New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-08-14
ORLEANS A. 1858

On suspension OF the rules Mr.. Poin-
dexter introduced a bill, joint resolution
directing the State Engineer to have exam
ined the canal leading from Eapoleonville,
parish Of Assumption, TO Lake verret, and
to make estimates for cleaning and repair
ing the same.
Mr.. Ray moved to substitute 'the Board
of Public Works" for "the State Engineer
The amendment was accepted by Mr..
Poindexter.
Under suspension of the rules the bill
then underwent its several readings, was
fnsllylpassed and adopted by its title.
The Clerk of the House of Representatives
appeared with message from the House,
and asked concurrence In House bill No.
ll3, an act for the relief of widows Loup
and Hurst, and in House bill No. ia, an
act extending protection to laborerS in the
exercise of the privilege of free suffrage;
and also announced that the House had
concurred in Senate bill No. 4S, an act to
provide for the revision of the statutes of
the State of general character.
Senate bill No. 81, an act postponing In.
definitely the collection Of back taxes, was
taken up.
On molten Of Mr.. Ray the bill was laid
on the table subject to call.
Senate bill No. 81, an act relative to the
adoption OF children, was taken up, on a
suspension of the rules the bill under
went its third reading, was finally passed,
and adopted by its title.
House bill No. 10Y, joint resolution guar
anteeing the right of free speech to all citi.
zens Of this State was taken M and read as
fellows.
WHEREAS, Prosecutions for opinions sake
has been common for many yeaf5 IL THIS
State, and the long training the people have
had in this school is well calculated to fos
ter feelings Of intolerance, and teud to acts
of violence when q flee expression of po.
litical opinions is attempted, thereby
abridging the rights of freenen as guarsn-
teed in the Constitution of the United
States and of this State; therefore.
Be it resolved by the he elare aud House Of
Representatives in General Assembly con-
vened, That any attempt on the part Of any
one to interfere with the people in the eKer-
else of their undoubted right to free speet
and free press should meet With the con
demratien Of all good citizens. and ia
hereby c ,ndemned, and will by punished By
the rep e entAtiyes of q free people.
Be 1t further resolved, That We concur
in and approve the sentiments expressed
by the Chief Magistrate of the State, when
addressing an assemulgge of excited citi-
Zens in front OF the ronus OF the Constitu-
tion Club of 1860, III this city, on the third
instant, and we hereby pledge to hi+ EX.
cellency Governor Warmoth, the beat ef-
forts OF this Assembly toward thetpTesprva
ton of law and order throughout the State,
and will unite with him in guaranteeing to
every citizen, regardless of race, color OF
degree, the FULLEST enjoyment OF those in
estimable blessings, life, liberty, and the
pursuit of happiness.
Be it further resolved, That we invite all
peaceably disposed citizens Of this State tC
unite with US in all proper efforts to secure
these blessings to all the people Of our re
duced State.
Alr. Poindexter: Mr.. President, 1 am op
| posed to that bill. believe any one tina
| wants to come to this State Can come, and WI
| have the same privilege to 20 to any othel
| State, and don't think 1t Is our duty to il
! vite citizens to come to this State uulesa they
| desire to come. We have people by the
| hundreds now who are starving There arr
| hundreds of men in the city of New 0rlean
| to-day who can get no employment Wht
/ nave W 1tNS upOl Inc EllBICy anu Euhllk1 u
| their friends and of the public. | move Il
strike out the first part Of this resolution.
| Mr. Thompson: MIR. President, it seem
| to me that there is something in this resO
| luton which is rather an aspersion upol
| the character of the people of Louisiana.
| am satisfied that any man can freely expires
| HIS opinion now, and that SO far IS the pre-
amble is concerned, 1t is false.
| Mr.. OHars moved to adopt the resolu
ton.
Mr.. Bacon moved 10 strike out the proau
| BILE.
Mr. Day: hope that preamble will B
| stricken out. We have had enough of part
| fings. Let us do away with them, and g
to work and legislate f0r.the good of the pee
Mr.. o'Hara. Mr.. President, think thi
preamble states nothing but the truth, an
hope it will be adopted. As Senate
Thompson says, We have the right in thi
State to express any sentiments we choose
but, sir, we must abide by the consequence;
There are gentlemen upon this floor VIII
can give you little account of their expe
rlence in that matter. could tell you my
| self, did choose to make my own persona
wrongs @ matter of discussion before til
Senate, and am not alone. There is not
single man in the State Of Louisiana VIII
has expressed Republican principles with
out being prosecuted. Nobody denies tn
right, but when you express them you mus
expect the consequences. ] too, as Senate
Day SAYS, think it is time these things wer
passed away, and that a better era shoul
dawn upon the State of Louisiana; tim
that every man should not only be allowe
to express his views, but to do SO Withou
fear of harm. But that timeis not yet here
II you will show me any way to bring
Lob Inv lafrihla finU / will do Ia; N
to to be deplored that such stat
of things exists; but If any man can caI
dldly and honestly rise upoa this floor an
assert that it does not exist, he lives In
better part Of the country than il has bee
my lot to reside since have been in th
state. Individually have been persecdte
for nothing but my political o opinions
There are other gentlemen in the Senate
honorable men-men Of property and chal
acter- who have been prosecuted and thei
property destroyed, simply because the
chose to adopt the principles OF the Reput
lican party. Is this the way to bring abou
peace and order and harmony in the con
munity2 | could name you every Office
elected in my parish, some OF them OF larg
property qualifications, who hare had t
mortgage their own property in order
get bonds, simply because they were eecte
on the Republican ticket-that was tn
only thing brought against them. Until
see the party that think is TO blame for a
these troubles making soTne move towsr
conciliation themselves, they must ask n
coneiliation for me. When they do this
when they arc sincere in their profession
by making some practical movement towar
] keeping the peace and protecting citizen
from these prosecutions for opinions sake
you may be sure am as willing to eoncili
ate as any one. But until that Is done, unit
freedom Of speech is protected all over th
State, am for legislating and doing all tn,
| 10 81, b,sn