The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1868-08-29
John Ray on the Press Of the
State

Mr.. Ray-Mr. President, let me
state in brief terms the object and
animus Of the section from which il is
proposed to strike its vital clause. Who
is there in this Senate that does not
recollect the powerful effect produced
by the rebel press of the Southern
States at the inception of the rebellion!
| venture to assert that had it not been
for the influence of that press in 1860
and 1861 there would have been no re-
bellion, and all its evil consequences
would have been spared US. No man
in his senses can deny the proposition.
There was no agent so potent in bring
ing about the war and its untold suffer.
ings ast the public press of this and other
States. And. sir, to their shame and
ignomy be 1t said, large majority Of
the public press of this State, both city
and country. are now pursuing iden-
ticaliy the same course they pursued
in 1860 and 1861, endeavoriug to excite
the people against the Federal govern
ment and the present State organiza-
ton. to excite the prejudice and ill-will
in one class of the people against
another. And, sir, they are not slow
in advocating active and armed resis-
tence. It'll openly advocated in the
country presses, and | believe that
such articles may be found daily in
some of the newspapers Of this city.
Now, sir. are we, as the guardians
OF the public peace, sworn to enact
such laws as will tend to preserve order
and good government, are we to supply
this press with fuel for their incendiary
purposes! Here stands the incendiary,
with torch in hand-the rebel press of
Louisiana. Are we called upon %
assist in maintaining and keeping
them up! Sir, as a guardian ofpuplic
liberty and order, as one who desires
to see the Constitution and laws carried
out in their true spirit. l deem it my
duty to avoid giving any assistance or
aid to thus stand ready to set the public
edifice on fire. speak plainly, but |
speak just the things do believe. 1t
is the result of my observation and
reflection. l say that when any act
comes before this Legislature, which
has tendency to nuture these vipers
to keep alive those presses which
openly and unreservedly counsel re-
sistance and disobedience of the laws,
and endeavor by every appliance in
their power to stir up prejudices and
the passions Of the people against the
government-and about the only thing
which does keep them alive is the iu.
dicial and parish printing! taking
that away will destroy the evil infla.
ence they have exerted. it is nv duty
to do it. The murders. outrages and
tnmults. of which we have daily and
but too faithful witnesses are brought
about more though the efforts of this
class of journals than any other cause.
Look anthem here in the country-they
pick up all manner OF excuse and pal
liations for the outrages being perpe-
trated in the country upon innocent
and unotfending people. They resort
to every device, and even falsehoods,
to smooth them over, and make it ap-
pear that there is some good reason for
them.
l say that under such circumstances
and | boldly proclaim it here in the
Senate-thatit is the duty of the Leg
islatnre not to give them the aid and
comfort of public patronage for the ac-
complishment of their evil designs. AS
for those which continually advocate
war and bloodshed and the overturning
Of the Government, they deserve no
consideration. and so far as nv infu-
ence goes. they will receive none. |.
sir, never advocated treason either be,
fore, during or since the war. and I
never expect to. | think that our lib.
critics are only to be preserved within