New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-10-22


! tinued innovation upon existing laws and
usages, upon the rights of civil officers. and
the powers they have heretofore exercised
believe there will be conflict ofauthority
between these constables and the sheriffs
before resort can be had to the courts. A
conflict of authority will arise and destroy
} the very object aimed at in this bill. | am
not disposed to make any threats. Far from
IL ! am an advocate of peace; but say
Ioca! collisions will occur between these
pafues, which may result in blood-shed and
the violation of the laws instead of their
, preservation. If this bill passes a counter
organization will be gotten up for the pur-
pose OF resisting its encroachments upon
tne rlghts OF individuals, and will, as have
stated, result IN an effusion of blood. Local
COLLISIONS Will occur throughout the State,
and the lives Of good men will be leonard
lied and the peace and harmony of com.
munities will be destroyed.
Mr.. Campbell: l will ask the Senator the
name of that organization.
Mr.. Thompson: The sheriffs are the con-
serv9tors of the peace ard the bill referred
to gives them additional powers to call anv
person to quell disturbances and TO preserve
the peace. This power has always been
lodged in the hands of the sheriff, and see
no necessity for a change. These are my
objections to the bill
| Mr.. Lynch: / will ask the Senator a cues
ton: Have you reason to believe that if
Sheriff that he would refuse to comply with
| this law?
Mr. Thompson: ] do not know what the
result would be, but have reason to be-
lieve that a conflict of authority would arise
which would lead to serious consequences.
We must remember that we are now legis-
lating in times of trouble and great political
excitement; the passions OF parties are
| easily aroused, and it is the duty of the
| people to frown down every attempt at
ostractsm or the exercising of unlawful
| power.
Mr.. Campbell: Will the Senator specify
what rights which the people enjoy under
the Constitution are taken away from them
| by this bill?
Mr.. Thompson: 1t deprives sheriffs of the
timehonored principle they have heretofore
had as the conservators of the peace and
places 1t in the hands of political men and
| political parties. The history of this gov
eminent has demonstrated the fact that the
dominant party is always disposed to Cypress
| and lntlmidate the weaker party. You say
| that there Is no peace and order in the State.
Then you had better send at once for the
''boys in blue" to preserve the peace. The
bayonet is no longer terror to the Southern
| people.
The federal military authority is one that
we are bound to respect and will respect, as
men OF both parties. If such measures as
this prevail, the day will come when the
| ptOple VI LOulSldld WOulu welcome Lle pay
| onet in che hands of the United States SOL
der, to preserve the peace, in preference to
| the proposed bill. There is fear exist
ing in the minds of many persons that there
| will be collision between the two races,
and | say it is far preferable that the stars
and stripes should wave over every hamlet
| and village in ithe State OF Louisiana, than
that the repose of the county should be
continually disturbed by partisans and To-
| cal politicians. 1t IS wrong and it is Grim
| lnal. II our laws are not sufficient as they
are if the civil officers fail to do their duty
under the increased legislation here, / say
! give us the bayonet, in the hands of men
who are sworn to protect the peace and
| dignity OF the State. | do not wish any
party ostracised, but fear this bill will re-
suit in the OCtracism of some men. 1t is
placing with political party power which
| it ought not to exercise, and we deprive
| the sherlffs of that power which they have
had heretofore. We ignore right which
they have hitherto possessed, simply be-
cause certain sherits may be of a certain
political faith.
In my parish we have had United States
soldiers ever since the surrender. They are
orderly and peaceful and perform their
duty; and cur people respect them, and
when there was prospect of that soldiery
being taken from our parish, the Command
ing General was petitiOned to let them re-
MAN, because We knew they were the con.
| seFNdlOTs Vi Tue peace, anu tnaL they would
protect the White man and the black man
alike. | am opposed to allowing any politi-
cal party to get all the power into their
hands and ostracise the weaker which this
bill proposes to do. There are true men of
all parties who have the interest and well
fare Of the people Of the State of Louisiana
| at heart, but there are others who have not,
and do not believe it would be possible for
a force such as is contemplated in this bill
| to exercise such authority as is cOntem
plated in this bill without abusing it, 1t.
will result fear, il local collisions and
conflict of authority, and will result in no
good to the country. hope that Senators
will reject the bill.
Mr.. Ray: Mr.. President, l regret very
| much TO see questions that should come up
for discussion upon their own merits run
| into q partisan discussion. We see il every
| day. A bill comes up that does not suit Ger.
| tain gentlemen, and they can see nothing in
it but partisanship. Now, think there is
nothing of the Kind in this bill. For my
part, shall not oppose or support any bill
| upon any such grounds. Unless | can see
that the bill is unconstitutional, or that the
policy of it is incorrect, shall not support
it, but as to making political question out
of any bill that may come up, because it is
not exactly the measure l would propose,
would not do it, nor do | think it is the
method that should be adopted by an upright
| legislator in discussion,
Now, Mr.. President, without going through
all the points of my argument again, can
see no constitutional objection that can be
urged against this bill. 1t is unnecessaryto
repeat what | said upon the first part OF it.
| As to the parish of Jefferson, and the propo-
| sition of Senator Todd to strike out the sec
ton because the Sheriff of that parish hap
pens to be Republican, has nothing to do
with the question. The bill which was
passed in the early part of this month, and
| which | had the honor to introduce, is,
think a good bill. II defines more particu-
| larly the duties of sheriffs, and provides
| penalty for failing to perform them. That
bill applies to all the parishes of the State
| the parish of Orleans as well as others. 1t
makes it the duty of the judges to see that
writs are executed by sheriffs; but at the
had not become a law, and it is because
that bill has become law, regulating
| the parishes of Orleans, Jefferson and St.
Bernard, that 1 think it is now correct poll
| cy to look to that police as q source of
| power to which, when necessary, the sher-
ifs may apply for aid in executing the law.
| There are two organizations to preserve the
| peace. Now, think it is very prudential,
as provided by this bill, to consolidate these
forces, so that Il ere may be 10 pretext for
| collision. The Metropolitan Police bill pro-
vides an organization expressly fer the pur.
pose OF keeping the peace in these three
| parishes. Now, when it becomes necessary
for the sheriffs-whO are not shorn Of any of
their duties at all by this lRw-to execute a
writ aud they are not able to do it Of their
own physical power, they can call upon
this Metropolitan Police for q sufficient
force. l give no political significance to
\ this bill, nor will enter into political dis
cussion in connection with it. 1t has prop