The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-10-18

tuiion. In the majority Of the parishes. and espe
cslly in the northern portion Of the State. there
have existed organizations gotten up for the ex-
press purpose Of intimidssine Republicans Of that
section of the country and do not believe the
organization which the gentlemen supposes will
result from the passage of this bill can be any
stronger than ii is. "A man in st. Mary parish
ego for no greater crime thss that
is now at large and he sheriff of that parish has
disappeared mysteriously. Now, if the people
ssss 70 ny % .s i 70 not e
help to enact obnoxious or proscriptive measures.
II cast my vote for any measure 1t would be for
the people of the State at large, irrespective of
color. But the gentleman in his remarks seems to
have confined himself very closely to the question
of race. In the majority Of outrsges committed
throughout the State you will ind that there are
one hundred negroes murdered to one white man.
Now, Is 1t natural to suppose the negro 30 COW
without resentine ii, There are men who affiliate
secretly with these organizations of rufians, pre-
tending that they want peace and tranquility. and
under that pretenke they go to the colored men
aid tell them 10 lay down their arms, and the mo.
m.pt they get the confidence Of those people they
fall upon them and slaughter them. II the dis
tiDgushed senator will devise some means by
which we can have peace and tranquility through
the State, without passing stringent laws, such
this, il will have my support. When it was pro-
poeed in thu beginning of the session that should
have militia, Il was called an obnoxious measure
aid 1t was said the people would resist it.. And
even among prominent Republicans 1t was
thought to be unconstitutional SO the bill was
not urged, and this bill was brought up by dis
tnguished member If the House e. q substitute
and has been lying here for many weeks; and
now when the necessity is 30 evident for some
such measure BY which the people in the country
can be protected irrespective Of party or color.
il meets with opposition that is intended to in.
flame the minds of the people throughout the
State, with the idea that this Radical Legislature
pre- poses to pass bill for the appointment of
Co stables that are exclusively Radical; that it is
Iarty measure; that people Of the State must
accept 1t as such. Now. sir. say that Is q bad
spirit. Not that Ihave any particular reference to
he dist nguished senator. am satisfied that his
coure has been to certain extent for peace.
But / cay his remarks will lead to the belief that
we are pursuing Class legislation that should be
resisted.
shall support this bill, Mr.. President. unless
can see that will not give the necessary protec
ton to the people. have no disposition to sup
port any partisan measure. But think at this
time 1t is necessary that our people should be
protected. t
Mr.. Campbell-I desire to say few words in
reply to the remarks Of the senator from the First
District Mr.. Braughn). / wish merely to ask him
whether in his remark that the sentiment that
loyal people were not bound to respect those who
had been disloyal had been frequently uttered
upon the floor of this Senate, whether he referred
expression and have no recollection that any
other senators have done so, neither that nor any
thing similar. | ask the senator if he referred
to me.
Mr.. Brausbn-I will answer the gentleman by
another question.
Mr.. Campbell-Thst is q prerogative that be.
longs exclusively to US Yankees.
Mr.. Braughn-Wby do you think I referred to
you?
Mr.. Campbell-Because the gentleman has, on
one two OcCaROna- alluded a m romarka
incorporate.
Mr. Brsughn-I believe said had no distinct
recolle ction of what ,nator made the remarks
but such have been made here time and again.
Mr.. Csmpbell-The only time at which this
tspic has been under consideration was In the
discussion of the repeating of the 99th article of
the constitution and at that time said that those
gentlemen of the South who had been in the war,
had failed or refused to take the necessary steps
laid down in the constitution to restore them to
their privileges, were asking an unwarrantable
thing. aud that this not the time for repeating
that article. That, l believe is the nearest ap-
proach to any utterance of that kind upon this
1t seems to me, Mr.. President, the question
before us is very simple! Are there murders in
this STATE which the civil officers powsrless
No partisan spirit need be exhibited. 1t is not
only question which 1t Is proper for us to take
up, but it is . prerogatiye and q duty which we,
Is ser ators cannot avoid without neglecting
or duty. Now, then, without recapitulatipg
the details, ! refer again to the statement, for
which i have the word of Senator Francois,
that forty citizens, in his part of the State were
met in the road by a band OF ruflisns and ordered
10 go home, when they were on their way to
register. By refusing to do it, one of them was
shot down. Is that trse, or is it not, Again, we
have the rumors and reports from all portions of
the State-that at Opelousas, and others-of these
Dutrages; and In the report of the committee on
The conduct OF the election, which has been laid
10 A In ha.
ogue of such things. Then the senator wound
up bis speech with remarks which must charac-
erize as not only irrelevant, but as inhammatory
Is any that have been made on this floor. He sd-
hey were committed by both sides and by bad
men. He also said that, If this law were passed,
would be resisted. This is q strange argument
Why. these outrages should be allowed to con-
inue-that they are committed on both sides |
lsk senators to reflect upon the meaning of that.
i il is true as the senator from the First District
ays, that these depredations are committed upon |
10Th sides, and by lawless characters but that the
rood men of the State are poweress to prevent |
hem, what should we do? Is it right for US to |
measure. the only object of which is the proven. |
ion OF these outrages regardless of who commits |
hem! Does the gentleman style it class legisla- |
ion under the impression that those principally /
,e no other kind Of legislation If the gentleman's
beory is correct. Was it class legislation when |
nder the old regime none but Democrats were sp. |
'onted upon the police? The falacy lie too ap.
aren't to need refutation. What we ask of you
8, il this is not the right kind of law to repress
hese outrsges, amend it, or bring 10 q substitute.
Let the work be done, and protection afforded by |
aw abiding citizens; whether it is done by Re. |
ublcsn or Democratic governor is no consderas
ion for us at all.
In conclusion, will say simply this, that | |
you'd propose, II this is proceeded with to-day,
0 amend it. / understand from some senators
hat they do not think IL is necessary in their |
arshes others think it is very necessary In theirs
propose that ii shall be optional with the gov.
rnor TO decide in what parishes he may think it |
6 cessary; and to attach no compensation to the
flee, except small fee for such days as any
Unstable or his deputies may be actually in SER
ice.
Mr.. Lynch-And that expense should be borne |
ntirely by the parish In which the constabulary |
made necessary.
Mr.. Complexities, that is part of the amend |
lent | propose. Then in any parish where
he coed citizens will support the enforcement Of |
he ordinary laws 1t will be unnecessary, and |
here they fail to do there shall be constabu-
iry force. As principle of law the citizens of /
sch parish must be held responsible for the as-
ertioD of the majesty OF the law, and not the
liserabie towards and niscreants who commit
hese outfsges. The respectable, law.abiding
nd property holding citizens Of the parishes who