New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-10-22

Mr.. Campbell: That is a prerogative that
belongs exclusively TO us Yankees.
Mr.. Braughn: Why did you think referred
to you?
Mr.. Campbell: Because the gentleman has
ON one or two occasions, alluded to my re
marks as Incorporate.
MIR. Braughn: believe / said / had nc
distinct recollection of what Senator made
the remarks, but such have been made here
time and again.
Mr.. Csmpbell: The only time at which
this topic has been under consideration was
In the discussion Of the repeating of the
ninety ninth article Of the Constitution, nd
at that time said that those gentlemen Of
the South who had been in the war and
had failed or refused to take the necessary
steps laid down in the Constitution to re-
store them to their privileges, were asking
an unwarrantable thing, and that this was
not the time for repeating that article.
That, believe is the nearest approach to
any utterauce of that kind upon this floor
that | have made.
1t seems to me, Mr.. President, the cues
ton before us is very simple. Are there
murders in this State which the civil officers
are powerless to punish or prevent? Now,
that is question of fact. No partisan spirit
need be exhibited. 1t is not only question
which 1t is proper for us to take up, but it
is prerogative and duty which we, as
Senators can not avoid without neglecting
our duty, Now, then, without recapitulating
the details, refer again to the statement,
Tor which have the word of Senator Fran
eois, that forty citizens, in his part of the
state, were met in the road by a band of
ruftians, and ordered to go home. when they
were on their way to register. BY refusing
70 dc 1t, one of them was shot down, Is
tbsi rue, or is it not? Again, we have the
fl or ana reports from all portions of the
St~'e-that at Opelousas, and others of
these outrages; and in the report of the com.
mittee on the conduct of the election, which
has been laid before the General Assembly,
they have catalogue of such things. Then
the Senator wound up his speech with re-
marks which must characterize as not only
irrelevant, but as infammatory as any that
have been made on this floor. He admitted
that these outrages had occurred, but that
they were committed by both sides and bv
bad men, He also said that. if this law
were passed, 1t would be resisted. This ia a
strange argument why these outrages should
De allowed to continue-that they are
committed on both sides ask Senators
TO reject upon the meaning of that. If it is
true, as the Senator from the First District
says, that these depredations are committed
upon both sides, and by lawless characters,
but that the good men of the State are now
erless to prevent them, what should we do {?
is II right for us to stand up here and stig-
Matte as class legislation a measure. the
only object of which is the prevention Of
these oulrages, regardless of who commits
them! Docs the gentleman style it class
legislation under the impression that those
principally guilty OF these things are Demo.
Gratis! There can be no other Kind of legis.
lation if the gentleman's theory is correct.
was 1T class legislation when under the old
regime none but Democrats were appointed
upon the police? The fallacy is too appa-
rent TO need refutation. What we ask of
you is, if this is not the right kind of law
to repress these outrages, amend it, or bring
IN substitute. Let the work be done, and
protection afforded by law-abidinr citizens;
whether it is done by Republican or De
mocratic Governor is no consideration to me
at all.
In conclusion, will say simply this, that
| would propose, if this IS proceeded with
to-day, to amend it. | understand from
some Senators that they do not think it is
necessary in their parishes; others think it
1t shall be optional with the Governor TO de-
eide in what parishes he may think it neces-
sary; and to attach no compensation to the
office, except small fee for such DAYS as
any Constable or his deputies may be &C.
tually in service.
Mr.. Lynch: And that expense should be
borne entirely by the parish in which the
Mr.. Campbell: Yes, that is part of the
amendment propose. Then in any parish
where the good citizens will support the EN-.
forcement of the ordinary laws it will be
unnecessary, and where they fail to do so
there shall be a constabulary force, As a
principle of law the citizens of each parish
must be held responsible for the assertion of
the majesty OF the law, and not the msera-
Bile towards and miscreants who commit
these outrages. The respectable, law-abiding
and property-holding citizens of the par.
lshes who have not the power or the moral
courage to suppress these outrares. must be
held responsible for the state of lawlessness
in their communities, at least to the extent
Of these steps to keep the peace.
MI. Braughn: MIR. President, feel com.
PEELED 10 ask the indulgence of the Senate
TO make personal explanation. The sen
ator from the Second District ,l1r. Camp
belD has been so much in the habit of
analyzing the remarks of Senators and cri.
ticislng them, as to whether they are bun.
combe speeches, or whether they rise to the
dignity OF argument, that / have almost
come to depend upon his judgment in that
respect. | did not know, until the gentle.
man informed me, that l had made a
speech" Tut as he says so it must have
been a speech.
Now, sir, the gentleman has right to
characterize my remarks as 'inhammatoryu
If he chooses. | will leave that question 10
my commitments; but he has no right to
peryert meaning which was plainly ex-
pressed. said | had no objection to this
or any other bill that was proper, if properly
executed. But my remarks were based upon
the fact that this law will be misconstrued
and carried out in partisan spirit, and that
all enactments oftheFederal legislature since
the war have been carried out in a partisan
spirit and for that reason it was unwisc TO
pass it.. l contended that this bill would
but add another page to the already large
catalogue of partisan legislation.
In answer to the gentleman from the
Second District, (Mr. Pinchback) | will
state that / did not make use of the word
white" or ''colored" in a single instance
when speaking Of the Southern" people. |
meant, just as he did, the black as well as
the white. have no desire, sir, to deprive
them of a single right which they now en-
joy, nor did wish to imply, as he seemed to
suppose, that that woulu ever be the inten.
ton of the Democratic party.
Mr.. Ogden: Mr.. President, Ibeleve, after
canvassing the sentiment of the Senate. that
the majority are in favor of postponing this
bill until Saturday, Immediately after read,
ing the minutes. therefore move that
1t be postponed until that day,
Mr.. Wittgenstein: move that it be the
special order for to morrow.
MIR. Ogden: believe the majority are in
favor of postponing it until Saturday. |
hope the Senator will withdraw his notion
The motion to make the bill the specia
order for Saturday was pending, when, on
motion of Mr.. Pinchback, the Senate went
into executive session and soon after ad-
journed.
In the Senate, Thursday, October Is,
1865: Senate Bill 279, an act to regulate
the appointment of Deputy Sherifs in the