New Orleans Republican., 1868-08-27

s,ra."' ~ WISH Ii Tue nfst place, before an
| sWerlng some arguments that have been
maue, to carefully, but in very few worde.
S1HSe the object of the bill.
me duty OF protecting the purity of the
eteCtlVe franchise and Of the ballot, is one
OF the nlghest duties imposed upon civil
government Inere is not a State In the
nation, or country in the civilized world
IN which the ballot is an instrnmentaIitv Of
govern nent, which has not found IL iuat
and proper, and necessary to surround the
franchise with every safeguard which the
ingenuity and wisdom of mankind could
devise. Among the dangers to the purity of
the ballot-box are two peculiar temptations
to which poverty or crime incline men,
against which the different State Legisla.
lures have always tried to guard. One is the
passion of fear, which is sought to he inhu-
enced many times by intimidation and ter
rorism' and the other is the passion for
money or gain, which is thought to be In
fuenced by bribery and promises of gain
for their votes. Now, what does this bill
do, sir? 1T proposes nothing of the charac-
ter which Senator Blaekman so earnestly
depreeates. 1t does not propose to go into
his household or his plantation, or infringe
upon his rights IN any way whatever, but ii
says to him, and to every man in the State
OF Louisiana; "You shall not violate your
contract with man. however poor, de.
graded or dependent he may be, you shall
not violate your contract with that man for
d
1t is simply this; it is say ing to every person
whom the providence of God has entrusted
with means and influence" you shall not
employ your superior means and ability to
bribe and broWbeat defenceless and depen-
dent men to vote against their interests
And it is against this that Senators rise OF
this floor and threaten war and bl0odshed.
hope, sir, that the reporter will take those
words and threats uOon his paper in their
entirety, and that they may be printed and
fly to the four winds of heaven, that the
people may see the manifestation of the
spirit which threatens outrage and blood.
shed becase we wish to protect the laboring
man in his Tights-thst they say elf you
dare pass such laws we will take the stump
and advise the people to resist them with
the bayonet and take things in their OWL
hands, that that same spirit which brought
on the rebellion dares in this Legislative
Assembly to utter these threats in the very
face of the officers Of the law, simply because
| the Legislature wishes to protect men who
| are exposed TO the oppression Of wealth and
| power. Iapprehend, sir, thSt when the fnl
statement of this bill shall be printed and
| go before the people of this country. togeth-
er with tne utterances of these SenatoGs,
| there will not be single 1tterSnce in favor
of treason and rebellion and wsr uttered
| since 1860 which will be 90 condenIzed by
| quiet, law-abiding, peace loving men dns
| those we have heard on ths h0or to-day.
| Iventure, sir, to predict thar the leaders Of
| the party with which these Sen Stors actWiH
oppose such utterances. We have been re-
| quested to avoid expressions which eendto
| promote irritation and ill-feeling. 1 ask,
| sir, what does such language IS this tend to-
| Does it not tend to inAame the lowest pas
sious of the people by making them believe
| that these acts tend to oppress themg
/ say sir, there is not word of oppression
in this BILL but its very spirit and letter are
to prevent oppression.
n.,, r,I ,f- larrn = II
| did not intend to pay attention TO or answer
certain remarks which have been made.
| But have this to say to gentlemen that II
the conflict of arms or violence which the
language Of gentlemen here seems to court
hsn onta 9ysF sioEs G0%e IN in this ety Of Of
the passage of laws which are
deemed necessary and right and proper by
| the Legis lature, the cry Of UGe UtcttS Ude
| UictiS heard at midnight in ancient Rome,
when she trembled beneath the averaging
| sword Of her Northern eonquerors, will be
repeated from the ashen lips of these who
shall dare second time to raise the hand
| of violence against the mRiesty of the law
and the authority of the government, and
| the calamity which fell upon Rome will be
no parallel to the calamity which will befall
those who thus attempt to take the law int
their own hands.
Mr.. Ray: Mr.. President, 1t was my inten-
| ton to say nothing further in favor Of this
measure, but think that the real object Of
the bill has been misunderstood. The real
object and purpose Of this bill has been, in
| some me Asnre, misconceiyed by some of the
Senators who have spoken.
| l regard this bill as being independent Of
any party interest. l do not view 1t In
party light, nor shall discuss it in any
such light In all countries where rulers
are chosen by elections the elective tran
chise is protected by law. Certainly In q
government like ours that is protected by
the elective franchise as the very found1-
ton and fundamental principle of our 1nsti.
. tutions, there is nothing more important
than to protect the elective franchise from
| undue influence. Hence it is, Mr.. Presi
dent, that we have always had on the stat
/ ute books of this State law to punish
bribery at an election. Very high penalties
haye always been imposed for carrying an
! election by bribery. In regard to what the
! laws may be In other States, am unpre-
/ pared to say as have not investigated the
matter. But if it be crime to influence
| votes by bribery, it is certainly 8 crime to
f influence votes by forcing man into con-
i tract by which he sells his vote. The crime
consists in the undue influencing OF the
J vote.
Now, this question or principle seems tC
| have been understood by the framers o.
our late constitution, and they inserted Il
| in article 103, that looked to the passage oi
exactly such laws as the one now before the
| Senate. 1t reads In this wise: 1.-The pr1Yl-
/. lege of free suffrage shall be supported by
i laws regulating elections; and prohibiting
4 under penalty, all undue influence thereon
e from power, bribery, tumult, or other i'm
i proper practice
i. The bill under consideration comes ex
# actly to the provisions of article l03 OF the
/: constitution. 1t is law which the con
a vention directed that the Legislature should
& make-a law to accomplish this purpose.
q Now / will add that this law IS not only
8 guaranteed by article l03 of our state Con
a stitution, but by every fundamental princi
q pie that lies at the foundation otour govern
! ment. Nor do think this law goes beyond
d the proper point. You VIII recollect, MT
= President that 1t says that any mar
10 who shall discharge any man in his employ.
y ment- during the time of his employment
4. ON account Of his political principles; theI
= the penalty is announced. And another
- clause is that If man in making contrac
- with laborer shall not attempt in sucl
If contract to influence the political sent
q ments of the laborer.
n The violation of this clause is also made
If crime. The penalty is not very severe
A one, end If convicted imprisonment not ex
d ceeding twelve months, at the uiscression o
|. | the court.
!, will agree, then, Mr.. President, tha
' this bill does not interfere with the right o.
). any man to employ whoever he pieases as
laborer. But having entered int = contrac'
!. with him he shall not have rlgEs 70 dls
charge him on account Of his political sentl
ments. This Is not with the view OF giving
n the laborer his wages, because the laws have
alWays provided for that, but for the pur-
!, nose of protecting the elective franchise