New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-08-29
THE LEGTsLArURE.
[coSTrNUED FROM r1Rsr rAeE.l

LCoNfiNUBD FROM FIRST PAGE.
has passed this branch of the Legislature
put Judging by the slow progress which the
House makes In acting upon the matter, anL
Inc nendish disposition which now exists in
that branch to hurry through measures
which are Of political importance, to the ex
cIus1on of all others, / am very much afraid
That that measure will not pass. 1t may
not; they may be captious about it, or in
dlterent respecting il. while this may g
rapidly through and be passed. Should il
pass, we will place all the agricultural ant
other operations of the State in a very un
fortunate position, by which the whole op
Grafton OF manufacture for the production
on a plantation may be ruined alike to the
detriment of the interests of the employer
and the laborer himself. Upon the propo-
siti0n. sir, that the laborer should be
made secure of his hire, and that he
should have an inexpensive remedy for it
Inat which is easily within his reach
l, Sir, am ready at any time to give my
voice to measures which may tend to
secure this to him. have often
thought upon what could be done to
produce that harmony between the laborer
and his employer, and that perfect security
in the results of his labor, which is 80 much
needed, in order that we shall have thorough
production of that which our soil will raise.
and the greatest contentment in our COM
munity And thought that we might very
well initiate some of the peculiarities ofthe
Spanish law-and it is illustrated also in the
old English ANYWHERE they have officers,
without pay, who are merely impartial
councillors, before whom the contestants
come and state their case, and they settle
the matter between them and give the right
fal remedy. Str, we are a very progressive
people. and we have gone far beyond the
old nations Of the world; but perhaps we
have gone too far. Our progress has been
too great in that one respect. The English
Justice of the peace receives no pay for his
services, and the old court Of conciliationr
in Spain, and the Alcalde of village re.
celve no pay; but whenever man feels him.
self wronged by neighbor, he appears be-
fore these officers and states his case. The
absent party is brought up and they arrange
il between them.
II, sir, we had honesty and friendliness
enough among our people here to have such
officers, IL would perhaps be the greatest
good which we could produce in the com.
munltF to determine such Questions. But
alas sir, it is not the case, and every man
who is appointed to conduct public duty
now, wants not only pay. but every year
he wants his pay quadrupled. Every day
sir. we have men coming in who want their
pay increased for doing justice to the com
manity; and now, sir, | ready at any mo-.
ment to vote for any practical plan which
shall give security both to the employer and
The employee, and give to the ignorant and
poverty stricken employee cheaper RENE.
dy for his money. But l want to see that
in doing justice to the laborer do not do
greater injustice to the employer, and by
means of that injustice to the employer dc
injustice to other laborers who are also en-
titled to their pay; and thus IN attempting
TO help one do injury to hundreds. At pres.
5nt, as the bill now stands, without any
definite provision that the employer in such
cases may relieve bis property from seizure
by the giving of a bond, it would be danger.
GUS and injurious alike TO the laborer and
employer to pass the bill. ii there could
be coupled to this bill, as there might be
very readily, provision By which there
could be release of the property frora sci.
zure upon giving bond to the extent of the
claim and the costs, that would be accent
able to me, and shall be very willing to
vote for the bill. am anxious to see some
cheap remedy given to the laborer which |
will make him very safe, and incline him to |
labor eheerfully. Forced labor will no |
longer answer. 1t is not profitable, and for /
this reason have all along advocated Civ |
ing up the system Of yearly labor and have |
advocated the employment of iaborers by |
the day or by the month. aud discharge |
them when they have failed TO perform their |
duties or broken their contract.
Mr.. Ray: Mr.. President, this discussion
1as been useful as discussions always are
when they are properly conducted, in dis
closing the weak points of this bill. find |
upon examination that such q proviso as |
Mr.. Bacon suggests will be necessary &c |
make the bill complete. therefore offer |
The following amendment
Provided that the defendent in q nro-
Visional seizure shall have the right to set |
aside the provisional seizure by executing a
bond in favor Of the plaintiff in the sum Of 1
one-fourth over and above the amount of |
The plaintiffs claim, as set forth IA his peti.
ton, TO respond 10 plaintiff claim if there |
be Judgment in his favOr.n =
had supposed when this bin was pro
posed that the other bill which is before the
House had become a law. For fear, then, |
hat it may not and believing it necessary /
nat such law should exist, should like 10
append this proviso; 30 that whether the |
other bill passes or not, il will make NO
Inference. 1t will be observed that ii uro.
Videg that bond shall be required onlv far
1nefourth over the value Of the claim.
admit. Mr.. President, that every law of
his kind Is liable to objection. Now the law
# provisional seizure has always existed in
his State. II Is no new thing. And there
las been such that IL WAS readily available
BY laborers on plantations.
1t is true that as It stood il might have
worked injury, unless the defendant could
yet aside the provisional seizure BY giving
bond; and therefore this amendment Is
proper. Now do insist that 1t Is very i'm
poftaAt for laborers 10 have a law by which |
provisional seizure can be made: but there
ire but few lab0rers that can ever give
security f,r costs. Laborers on pl ntati0Ds
many of them, do not know where TO fipd |
attorneys, or where TO go for legal counsel. 4
md have known just claims decided adj
'erseiy because the laboFer could not give
bond. But IT - proper that the defendant
7isionel seizure BY giving bond for one
ourth above the amount Of the claim.
The proyiso having been adopted, the
'ln was adopted as amended, without dis.
'eti
Senate BIZ No, 121s an Get relative TO- the
orleans slaushtethcuse Company, being
lnder oonsideratinn-. :. -.