The New Orleans crescent., 1868-08-25
STATE LkGisLATURE.
FoRTY-EIGHrH DAY.
Senate.
MONDAY, Aug "a, 1868.

hONDAf, aug n, toOo'
The Senate met at noon.
Lieutenant Governor Dunn presiding.
A full quorum present.
PRAYER by Rev. Mr.. Tuner.
Reading of minutes dispensed with.
REPoKTs OF STANDING COMMITTEES.
Mr.. Ray, from the committee on internal i'm
prove menis, reported favOrably, with amend
msDis, upon an act Incorporating the Vaudeville
sud sulphur Springs Railroad Company, and upou
set relative to the New Orleans and Ship Island
Company. --.....
IL latter bill was ordered to be printed, on
mot on of Mr.. Ray.
Mr.. Ray on suspension of the rules introduced
the following b lis:
An act to amend an act relative to commercial
pI, ceediDgs. Read twice and referred.
An act TO amend al actrelatlve to the 35th Sec
tioD OF an act relative to commercial proceedings.
Referred.
An act making an appropriation to carry into
effect act relative TO the assessment Of lands Of
Don residents. Read twice and referred 20 the
finance committee.
An act TO exempt the Mutual Aid and Benevo.
lent Lite Insurance Co. Read twice and referred
to finance committee.
On suspension Of Of the rules s. Mr.. BlscEmsn in
,roduced bill: An act relative to the records OF
the parish of Claiborne, burnt in lS49.
message from the governor was received.
On a further suspen enson Of the rules Mr.. Black
man introduced bill exempting parties giving
securities in certsin cases.
TIE order Of the day was called.
SPECIAL ORDER OF THE DAY.
Senate bill l25, relative to taxing testimony OF
witnesses in suits pending in the courts OF the
State. Read section by section and hnally apopted
with smendmeDts
House bill ia Substitute by judiciary COM
mittee Senate bill l42. An act extending protsc.
ton to lsborers in the exercise OF the privilege OF
| free suffrage.
Mr.. Ray, (R.) chairman of the Judiciary COM
nlittee explained the bill.
Mr.. Jewell spoke at length against the bill, 8
verbatim &C cunt of which alone can give true
conception of its tenor. Mr.. Jewell concluded
| his speech by saying that should such law be
| enacted, he himself would take the stump to re-
sst its operations at the point of the bayonet
| Mr. Lewis (Rl called for the reading OF the
| bill and spoke upon the subject out We GER
| tainly did not understand him. at the same time
that his views we're positively in favor OF portions
Of the bill they did not seem to De In accord With
others.
M. O'Hars spoke in favor Of the bill.
| MIR. Foute SPOKE against the bill. lie thought
that, so far as the clause prohibiting contracts
| conditioned that a laborer shall agree 20 Vote II
/ accordsnce with the views of his employer va
concerned. it would not be held good IN iH law,
| Mr., Pollard spoke about abuses OF employers.
| Mr.. Bacon spoke AGAINST the bill.
4 Mr.. Lewis called the previous question, (tC
take up the bill section by section,) which wa
| ordered.
The first section of the bill was read.
Mr. Blackman offered additional section pro
| yjdipg that any person who shall induce freed
men for any particular party by promising then
lands and n ues, to believe that If they vote 10
| spy other marty, except the Republican party
that they will be placed again in the condition 0
slavery, shall be subject TO the penalties OF TIM
act.
Kr. Blsckman maintained that there was n
| law TO compel him TO keep laborer IN his EN-
| uoy afur the term of his contract had expired
II the lsborer is di-charged before the explratol
of his contract, As usual, he has recourse to Law
| He had no doubt the bill would pass but
there was a Legislature TO pass such laW, Wha
Ieetslaiure would carry it into effect. The bi
vsr simply nousensical. The militia, the cOu
stabularY, could not enforce Il. man arreste
| according TO the provisions OF the DILL W0u d M
no Jury 10 convict him; and If there we're, "a
Wells Uf his prison would be crumOled 10 ID
earth to release him.
Mr.. O'Hara said that as long as the opposit
side would persist in opposing the right ot pOiit
csl opinions, proscrpuve begs. TO WhlSn "a "a
gentleman had referred would be passed. W
we're trying to push TO the wall, and woaid pm,
| to the wall feE men in every parish, and
every ward Of this city, who control the mass
| In ther pro. crptive measures. he would gu
| rAntee that, II the bill was passed. the law "Ou
, | be enforced.
{ NJ. Campbell srgred that the bill was simp
: TO protect the laboTGs IN bis prlncipteA Inc IA
abiding men of the country would condemn q
Uttsrsbees of treason and rebellion made IN I
. senate to-day.
) Mr., Ray saw that the real object Of the bill b
been misconsiruei. The object OF the 0ill was
meet the constitutional provision against 0rloei
The bill only provides that q labOrer shall not
9 discharged foY his political opinions during
contract. he could see nothing political or p
tissn in the bih. IL WAS true that the greater mi
! OF cOlored lzborers we're Republicans, DIT 10
: tvelye.moniA they might be otherwise. He
y pretted that the discussion had taken part;
= Character and that extreme views had been
J; tertsined on both sides; bat he washed bis haI
~ Of such discussions.
q Mr. Blackman in answer to Mr.. Campbell, 3
that be had 10; introduced bis bill II Jest or T
?; dvle. IL Was well knOEA that freedmen "
81 convinced that sfseE the reconstruction of
o. State ihsy would be granted lands, etc.
Is Nr Bacon tfeTed an amendment providing
sny officer having appointing or removing po
IS, WHO shall exercise such pOser for political
n. lives, shall be subject to the penalties OF
re first section Of The buL
ed Mr. O'Hars moved to lay the amendment on
fr table.
he Mr.. Bacon called for the yess and nays.
la. The amendment vas laid on the tablets
TO to nsys.