The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-01-26
THE RECONSTRUCTION CONVENTION.
FoRTY-BIGBTH DAY.


Convention met at 10 A. Nudge Taliaierro
presiding; sixty-one delegates presents
Ine payment of the bill rendered by the New
Orleans Gas Light Company was recommended
by the special committee appointed to investigate
the matter.
The following communication from the State
auditor read:
AUDITORS OFFICE, STATE OF LOUISIANA
New Orleans, Jan. %. 1868.
Hon. Jas. c. Talaftrro, President State Convention:
Su--In answer to resolution inquiring of
me the amount of tax received for the benefit of
the convention, and 10 whom any portion of the
same has been paid, | beg to answer that the
First District New Orleans has paid 1921 81; Sc
eond District, slOI 81; Third District, sl67 !;
Fourth District, sis "a Jefferson parish. Sol 81 ;
total, s5S7, And that the follawing amount has
been paid TO members, s525. Balance remaining
unpaid, se2. Very respectfully:
DIsFRANcHIsEMENT.
Judge Cooley's amendment DISTINGUISHING only
all persons who shall have been convicted of
treason, perjury, forgery, bribery, other crimes
punishable by imprisonment at hard labor, and
persons under introduction" came up for debate.
Mr.. Ludeling said that he favored the amend
ment and did not desire TO conceal the fact that
adopted no one would be disfranchised, except
those duly convicted of treason. If thought,
said he. that could convince any delegate upon
this floor, should speak with more pleasure
but when speaker delivers his remarks simply
from sense of duty, il is difficult to do oneself
justice Members here have already determined
upon the course which they viii vote for.
Nevertheless, it is due to ourselves to answer
tire arguments Of those favoring prescription. The
substance of them Is this That it is necessary
for the preservation Of the power Of the Repubi.
can party. Ii is the plea of necessity and will
do the gentleman who adduced It the justice TO
say that II is the only argument that can be
brought TO bear in justification of SO lniluitOus
prCposltion-itis the plea of tyrant. Everything
IS necessary when it is convenient to those haV.
IN do hat han
other means avail they fall back on the pitiful
Plea Of necessity. | purpose to show that in this
case even this plea is an empty one.
The gentleman from New Orleans, (Mr. Wick
li1e,) has stated that it is the duty of the con-
yention, under the reconstruction acts, to pro-
scribe those included in the provisions of those
acts. He had appealed to delegates to vote thus
because II is required by acts OF Congress. The
Justify such action.
(The speaker then read and analysed the re.
construction acts, placing upon them entirely
different construction and sustaining his state
ments by logical arguments.)
These laws, said he, sustain not because they
are just-not because they are constitutional, but
because they are the best we can get under the
circumstances and | contend that this prOscrip-
ton IS not an essential to our admission under
these laws to representation in the halls of Con-
gress. This convention is not here as a criminal
court sitting In judgmentupOn its fellow citizens.
Some delegates wish us to pass judgment
here upon them in this hall. And what
right has any of US to pronounce upoa
any Of our fellows? | am no apologist for
secession, but | do denOunce this proposition to
pass judgment upon snyOf our fellows. do not
admit, because Gen. Beauregard went into the
Confederate army, that we have any right TO say
be was guilty OF treason. The gentleman from
Fellciana (Newsham) asks, " Since when has
treason ceased TO be odiOus?r | reply that it
has never ceased to be OdiOus but it is one thing
to declare a man guilty Of treason, and another
man ha
proven. is it not better to pardon him than to
punish Is It not the part of craftsmanship to
make them friendsg
But, Mr.. President, am opposed to proscrip.
ton upon policy as well as upon principle. When
the war Is ended, for Gods sake. let us have
peace-let Us have an end TO this turmoil to
these chickering's and hesrtburnings. | advocate
an universal amnesty. The great radical of this
country, the father Of the Republican party, HOr-
ace Greeley, advocates universal amnesty, and
presume that 10 taking the same ground, cannot
be charged with being cOpperhead. The pros
perity OF the colored man will be promoted by an
obliteratiOn Of these past troubles. Let the dead
past bory its dead. In Gods name, ask you,
have not these people been sufficiently punished?
But my feeling has drawn me away from my ar
gumeBt. My legal argument Is to show you that
The opposing ground is radically wrong. As for
certain whispers that | am not sound on the ques.
ton, care nothing. / am no politician but pro-
pose TO sustain my assertions by citing radical
proofs. (The speaker again referred to the recon-
lie called upon the delegates as men of honor
to think well upon their duty. II they meant to
be guided by malice, let them say so. As had
been correctly stated by Mr.. Bertodneau, this
matter was a two-edged tool, and the time may
come when others may mete to you the justice
which you have melted to them.
Harper, OF st. Charles, violently opposed the
amendment, and Crane, OF Orleans, as strongly
favored il.
Smith, of Orleans, said he intended to vote FOR
the acknowledgements of every one but he wished
1t TO be distinctly understood that this boon would
be accorded, not on constitutional grounds but
ss an act OF generosity on the part of the loyal
people of the State.
Bsrret, of Union, opposed Acknowledgement. 1t
il better, said he, that ninety-nine guilty persons
should go unpublished, than that innocent per-
SOD should suffer. He thought that the cOnven-
I on had no business TO mingle feelings of petty
malice and revenge with its legislation.
Regain, Of Baton Rouge, aud Cromwell, (col-
oreo) of Orleans, took ground against the amend
u ent. AT the close Of the remarks of the latter,
PiGchbeck, (coOred) Of Orleans, rose to a per-
soDal explanation, deDouncing certain remarks of
the last speaker, Qf applied to him) as "a base
and infamous lie.n
Judge Cooley spoke at length in favor OF the
ame n6ment, appealing eloquenily, aud effectively
ts bis past record as Lou>ianian, in support Of
his position, as friend of the eOlOred man. He
begged the latter to ponder well the step they
we're taken, and TO vote with elaboration and
thought. He also refuied conc'usvely the impu-
ton which he had.
Tinchant, (coored) Of Orleans, was opposed to
any display OF vindictiyeness, however much JUS
titled by past circumstances. De favored the
amendment Antoine, (colOred) Of Caddo, took,
the same view.
Rodriguez, (colored) Of Orleans, thought the |
ersons to be admitted by the ameLdmens we're
hot to be trusted. He therefore opposed its adop
lion.
McLersn, of Caddo, desired to see the Consdtu.
ion formed in o liberal and msgnanmous spirit. |
He would extend the right hand of friendship and
= Oud prescribe no man.
Belden, Of Orleans, favored the amendment.
Solomon Noses and Merrill (bOth colored) spoke |
4 opposition to the amendment Without co ming |
o vote the convention adjourned to Monday |
ext at 10 A. N.
An UNPLEASANT NEPHEw.-The other day an
I'D Partisan prOlrletdire. a somewhat eccentric
haracter, was astonished by the apparitiOn Of his
lephew, fresh from the department of the South.