New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-08-29

| all the crop for the wages due them
rev, IL you VIII give this right of provis-
lonal seizure, these men, who have been
turned on because they would not work,
may ue up an tne property Unfortunately
on the place, not only that which ayails Is
the employer but to other laborers. and thus
they may absolutely prevent the employer
from paying these other laborers until the
case is disposed of.
1t is true that party may come to want
strained; bat, sir, this will operate against
the laborers upon the plantation, because
the employer himself will not give bond
for the whole amount of the property.
FOR Instance, where two parties living
upon plantation and carrying on business
| upon shares. Now. sir, if this law passes,
and even If these laborers should share the
profits and wish to get shut of alaborer who
| does not wish to perform his labor properly,
| they cannot do 1t without jeopardizing and
perhaps running their entire business.
| think, Mr.. President, this bill would be,
for this reason, very unjust and oppressive
in its operation, and therefore oppose it.
Mr.. Pollard: Mr.. President, will say a
few words upon this matter. | think the
bill reaches honest men. Now, / under
| stand what goes on in the cornheld. But
don't want Uncle Dick to go in there and
not work and get my money any more than
my employer. / am perfectly willing to
concur with the gentleman from Claiborne
on that ground. But sometimes man win
make contract with you In this way: he
will say, you come and work for me, and
you all, and give you half the profits. This
don't amount to anything. have seen SO
many do that and come out begging. like
honest men, just now, and think just such
9 bill as that suits honest men, and any :
others.
Now, if a law is made by which laborer
can get his pay, think it will be good
I no kv.N IL S1.
if such a law is passed that the laborer will
learn how to get his pay. The Democrats
mas got all the money, and we amt got no
sense no how, and so they get the advan-
tage of US, and so now / want law passed
| so that when we work for g man we can get
our pay. (Laughter.)
THE remarks Of Senator Pollard were go
rapidly delivered, and caused 90 much ap-
plause from the Democratic side of the
House that the reporter was unable to hear
and record them accurately.J
Mr.. Braughn: 1 am glad, sir, that the
Senate has an official short hand reporter.
because we will be enabled through his
means to publish the speech lust delivered
by Senator Pollard; aud l regret, sir, that
Senator Pollard has not made more of such
speeches. because / think they would tend
to do great deal of go d. If had any
reason to doubt the gentleman's own asser-
ton that he has lived among Democrats all
his life, the speech he has made to-day
would proyeit. Why sir, he has enunciated
the clearest principles of the Democracy
and has at least yielded to that which
have the honor to represent some considera-
ton on the part OF that which he repre-
sents. He has admitted that during the
life time he has passed among his Demo-
cratic friends he was we'll treated, and that
they understood his necessities great deal
better than he did himself. That, sir, is the
doctrine have advocated and maintained
as long as have been able to speak. and [ .
trust that the gentleman will adhere to that
doctrine for all time TO come. J. sir, am
perfectly willing to give TO the laborer all
the protection and assistance which the
laws are able to give; but laborers, farmers,
and all men who are employed either as
mechanics or laborers have that protection
now. Our laws, as they exist in this State
give TO the laborer the fret privilege upon a
crop which he has raised. aud by simply
applying to o Justice, as he will be compel
led 10 do under this bill, he will be protect
ed to that extent, and his claim will
be declared superior to all others. Hence
laborers, mechanics farmers have the pro-
lection already which is sought to be CON
ftrred upon them by this bill. The only
difference between the law as it stands and
as it is sought TO be made is this: Under the
existing law a mechanic or laborer would
be compelled to apply for a writ of Sc
and his privilege, which writ Of sequestra-
tion bonds the property Of his employer to
the extent OF the claim. We all know very 1
well that the wages Of farmers, mechanics,
and laborers are not very high, and that the
bond admitted would be within the means
of the parties seeking a remedy. Hence,
the giving of bond can not be urged as an
objection. 1t can not be urged that labor
eTs mechanics, and farmers are not subject
to giving bonds, because every one of that
class is able to find bond OF twenty-five,
fifty, or one hundred dollars, if his claim is
Just. And from the very principles and
theory of the law resting upon that pro-
vision, which is upon the principle that the
plaintiff who seeks to invoke tue law must
give bond, we think our very safety ex-
lists.
Suppose, sir that laborer on farm, or
auy person at work who will be touched by
this bill, has some onmity against his EN-
pioyer; he would be enabled to obtain sat
isfaotion, as he might term it, by simply
making an affidavit, aud having the whole
plantation Professionally seized for the pur-s
pose OF recovering the sum of five, ten, or
twenty dollars, aud the farmer or the plant
er will be put to great deal of trouble.
He Will have to give bond not only to
the extent of the claim of the laborer and
the costs, but to cover the value of the
whole farm or plantation, and that is some
times not an easy matter. OF course. II
viii be urged if the claim of the plaintiff is
Just, no harm will accrue 10 the planter
But, say, sir, that before the matter is in
vestigaJed and II is determined whether the
claim OF the plaintiff is Just or not all tho
damage will already have been accomplish
ed-all the money will already be imposed
upon the planter who Is compelled to give
bond aud have keeper upon his premises
aud an attorney, for the purpose of defend
ing his rights. This, sir, think would be
the result of the enactment now before the
House. If all men were as honest as my
friend Pollard appears to be, If all men
were born honest, which we know, is not
the case such law as this would be per-
fectlv proper, but submit, sir, that in an
age like this when men seek to be as dis
honest as appearances and circumstances
will allow, when all men are more or less
led by their feelings and passions, when al.
most all men have ceased to regard as
realities the probity, rectitude and honestv
which fJrmerly Characterized Iheua no law
press, harsss or annoy the people; and We
think, Sir, that the laborsr Is simnly nre
tected under the Law Ms It exisIs.
Relieving that ia that process rests the
safety OF the planting aud farming commu-
nlty, the checks which Wonld
think the bill nov before the Senate
should not become law. am not
planter. never lived In the country, and
sp. az against the bill entirely upon general
principles and upon legal grounds. | an fa-
niinar with the law as it stands, aud believe s
I amply sufficient to protert the interests Of
the people Of our state, 10 be benefited by
his act Why, sir nthe worms should ~
axe oul the crop instead of that skind
HerOd as Senator Pollard said, md should
eat rp the crop Instead 0l that historfrsfs y.
the labOrer could 20 iatn The j.