New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-09-26

IN the senate, TUESDAY, september ~ an
act to authorize the Mayor and Common
Council of New Orleans to issue bonds for
the redemption of city notes and for the
liquidation of their Indebtedness, being
under consideration:
Mr. Foute: If we would not be guilty of
enacting a comedy and farce with this
character of bills we should refer them to
the city delegation. A bill was submitted
covering the substance of this bill, but con-
tanning more. / am in favor of the substan-
tial object of this bill, but it does not go far
enough. l have suggested, and it has met
the appreciation of all the fnanciers have
consulted upon the subject, that we should
put provision in this bill, If i IS to ;ass
both houses of the Legislature, Lrogidiug,
first, that the plates upon which any demo- :
nation of this money whatever shall Je
printed shall be Destroyed
Mr.. Ray: My only object is to have the
bill referred. A discussion Of its merits is
hardly in place at present.
Mr.. Foute: The bill which has been pre-
sented by the committee composed OF the
city delegation was retired, temporarily,
upon the motion of Senator Braughn, for
one of two reasons, one of which would
seem sufficient. 1t had been suggested
that similar bill, prepared for
the same purpose had been intro
duced. The object was to get all the
bills from that source in a compact shape so
that we could take the best and the one
most likely to meet the wants of our people.
Hence Senator Braughn's motion was de.
feated. We can simply take these two bills.
stantial part of this bill, as think we will
all agree, and if we simply add provision
more effectually guaranteeing the rights Of
the bond holders guaranteeing to both the
buyer and the seller the principal and in
terest of the bonds, we shall have done
something good for our people, and believe
that the Committee on Finance can then
take all of these bills.
Mr.. Ray: Then, Mr.. President, l move
that this bill, together with the counter bill
introduced by Judge Foute, be referred to
the Committee on Finance.
MIR. Lynch: Mr.. President, l hope this
matter will be referred to q committee con-
sisting of the city delegation, that they
may Investigate the matter carefully.
hope it will be referred to them.
The bills were referred to special com
mittee consisting of the city delegation and
the Finance Committee, Jointly.
Joint resolution to amend article ninety
nine of the Constitution of the State, to read:
Be it resolved bv the Senate and House OF
Representatives, That article ninety-uiue of
the Constitution of the State of Louisiana
be amended and re.enacted so as to read as
follows: Article ninety-nine-The following
persons shall be prohibited from voting and
from holding office: All persons who shall
have been convicted of treason, perjury,
forgery bribery, or other crime punishable
with Imprisonment in the penitentiary, and
persons under Introduction.
SEC. Be lit further resolved, That the
Secretary Of the State shall cause this act to
be published three months before the next
general election for Representatives to the
General Assembly, in at least one newspaper
in every parish, in the State in which {
newspaper shall be published.
SEC. 8. Be it further resolved, That the
amendment proposed by this act shall
be submitted to the people at an cleo
tion, and if ratified by majority Of
the electors in this State, it shall
The joint resolution having been read
Br. Ray: Mr.. President, this resolution
TO amend article ninety-nine of the Consti-
tuition was fixed for a previous day, and it
was discussed by some of the members, and
postponed to subsequent day. 1t was then
made the special order of the day for to-day
From the looks Of the Senate Chamber there
are good many Senators not in their seats
but, am iu hopes, enough for the purpose
of passing this resolution, / hope, Mr..
President, that this resolution amending
the Constitution will meet with the unani-
nous approval of the Senators. II is,
as / said on previous occasion.
the article which we desire to amend
full of inconsistencies, and leads
to difficulties and perplexities, 1t has
been characterized on this floor as one oI
the most absurd articles ever incorporated
in any instrument of this kind. Now, the
purpose which we have in offering this reso
luton the other day was to place all the cit
izens of Louisiana exactly upon the same
footing in reference TO the elective fran
chise, holding Office, or in other words, to
adept the same course in the Constitution
which was enforced before the war. And
predicate my support to 1t on the ground
that Louisiana Is now once more in proper
constitutional relations to the Federal Gov
ernment. Having accomplished that, /, fol
one, think it snot to our interest aud thai
it is against the policy of the State and o.
the country that any citizen should have
any less or greater rights, politically than
an other citizen; in other words, that all
restriction should be wiped out, except
where persons have been convicted Ol
crimes. .... .....-r .a.-i
During the war and since the war while
the State was not in her proper relations to
the Federal Government, there was reason
for this article, and that reason consisted in
this: That those who were instrumental iI
taking the State out of the Union were moi
those who in my Judgment we're the proper
parties to exercise the elective franchise
and hold Office aud allow to control the des
tinies of the State before its return to tht
Federal Union.
But when the State was again in the
Union under the Constitution, think this
distinction ought to cease, and that we
should all stand upon the same platform so
far as the elective franchise or the right to
hold office, and in fact every other respect
except where persons have been convicted
of infamous crimes. say. then, Mr. Presi-
dent, that hope that every Senator on TINS
floor will vote in favor of this amendment.
The effect of it, l believe, viii be excellent
for the peace and quiet aud harmony of the
people of our own State aud would also be
received with applause by the people OF all
other States. Then, I repeat, | hope the
Senate will be unanimous in voting for this
amendment, as there can be no good reasen,
in my Judgment why It should not oe
adopted. Whatever the past may have
been-WhateYer political enimOsities may
have been ensendered by the late unfOr-
tunate war, it is best to forgive and forget,
now that we are in our proper relations to
the Federal Government. We should all
stand upon the same footing as far as our
civil and political rights are concerned.
II we refuse to adopt this amendment it
win Indicate state OF feelings in portion
of our fellow-citizens that via not be q
credit to their magnaRimity. 1t will not
show that spirit of forgiveness that ought
TO be shown, and If we look at the lrne
theory Of our Government, ~ Is impossible
that there should be peace and harmony
throughout the aud. when any class Of our
citizens are entitled 10 and eiioy privileges
greater than another clsss. Then whether
i be those that have keqairedsher liberty
during the war, aud have been placed upon
perfect equality. palisicallys with those
WhO had the control of adairR before the
var, Il seems.to me- that that class Of our