New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-09-30
THE LEGIsLADURE.
[coSrrSuED naOn FIRST rAeE.l

white. of Louisiana, and being opposed to
temagogueisrn would support the Govern
Mr. Wren, of Bosaer, spoke in favor of
sustaining the veto of the bill because it
| violated the rights of property. - j.
Mr. Morey, of 0uaehita, remarked that
threats had been made by colored members
of the Republican party, that all who voted
for the Governors veto would be read out
and turned out of the party. He, for one,
was not TO be intimidated either BY lobby
ists or others, and he would give his colOred
friends notice that they were asking more
than even the Republican party north OF
Mason and Dixon's line, where they have
not even the right of suffrage, Is disposed
to grant them. He examined the bill by
sections. To the first he had no objection.
Objected to fourth section as illegal, MS it
imposed penalty for its infringement on
one class OF people, thus establishing class
Legislation. Is there any reason why in this
section more favorable position
should be given to the black man
than the white man? The main law
was imperative, for Immediately you direct
a nan by law what he shall eat or drink,
under certain penalties for non.submissoD,
that from that moment a general opposition
would be made against it. The remedy
| against any infringemt Mt on the rights of
the cOlored man Is the courts established
Throughout the State, of which the juries
are composed largely OI COIOIou peOplo
| He was sorry to hear the attacks made on
the floor of this House against the carpet
| baggers and the Governor. He would like
to know who're the colored people would be
| to-day had b carpetbaggers not come here
to insure anu aid the colored man in his
rights He believed that the gentlemen who
sustain the veto are head and shoulders
above those who are opposing it, and that
by its support they will add to the influence
ana triumph of the great Republican party.
Mr. Gair, of East Feliciana, sustained the
Governors veto, and said that he considered
he had done one of the most noble things of
his life. He called upon the colored men,
bers TO support the veto. He believed in
passing laws that should protect the colored
man in his rights, but was opposed to laws
that would conflict with the rights OF the
whites.
MIR. Holland, of Tensas, said:
Dlr. Speaker: Sir, it is settled fact in my
mind that the purpoIt of the Governors
message is to avoid the recognition of the
privileges and rights of a certain class of
citizens, and when l say certain class, /,
mean the sable sons of Louisiana.
Sir, an attempt is made to whip the devil
around the stump by calling in question So
cial equality regardless OF the strong oppo-
sition used on the part of the Colored mem
bers of this House to defeat all such
measures.
Social equality, sir, as colored men we ask
It not, we want none of it; we have had 100 |
much of it, and to establish this fact we
have but to turn our eyes to the streets |
of this proud and Boosted city-yea, might |
say the whole State-and We behold it al |
most invariably in every household.
And, Mr.. Speaker, in behalf of the colored |
members of this House, will say, in reply |
to the assertions made that it is the design |
OF colored members to establish social |
equality. such brand as being infamous, |
false, and mere political lodges. .fHa H.
Sir, when the lash of the overseer re- |
sounded from plantation TO plantation, and |
the bay of bloodhounds reverberated aero s |
the hilltops and plains of louisiana; sir,
when the fair daughters of Louisiana were
snatched from their family circes-all that
is sacred and dear on earth--and forced to
the slave pens of the South, social equality.
that great substitute for civil rights, found
not single uttarance in legislative bod'p7.l
But to-day it is hurled in our faces simply be
cause we demand the same civil rights as
other citizens and wish to be entertained |
when we pay for such, and not be cast
among the brutes 9th earth to endure the
hardships of exposure. 81
Have we not as colored men shown our
selves worthy of the same civil rights us are
enjoyed By the whites of Louisiana?
Can it be possible that the members of
this House have closed their eyes upon the
bloody scenes of Fort Pillow, Port Hudson,
fields of strife and bloodshed?
II so, then, gentlenel, the world will dis.
approve and censure our action of illibera i.
ty, and set upon our foreheads the seal Of
The advanced idea that the bill can not
be enftrced, coming, as it does, from the
Chief Executive of the State, seems to me
Mr.. Speaker, rather frail standpoint.
Such ideas fall not from the lips OF brave
and stern men, but from such as prefer
humblng themselves to the oppressors rod,
to bow the head and bend the knee. Such
excuses fall to the ground, and pass away
like mist before morning sun.
If the bill is defeated from the belief that
1t can not be enforced, may the telegrapbic
wires convey the intelligence across the
whole American continent, teaching the 4
people of the rebellious and belljgerentd
spirit that exists in Louisiana. .
Are we to be intimidated by such delusiye
as twill the law be en-
forced ~ Nlsi
Sir, if the barren and devastated fields Of
Louisiana, the broken columns of stately
whose fragments to-day lie scat.
tered over the Whole South, are not examples
meet to teach the people what resistance to
wise and prudent that this body dispense,
never again to assemble under its present
functions. '" 797 1000. Hh
I Mr.. Hill, of Ascension, said that his race
had been trampled down until this time,
and that he hoped the white people, both
Democrats and Republicans, would support
Thea in their rights. He denied that the
colored people wanted TO enact laws for the
exclusive benefit of their race, but laws
which should be of benefit alike to black
and white, aud hence was opposed to the
veto. lar ell Il 81 a.alz
Mr.. Hall. of Orleans, said: f5ei.W aG
Dir, Speaker; On Fthe 23d OF November,
1867, there assembled in this Hall a conyen-
came here With credentials Endorsed by
majority of the legalized voters OF the State.
They performed their work and submitted
It to the people, and 1t was affirmed by
nearly 20, 600 majority. Now, this Consti-
tuition, title one. bill of rights. article thir-
teen, clearly sets forth the right to pass this
bill. The Governor of the State, and large
majority of the General Assembly were
elected, pledged to carry out the provisions
Of this Constitution.
Mr.. Isabelle-himself a member of the
and most likely to understand
The meaning and intent of the thirteenth
article of the. Constitution--frame q bill,
known as House bill No. IL, an act to pro-
lect all persons, etc.; this bill passes both
Houses Of the General Assembly by larger
vote and a larger majority than any other
Dill during the present session. The Gov
ernor vstoesit. ffFi-si
Our Governor, the Governor whom we l.
elected BY 10000 negro votes, he, with
single qssn o. the pen, attempts TO take away
whose support he could never Ioccupv the |
prond position he holds today. Had a
Democratic Governor, or even a shakv Re.
Dublican done this thing we infohf ayy,ir,.o |