The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1868-08-12
The Famous Printing Bill.


city. and elected such universal condem-
nation, that We are led to publish in full
the speech Of the Hon. E. L. Jewell, in OPP
positien to its adoption by the Senate:
Mr.. President, recollect in MY classical
readings to have observed that in the DAYS
of the decline of the Roman Empire her
legislators, seemingly conscious of the i'm
nending doom of the country, devoted
themselves to species Bipartisan and spe-
cial legislation, that was not only repre-
hensible but, in fact, precipitated the fall
They seemed to have ignored the general
interests of the country entirely, in their
headlong course and reckless strife for
gain. am sorry to say it, but a species of
legislation has been inaugurated by this
Legislature so far which corresponds to
that which have referred to. 1t seems to
be the object of the dominant party to OBJ
tain all the power-supreme control-not
only that which is usual when q party is
in the ascendant, but they go beyond any
precedent known to this or any other
country. As politician, know and am
perfectly willing to concede it. that the of
fetal patronage of the government should
be given to the friends and supporters of
the party in power-in other words, to
make use of the language of the Senator
from Carroll, (NIr. Lynch "to the victors
belong the spells I"
MR.. LYNCH-So far as the spoils are ie-
Ultimate.
Mr. JEwELL-Very well, that is just
what am coming to. j sayll am perfect
ly willing to accord that privilege, but /
will show that you claim more than is le-
climate.
am aware that number of the char
ges specified in this bill are excessive
greater than those known under any pre-
vious laws of this or any other State.
They are based upon the act of the Legis-
lature of 1864, and at the time of the pas
sage of that act the greatest Indignation
prevailed on account of the exorbitant
charges allowed. But sir, we must recol-
lect that when this printing was done in
1864, gold was ranging from 274 to 300, and
therefore the charges as compared with
those ID the act of 1866 were not SO exorbi-
tant as they at first seemed. But now.
with gold at 40, the same bill is taken up,
and, instead of decreasing the charges in
order to bring them in proportion to that
of gold they have been increased some ten
or fifteen per cent. But, rs said before,
am willing to allow even these charges,
in view of the absolute and imperative
necessity which seems to exist of giving
this patronage to the Republican organ,
the future existence of which actually de-
ponds upon this Government pap"
But, sir, when I sec that all grounds of
propriety are transgressed, and that it is
sought not only to establish one organ in
the State of Louisiana, but to establish fif-
ty Republican papers, and perhaps seven
ty-fve-in fact the number is without Inn
it-and that, too, regardless of all respon-
sibility or restraint, l am most emphatical-
ly opposed to it.
Sections ID and Is of this act read:
Sec. IA. BE ii farttsr enacted, That the
Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Speak
er of the House of Representatives, or a
majority of them, may also select and con-
tract with such other papers in the parish
of Orleans as they may deem proper and
necessary to publish either the laws of the
State or the journals of the General Assem-
bly,, or both, at such rates as are provided
fer this act.
SEC. Is. That in any of the parishes Of
this State, other than the phrish of Or
leans, the Governor, Lieut.. Governor and
Speaker, etc, or a majority of them, may
also select and contract with journals pub
lished in such parishes, to publish either
the laws of the State or the journals of the
General Assembly, or both, as may be
deemed necessary and proper, and also be
tillllONcIcu To beSi CerU.lln JOURNALS
to perform and publish the parochial and
parishes respectively in which such jour
mails may be published. Such selection
and contract shall be for the same period
prescribed by the second section of this
act Each paper so contracted with shall
be the official Journal of the parish where
in it shall be published, and all parochiaI
and judicial printing and advertising for
or in said parish shall be done by and pub
1ished in said journal, and after such selec-
lion and contract, and notice thereof to
the Jolice Jury Clerk of Court and Sheriff
of said parish, every publication and adj
vertisement in any other paper than the
one so selected shall during the term of
selection and contract, be null and void
for any legal purpose.
Now, sir, it is left to tho discretion of
this triumyirate to nominate as many pa
pers as they may sec proper, besides the
regular State paper Section Is positively
directs this triumyirate TO select and con-
tract with the journals published in such
parishes for all the judicial advertising
Now, instead of five hundred thousand
dollars a year, the price which it has been
computed this bill will cost the State,
have, as practical printer, made the call
culation-and defy my arguments to be
refuted-that for each one of the forty
eight OF forty-nine other papers to be Sc
lected, it will cost ten thousand dollars
more to do the printing which this trinm-
Firate is authorized to contract for. This
will make grand total of one million dol
lars per annum, and to pay for what
The printing of this Legislature No, sir!
Oae million dollars taken out of the treasu-
~ of the State to support the organs of
the Radical party, and drive out Of every
parish in the State every Conservative and
every Democratic paper now published
there
With this immense monopoly thrown in
to the hands of these papers, forcing into
their columns all of the judicial and paro-
chial advertising, ask what becomes of
other papers on which hundreds of persons
and families are now dependent for their
living? They are Immediately broken up
And how will the men feel whose business
is thus destroyed? They will have very nm
kindly feelings towards the party which
thus destroys their business. 1t will be a
great inducements, will it not, for these
men in the future to go forward shoulder
to shoulder and hand in hand to deposit
their votes in support of the candidates of
the Republican party2 Do Senators think
such legislation is at all calculated to sof-
ten the hearts and win over the support of
those whom l represent ? Is it likely to
produce harmony and remove those preiu
dces that naturally exist against strangers
and new corners in our midst 2 l appeal
to Senators upon this floor, and ask if they