New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-10-26

were freely offered in the Hall for single
vote. Another Senator of equal integrity
and veracity states that since this discussion
began slip of paper was put into his hand
Offering thirty thousand dollars for his in
huence in favor of this monstrosity.
am called, slr, "a carpet Dagger. Ifthat term
means that have not always been a citizen
of Louisiana, it Is true. But here is my all.
My interests are all identified with this
State. Here is my home. | rejoice in all
the State does through her Representatives
which is honorable and enobling; but as
citizen of the commonwealth feel the blush
of shame burning on my face as these deeds
of dishonor and corruption are brought to
light; and as member of this Senate, / feel
degraded at being brought in contact with
such deeds of plumber and bAseness.
l appeal to Senators as they desire to pre-
serve the honor and fair fame of our State
abroad, as they wish to secure the respect
of our citizens at home; above all, as they
desire to cherish within themselves purity
of motive, an honesty of action, vote so as
to rebuke these men. Let US teach these
Shylocks, these vultures on the body polite,
these wreckers on human society, who prey
upon the very vitals of the State, and whe
eat up and consume her substance without
producing anything; let us teach them such
a lesson by our vote upon this occasion that
they will never again dare approach us with
their schemes of internal and damning in
fanny. We owe it to ourselves, we owe it to
the Senate, we owe it to the State at large
to reprobate and scorn the plots and the
plumber of these Towards and these New
mans, whose very presence in and around
this capitol tonight pollute the very atmos
phere we breathe.
Mr.. Braughn-I move that a committee of
three be appointed to investigate the mat.
ter.
Mr.. Ogden: The reputation of the Senate
is at stake. second the motion to investi-
gate this matter.
emotion was adopted and the President
appointed Messrs. Braughn, Lynch and Ba-
con.
Mr.. Braughn: Will the President appoint
the committee to investigate about that
note? ..r
The President: have appointed the com.
mittee-Senators Braughn, Bacon and
Lynch.
Mr.. Braughn: move the committee be
allowed to retire.
Mr.. Bacon: Mr.. President, there's rule
of this Senate that committees shall not sit
during the session of the Senate. Besides,
sir do not want to be put out of here and
take two votes from sustaining the veto to
one against it.
Mr. Jewell: move that they at the same
time investigate the document in the Gov.
ernor's office.
Adopted.
Messrs. Braughn and Lynch, of the com.
mittee, then retired from the Senate.
Mr.. PoindeXter: Mr.. President | think
the Senator from Carroll failed to prove
that any Senator has been influenced by
wrong motives in this matter. Now do
not see why such question should come up
before the vote is taken on this bill. l
never have heard such expressions from any
Senator before, and do not know what to
make of them. / think the vote should be
fob aTth ef, ha IL, 10
motives of any Senator upon this floor.
Mr.. Bacon: Mr. President, l do not arise
with view of expressing myself upon the
dement's of this bill. | have fully stated
them heretofore. do not wish to impugn
the private or personal character of the
Mayor of this city. He is a gentleman
whom l have long known, and have for
him the highest respect. l believe him
to have honest intentions, but l am un-
willing to place in his hands such power
as this bill gives him. | am unwilling
to see the city of New Orleans taxed to
pay in gold with interest far notes which
are worth only sixty cents on the dollar, not
merely to pay them in full at that rate, but
to allow the bonds of the city to be paid in
god, to be sold at discount of twenty per
cent, in order to meet the interest. The
bill which was proposed in the Senate at
hrst, and which, to my surprise, was with
drawn by the Senator in whose hands it was
confded in order that this one might be in.
troduced, and come down here. That bill
was air and right, and provided that the
bonds of the city of New Orleans bearing
eight per cent. interest in currency should
be given in exchange for these city notes at
par, with no cost of financial agent and no
discount upon these bonds to 60 into the
hands of the holders ofthese notes.
Sir, when that bill was first proposed in
this Senate, Senator who was not interest
ed in New Orleans, who had no business or
employment in New Orleans, paid no taxes
in New Orleans, and do not know whether
he pays taxes anywhere, moved that New
Orleans bonds might be at so cents on the
dollar, and moved to strike out the clause
which the House had put in that the person
who sold these bonds should be appointed
by the Mayor by and Nth The dduice and
consent Of the Board Of Aldermen, and when,
sir, We had placed in the bill clause pro-
Viding that in a short time these notes
should be brought in and exchanged for
bonds, and for the taxes collected in United
States currency-so that by it what was
due by the city to its employees might be
paid in such bonds as they could use-this
clause was stricken out and in that shape
1t was sent to the House.
Now, sir, what has been the motive for
this extraordinary action? l will not say.
| have but one opinion, sir, in my own
mind, whether express 1t or not. But, sir,
| desire to say on this last day of the SEES.
sion Of the General Assembly of 1868 that
do not charge this dishonesty solely upon
| say, Mr.. President, that
the Republicans of this State are not alone
tainted with dishonesty. say so as Demo
cratic Senator, representing a Democratic
district of this State. Sir, 1t is as dishonest
to offer bride as to receive one, and it is
as dishonest for Democrat to receive
bride as for Republican.
Mr.. President, some time ago when an.
other bill had been passed through this
Senate and through the other House, of
which every one is ashamed, / offered
resolution here touching that and other
things, in which asked an investigation
into the subject. But, sir, it was showed
out of the way, and was never permitted to
come up again. Now, sir do not wish to
speak at length upon this bill; but wish to
say that if dishonesty is to be charged upon
the General Assembly of 1858, /, for one,
shall not charge it to the Republican party
alone.
Mr.. O'Hara Mr.. President, do not wish
to speak of the merits of this bill, but to
throw as much light as ] can upon this
great bombshell or frebrand that has been
thrown into our midst by the Senator from
Carroll. ] am as well satisfied, sir as a
man can be, that the man who reported it
knows nothing about it. Fifteen minutes
before l came in the gentleman who present.
ed that note to Mr.: Lynch came and begged |
me to sustain the Governors veto He said |
nothing to me then about any such note,
aud the reason think the note came from |
George W. Nader, is that saw him pass up
the aisle with it in his hand. Fhe next |
the note was exhibited by Mr., |
Lynch, proposing TO payaS2OOO to a Senator |
for sustaining the bill. Now, | ask any |
Senator who knows Geo. Nader, what is the |
amount of his influence in this body, |
he could influence the tenth part OF |