New Orleans Republican., 1868-08-27
WHOLE NUMBER 4sO.

l
wind 1t up with this provision: That nc
planter, manager or owner shall be permit
ted TO employ any laborer except one who
belongs to the Republican party.
now, sir, this bill may pass. 1 presume il
viii pass. have no doubt it will pass the
senate and 1t Will pass the House, and ii will
be approved by the Governor. But what
good win it do. cir! There are laws now
upon the statute book, penal laws which are
of no avail, and this will be but another of
the same kind. 1t will fall lifeless from the
hands Of the Governor when he approyesit.
Men VIII employ those that they see fit to
employ. They will employ those who are
OF the same political opinions with them
selves, and not those who are against them,
| Why does this not apply to all sorts of EN-.
ployments of life. Sir it is impossible to
carry out law of this kind. But will tell
you what effect it will have. 1t will have
an effect the very contrary of what the
gentleman desires. 1t will go Immediately
to show that there is no independence of
| opinion among this class of voters in Loui-
siana, and it will do harm. Yes, | say now,
sir, it will do more harm to the party which
passes it than it can possibly ever do good.
| For my part, sir, | am utterly Indifferent
whether 1t passes or not, but am sure it
can not effect the object for which it is in
tended.
Mr.. Pollard: Mr.. President, as l under
stood that bill it seems to me that the SEN
ator from Orleans has mistaken it's chief OBJ.
| iect. don't see why the voter is particu-
larly interested in this bill except in this
way. As l understand it, when a man is
| driven of by his employer for not voting
with him it will enable that man to get his
pay for the labor he has done. believe Il a.
is the intention of this bill. don't beelve
1t applies to voting at ALL or prevents man
from, employing whom he pleases. 1t is
simply to compel the employer TO pay the
| lobaror who has worked for him for his
labor ii he is turned off for going to the
polls, and want the law to be so laborer
OF this kind can get his pay don't care
who he is-whether he is white man or a
black man, or on the plantation or in the
city.
Mr.. Bacon: So dol
Mr.. Pollard: But as to man compelling
me to vote against my inclinations, don't
understand the bill to do that.
Mr.. Lewis moved the previous question,
which was ordered, and resulted in the
adoption of the first section.
The second section having been read Mr..
Blackman offered an additional section that
any person promising lands or mules 10 col
ored men, or intimidating them by asserting
that if they voted the Democratic ticket
they would be forced into slavery, should be
deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and be
subjected to the punishment provided in
this act.
Mr.. Blackman opposed the bill in its pres
cnt shape in lengthy speech and offered
the following amendment:
Provided that any person who shall in
duce freedmen to vote for any particular
party by promising them lands and mules,
or induce them to believe that if they vote
for any other party except the Republican
party, that they will be placed in the con-
dition Of slavery, shall be subject 10 the
penalties OF this act
Mr.. 0'Hara: Mr. President, after listening
| to the honorable gentleman who has just
, taken his seat, one would suppose that the
Senate was about to pass some horrible law
which would deprive an entire people O.
their rights. Now, look upon this law a:
t protecting the people-the people who mos
need protecting, the poor laboring classes
e have listened TO the bill very attentively
t have not heard the word black in 1t once
, Eor do see that 1t applies to them more
= than to others. 1t simply designs that the
| laborer shall be protected in his rights
tlat II man Is employed to do manua
? labor at SO much per month, he shall moi
| be coerced IN his politics by his employer
t would ask these gentlemen VINO talk abou,
5 "proscrlptlve laws" when Will they gel
through telling us that such laws shall
3 never be enforced! They have talked about
l prescription" The bill under consideration
- OAiJ AA'Sh ~ p 'NuN p 'PN4ee
| Just as long as tney ngnt against the pfln-
l clple that a man has right TO MS opinion
| so long will these measures have to be
passed: They are called "proscrlptlYe.
= Now, l do not view them IN that light
< They are simply protective. 1t IS necessary
+ ! toprote!t the citizens oil this state IN thell
t right OF franchise, because IN dlfierentpart
: OF the state they dare not express their po
i litical convictions. The gentlemen tell u
that the class who, in Louisiana are the EN-
ployers, love their State; and yet, BY their &C
c they seek TO retard her progress. Ihey Keel
o away the capitalists Tsey say that a MAJ MAJ
g Is a very good man II ne Will agree WIZ
i them politically, but ne IS scaiawag and
/, rascaln ne differs. 1hereS Where the pre-
d scription IS; They CONTEND tnat man ma
no rlght TO MS oplnloai ana that II ne DOE
= not agree with them polltlcally ne does nc
y deserve, and shall not have employ men
n Suppose l enter into contract with genti
< man to WORK 1or MN Tor year, ! am
.e sound Democrat When ne employs me,
Ie decided Democrat as ne Is himself; Bt
> In three months may discover the Dem'
ct cratic party 10 pe rotten machine, ana
1t cnoose 10 4eaVe II. Ten my eI1IpIoyeI
'e tnls cnange IN my oPlniohss ne Ieplie
d II tnat Is the case must go out an
n huht my pFead elseWneTe; ana Wnen "
lry 10 stop TINS oy tglsIatIe ieaactInen
'r We are toiu that ~ - an 1nillse9!ei !!
'e OF tne rlgnes OF tle peoPie5' % say II u
le only W sep uo"h lew N;at DaG nlen Al W W
e conntrH VINO are keeplng socety IN q ~, .I
mon: Ihese are are tne go ohiy men we " Wou, ,.,
x push 70 the wan, tne tilea sL. Mno aLs GU
n trying to encourage riot and incendiarls
m best citizens of Louisiana. The citizens