New Orleans Republican., 1868-08-26

. . any ground in coming forward at this late
uay ana paying this money which has beer.
refused heretofore.
) Mr.. Edmonston allowed neonla IN rao;star
: at ms ONCE, knowing very well that the
Onlteu States military authorities would
not AlioW them to do SO. He simply COOP
Grated with this scheme to get money out Of
the treasury. But the Incumbent Execu-
tive was powerless to execute this law.
They could not organize the militia-fbev
could only waste the money of the puhlic
That was all they could do, and they were
perfectly satisfied that the military author
llies would not let them organize this mill
tia. But when subsequent Legislatures as
sembled and refused to pay this claim, and
others llke it, they were not satisfied and
therefore the claim is before Us now. If we
allow this claim, others like it will be
pressed upon us without limit. The State
wSs not organized, or as General Banks
said, was under paramount military law,
and this militia organization was not per-
mitted to go into operation.
Meanwhile many people were allowed to
register themselves for these organizations.
although it was well known that they could
not go into operation.
There will be many thousand dollars of
claims Of this kind brought forward if this
passes, and am not willing to pay any one
of them.
Mr.. Futch: I rise to inquire what is the
nature of this bill?
Mr.. Day: will explain to the Senator
We have only one question to consider. and
that Is, whether the services were rem
dered by Colonel Edmonston in obedience
to law. II so, the State owes him for them,
no matter how bad that la may have been.
And | am perfectly surprised, sir, at the
course of argument pursued by the Senator
from Orleans (Mr. Bacon).
The Legislature of 1865 passed
the militia act requiring that the
militia should be organized and enrolled.
Governor Wells, then acting Governor
OF the State, in obedience to that act Of
the Legislature, commissioned Colonel
Edmonston to organize and enroll the
militia.
Colonel Edmonston then went to work.in
obedience to that commission and organized
1t so far as he could.
When the work was done he presented his
papers, and upon these vouchers the Auditor
issued his certificate Of Indebtedness, but 1t
was not paid for want Of an appropriation
Now, sir, can we back behind this
transaction and say tn Governor Wells, or
! Colonel E5mOnston acted In bad faith?
If we do. we ignore just claim. Sir, IL
the State owes debt she ought 70 pay It.
The bill was finally passed.
The report of the Committee on Judiciary
upon the claim of Mrs. Young Burke, and
the bill sppropriatipg Sl223 for her benefit,
with the recommendation that it be refer
red to the Superintendent Of Public Educa-
ton, having been read, Mr.. oHara said:
Mr.. President, in my Judgment, this lady
, is really entitled to her money, but am In
! doubt whether this report places her in any
! better position than she was before; but as
! that was all the committee would agree to
do for her, and as it seemed useless to pur
sue any other course, in view of the senti-
ment Of the majority, signed the report.
! Mr.. Smith: The adoption of the report in
! regular course will involve delay of Il
week, and 1 therefore hope it will be
: adopted by acting on it at once. know
:, that this lady is actually in need OF this
money. The Senate has already passed
- other bills giving relief to other persons
:. who have their pockets full of money, and
Il yet they refuse to act upon bill for the
n relief of person actually in need, who has
v rendered services to the State.
Amotion to reject the report was lost.
Y Mr.. Bacon: Mr.. President as | think the
d report of the committee should certainly be
!, adopted. will state how the case stands.
e Mrs Young Burke has performed certain
n services in the parish of st. John the Baptist
II in the education Of children. She alleges
hat the parish authorities have some
!; personal and political prejudices against
II her or her family, and have failed to pay her,
She therefore appeals to the Legislature to
1, take this debt out of the hands Of the parQ-
j chial authorities.
d Now, sir, though do not doubt that this
= debt is lust one, and that this lady is en-
become us to pay the debts of the parish OF
g st. John for the education of its CHILDREN
= II the parish has failed to perform its duty
y 1t should be made to pay this money, ana
~ the report of the committee very properly
refers it to the Superintendent of Public
u Education, with directions to him to see
y that her case is properly prosecuted. II the
Ae poverty of this lady is such that she must
have relief it would be very well to intro,
Is duce bill giving her so much money, but
le not take this debt off the hands of the par
III ish authorities and pay it for them.
~ The report of the committee gives the SUI
v. perintendent of Public Education some.
le thing to do, which think he needs (laugh'
= teri.
10 Mr. Poindexter: Mr.. President, so fan
as as I understand never heard whether this
IT lady was employed by the parochial author
~ ties, or whether she was employed by the
" Superintendent of Public Education.
as therefore ask for the information to know
ID how this lady was employed, and who was
ID TO pay her?
st II the lady was employed by the parish
authorities of the parish OF st. John the
e Baptist, it seems to strike me that she
shoald go forth to st. John the Baptist and
m collect her money. Laughter.)
)r There has been school in my parish-lI
the parish OF st. John the Baptist-and ONT
Of that have paid great deal of attention Il
1t for. many years. There has beer
ne ChiEQreQ gong TO tnaJ ec1Ool Ic
n. 1--WE years. And now want to know
and my request to this Senate is to know
o. whether her claim is upon the nation al
If large, or whether it IS upon st. John the
he Baptist, or whether it is upon the State o
ls- Louisiana.
d. Mrso'Harra: After the able discussion w
a have had / should think the gentleman
Sc ought to know.
al Mr.. Bacon moved that the bill be indef-
er, nitely postponed.
,v' ~ 1Ir. Pollard asked Mr.. Bacon to Withdraw
elf the motion, and Mr. Bacon withdrew it IL
re favor of Mr, Pollard, who then said;
II. II has become very fashionable to vot
he money for the relief of individuals, and
am o6nosed TO it. | should like to know
as- whether this claim is against the parish O
I'M, aGoinst the superintendent of Education.
ing Mr.. Bacon: will state that her account
lit only show that she taught school for tina
ess length of time IN the parish, and she say
g., the parish authorities refuse to pay her
loE She does not show by her accounts that sht
~ was employed by the parish authorities.
~ 3ir. Bay: u seems 70 me the committee
iiu ought to be able to inform us whether sh
u was employed asa State teacher, or merely
sS SS BY the people Of the parish.
I'M Mr.. oHara read the documents relating
on to the claim, aAd showing that Mrs. young
In Burke had rendered the services.
be Mr.. Pollard; Now, Mr.. President, se
M what she wants She wants the money Il