea of continuing III
il present board Of levee commissioners, and grant
nh ing them additional means for leveeage.
Mr.. Hasey strongly objected to the proposition
he The present leyee commissioners were appointe
ab without autho,ity, and the popular wish was this
md the Constitution should be complied with, and tn
in people allowed to elect their improvement con
missioners themselves.
OIL Mr.. Fenner moved the reference of the bill
est the Judiciary COMMITTEE, and argued that II
on, spirit manifested by the majority, in failing
the answer the strong argument' urged against tt
ue- unconstitutonality and injustice of the BILL al
the showing o predetermination and an organize
,se majority to overrule reasonable objections, JUS
St. ti6ed if anything would justify the city deeg
i'm ton in leaving the hall. If the Judiciary Comm
If a tee reported the bill constitutional, he wou
hat pledge himself TO support it.
of Mr.. Elan, Mr.. Stie in the Chair, contended tn
there was nothing in the conduct of the majori
rom that was improper that would Justify the brea
son ing of quorum They had no reason to compla
and that any minority might not have. The only eau
an for dissatisfaction was the simple fact that th
he'd were in minority. He pledged himself to ci
i'm gentlemen that they persisted in the spirit ma
Tested this evening, this bill should remain befo
for the House until the day Of adjournment, and
IS the failure of the important measures yet unact
d of upon rest upon gentlemen from the city, Gent
med men talked of unconsttutonality They say it
hen unconstitutionalfor the legislature or commssic
nple ers to levy an Improvement tax, yet they dema
until that the WnOie Stdte Shall tdASu NY
ton act! This measure had been amply discussed, a
that the mind of every member was made up. The
pro- was no need of reference.
was Mr.. Tucker deprecated resort to unparliam'
man tary steps on the part of minority, whose OF
excuse was that they were crowded by comps
age, majority But he was fully impressed with
the force of the constitutional objections to this me
ton ure and it could not therefore in its present fol
ans receive his support 1t was not constitntio
ced either under the Constitution of 1852 or that
bill called of 1864. He hoped gentlemen would
h Of depend upon mere numbers to carry bill agai
had which so grave an objection existed, and force
nd a through in defiance of reason. AS had been
ages ready urged the bill would prove failure un
, bill freed from this constitutional objection, for
hest courts would be appealed to by tax payers.
ee or other objection was, that the people of New
ne leans were no more bound to build these lev
,ners than the people of any other part of the St
sers. But the paramount objection was unconstitut
ality, and that should be removed. .
He MIR. Williamson did not see why the people
NO of New Orleans should be forced into Internal
Or movement scheme against the unanimous pro
The of her representatives The bile conferred u
IT. fonr commissioners extraordinary powers, an,