The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1868-10-07

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, STATE OF lOrIsrfs!f
New Orleans, September Is, l551 |
To the Honorable Speaker and Members CT the Ea4
OF Representatives.
return to the House Of Representatives On Acta
Protect all Persons in their Public and Civil tights
without signature, for the following reasons tag
The rights and privileges enumerated in The hrstsr.
ton OF this bill and sought to be enforced thereby a.
fully and explicitly recognised and established in l..
constitution of the State. Even a foreigner not cI
ZEN has the right to travel and ia be enertain
a. a citizen, and there is nothing in cur iurispru1ca
which makes distinctions on account of race or co,
except IN so far as relates to slavery. The orgaute
OF the land gives to 'all per sons perfect equality
civil and political rights, including the privilege ofe7
forcing these rights in the courts and employing af
legal remedies which have heretofore been found re
site to secure their rights to all persons the ness
however, proposed in the fourth section of the blhf
enforcing these rights are in my Judgment not merer
novel and unprecedented, but inprac;icablo and pei.
nicious. 1t seeks to make that crime which basp9y
to my knowledge been 50 considered in those comma
mites where the highest regard is paid to the Deraga
rights of all men
There is, and always ought to be, broad line otIe
maFcatIon fixed between crime and tic breach oto}
llgatlons growing ont of civil contracts and degU
aIlse the public conscience aud confuse its conception
OF right and wrong when VIC seek TO obliterate
Gent Il distinction. Our statute book is filled aIrNf
with criminal laws that are never enforced and nvd
VIII be- until public opinion rises to their respeay8
levels The history of the world is full Of e1ampes&
this sort, when acts in themselves crImiRaIbEt
been Falniv declared so, and in this way LEVITT d
feeling in regard to real crimes produced we rea2a
INTO the Legislation of less enlightened period When
We try to convert an act which Is properly question
OF civil damages into clcnse against tie peaceaa
dignity OF the State. And it ought to be careful!
borne III mind that we cannot hope by Legislation TO
control questions OF personal association; much tS
can we hope to force on those who differ from HoH I
views OF what IS humane, courteous, OF Chrslm
IKE Mutual forbearancc and Kindness and the n75h
bellef III the brotherhood of man. mist spring i1Hs
higher source than the fear of punishment They Cd
never be forced to grow by pains and penalties.
Again. SO far as railroads and steamboats, are NS
ccrned, 1t must be borne in mind thai the regulators
commerce between the several States was WlseT"H i
hdcd, under the Constitution Of the United STATES
the national Congress. The OBJ ect OF ms gran
power was clearly to prevent the confusion which FIa
ARISE from conflicting legislation on such 5n6jec:
the different contiguous States; and the wisdom o@'
provision appears more clearly every day rs tile 1@
OF transportation are increased and improved: D. Nv
second and third sections Of this act, 10 lStRe"1'
clearly made between railroads and steamboats, ""~
routes are wholly within this state, and those H"S'
routes are beyond. OF course, our criminal usr-
ton cannot 60 beyond our State lines and In 'hAH
spect the act seems nrohtic and liable to produce W.
necessary confusion and litigation. For eXPel'I"
Legislation of ills kind, for which the sanction Ut
successful precedent can BE- asluced a more unIa'o
Bile occasion than the present, coHId hardly oT T~
gjned In the midst Ola most exciting poLfc"IST
pa@n at time when the passions, H2i1os" e., nt
sentiments consequent upon great "g', ~" d, .
upon great and sudden changes III 9""'S' "I' r.
40 LIe highest pltcl OF lHIt'HN 'tA " ''~ '~
dices re cardnr race are il famed to tie uth'o't+
here proposed to enforce by penal Fe'neUe9 " Ir
practically class legislation, and to 'Nain'I
hrm class dlStlnCIonS. lHc cHte', III ny r,rag
such act would be to defeat rather tiah I" g'SSf
the ends apparently had in view by the aVao. =,
bill. The BARRIERS of race, instead d benny 5
moved would be increased in height ana ofea9,' "A
hrnneSS and strength. 50 long as liie ' nfrsq9
maintaiued, so long win be deferred the e'& ~t .
order aud prosperity in the State, to Whch TItBs
Inony and good will are essential, and 50 io"s Lillian
rights of the lately entranch5ed lnSer II XIV o wba
of doubt and insecurity. The preudcrS UPoa a;~ rs
these barriers founded have no iouh4a'oal %sag:
son or nature and will surely give way 10 t'4 fF4
influences Of time, unless they are c"n>5'''' LrJb
into activity. In the meantime, any person tnrap y
well as white Is equally secured b{ tne 9n3 inbt
the enjoyment of political and civil rights oa
remedy Tor their Infringement In" to"@1iona. sat
to all alike, and the rule obtains N h ~. 81
State Courts. The Judges Of the state N.' nroa
their officers are amenable to and depeudena 'f rs
citizens alike. C00red and white aIli" cons ssia-
Those of the lately enfranChlset who arc vs." Vs.. b9-
icctlug will not ask for more They WI "jaags
cate kind of legislation which, Instead u r|emig,#
heir present condition. only renders the s%h 1.G.
heir race more bitter and determined III "(1I It
ty, and furnishes them weapons WHEREBY w. selaant
lights which the colored men have aFei"! 5a-i T
IN returning this bill withontmy sgnaIaLs'I otrs
necessary for me TO say that am tSs nsrN9
les in MY province and power to enforce wreIasG
tltution as it exists; such is my desire a. be- ia
luty. But when find the act in question a5 tyr&
Jest Judgment, unnecessary and IN" Sc Isoorgise x
easons have stated, calculated 10 . de"Or ~.@n
ublc conscience, and Intensity dlatne '"' rrcwt
ureiy yield to the power of time, ana , ~; N#
more catholic views of personal relaSo D,nD
ONES no less clearly my duty to decline " u ,TToqa
Governor Of Los'"'
De Soro PAREsrt-The Mansfield l!H''
ast, publishes the following: .asl Cl2S !
We learn from a friend that Dr. LOU rnsc iac2
harIes Provost at some point in Ttxhs ho' Id bs
rvate revenge for ProVosts oondact SD" neopoa'
ere citizens of this parish, with "hIen oo ;1e I@A
miliar, is said to have prompted tHe h0'''