The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-07-21
STATE LEGISLATURE.
NINETEENTH DAY.
Senate.
MONDAY, July 20, 1868.


bers pTesent-no quorum.
The sergeant alarms was instructed to bring IN
absent members.
A few minutes having elapsed, the roll was
called a second time, when twenty sepators-a
quorum-answered TO their names.
Prayer by Rev. Mr.. Fisk.
Mr.. Lynch commenced reading memorial from
citizens Of Franklin and other parishes, which had
been before the Senate in executive session Sat-
urday.
Mr.. Baur, in the opinion that the injunction of
secrecy on the proceedings of Saturday had not
been removed, moved that said injunction De now
removed. Carried.
The secretary then read a communication from
the governor, calling for the establishment OF
nstatuaTy force in Western Louisiana Tor the
purpose of suppressng laWlessness now prevail
ing in that ction and also sugges log the necessity
| Cf calling Oh Gen. Buchanan for military force
| to assist in speedily suppressing the numerous
murders being committed daily.
The message incloses the memorial spoken OF
| by Mr.. Lynch, which is from citizens of Franklin
| and adjoining parishes and 10 the same effect as
| the governors communication.
A resolution was then offered by Mr.. Lynch re-
questing Gen. Buchanan, in accordance with arti-
Gle section 4, of the Constitution OF the United
States 10 Immediately send an armed force TO
assist the civil authorities ia re-esabiishng law
| and order in the section Of the state named.
Mr. Blackman moved TO refer to the judiciary
committee.
Mr.. Bacon could not second the motion.
Mr.. Todd moved to lay on the table.
| Mr.. Lynch SAID mat IN view OF lhe eAlgenCy Oh
the case be had presumed to report the bill as
| from the judiciary committee.
| The clerk of the House announced concurrence
in bill TO transfer TO courts under the Con-
stitution of lS6s, and asked concurrence in House
| bill No. 20.
The debate on Mr.. Lynch's resolution was then
| resumed.
| MIR. Jewell arose to a point of order. The mat
! ter having been referred in executive session,
| should be reported in executive session.
| MIR. Lynch said that il might be little out OF
| order TO introduce the bill at present, but he
| thought that it was the unanimous wish of the
Senate that il should be acted upon Immediately.
| Mr.. BlackmaD withdrew his motion to refer, as
being out Of order.
Mr.. Bacon said that his only wish was to pro-
| coed in order.
Mr. Ray called for the engrossment of the bill
| for third reading.
Mr.. Bacon now objected to the bill on account
OF the political character Of its wording. He
would go far as any man to secure the nights OF
all, without regard to race, color or political COM
pie xOD, but be was unwilling to throw any stigma
| on the people. As a senator be knew neither black
! nor white Democrats nor Republicans, and did Hot
denounce either in his official capacity he lad
! previously expressed himself so fully on the sub
iect that il was useless for him to repeat his Opn
| ions he was aware that there was great disorder
in the minds of men, but the men who were COM
| hitting depredatiOns were doing so from personal
| and not for party interest.
The same thing has always existed, he said and
/ alluded TO the MCderatoTs, Regulators and other
bands, who disregarded law in Kansas, Missouri
| and California. AlthOul h he was willing to vote
to repress lawlessness and to secure the rights
of ali men it was improper for him to vote THAT
this protection should be given only to men Of one
/ political complexion.
Mr. J. B. Lewis said that it was well known that
blood was flowing in the country parishes. 1t was
known that bands of reckless men were killing
Union men and were c0untenanced.
Mr. Bacon moved to amend the preamble, in
souuch as it refers to loyal men.
! Mr. Blackman seconded the motion and asked :
Who are loyal men? We are all loyal.
MI. Lynch wish we were.
Mr.. Backmsn wished to know whether the
gentleman expected civil cOmmOtion in this
State because band OF despersdoes were roVlng
in the northern part Of the State. The gentleman
cannot answer. The citizens Of this State were
all loyal. The day has passed to establish diff
ferences of loyalty and UniOnism.
| Mr.. Lynch-lf all men in this city are loyal,
then | ask for protection for loyal men. The men
who signed the memorial were the peers and SUI
IeIiors Of any one in Il Is assembly, and the mem
oria should be respected. He wished to invoke
The military power 10 put down the assassnstions
of URion men. Explain it as you please, those
men who are being assassinated have always been
| LOYAL men, and those who oppose the preamble
are those who have attempted to overturn the
government.
MIR. b, l.. Jewell-Sir, the word "lovsl," as il
is understood nowadays, is not loyal to the
United States government or the State OF Louisi
ana. Loyal" now means loyal to the Repub
|
former predictions is called rebel. Mr.. Jewell
referred to the outTsges perpetrated on white
men by negroes and radicals. 70 call the militia
rvs assistance would but perpetuate the turn )i
which has too long existed. Mr.. Jewell opposed
the resolution, but would vote for it when the
proper time came, when he would explain his
reasons for so doing. He simply wished at pres
ent to explain his understanding of the wore
: loyal
Mr.. Ray-The memorial was signed by mos
respectable citizens, who testified TO innumerabl'
| inhUmsn murders. The State was but recently
returned into the Union, and the legislature haC
E not yet had time to provide for the Profession o.
| this unfortunate class OF people. The governor
I had very properly communicated the memorial
| The senators who opposed the resolution wer
! defending the despeTadOes. The word loyal wa
l properly included In the preamble, as these out
7 | RACES were perperated only against loyal men
men who had always been loyal and never rebels
Mr.. Blackman arose 10 a point OF order. Tn
3 question before the Senate was the amendment
r and Mr.. Ray was making personal reflections.
Mr.. Ray would confne himself to the subjec
before the Senate, if he could.
: Mr.. Bacon said that Saturday last, in the e1
| ecutiye session, he had declared himself, and b
q | now repeated what he had said, ready to defen
all classes of oppressed people but he was OF
po,ed to calling in he ass stance OF the military
: Mr. Rsy-I am too old lawyer not TO kno
, that these little bubbles and motions are intr,
duced to stave of the question. / won't charg
r anything upon the dislOyal people OF this Stat
n | have no reasons to do so. l know tnat there
band OF desperadOes Who perpetrat these del
! redaticus and commit these murders upon 10y
o men. ] will not discuss any question from poi
n teal stand point. ! have resolved not to do so.
Mr.. Blackman had given his reasons for oppo
q ing the words loyal" and Union" But
: hoped that the gentleman did not believe VIII
/, he had said when he stated that he, Mr.. Blac
man, defended lswlessness and assassination. b
, cause he opposed the preamble. IL was very IN
2 proper that bis motives should be questioned, b
\ caused be INDUCED in the right which he had as
senator, to express his opinions on the Dreambl
He had as much interest at stake in this State
the gentleman he opposed assassination and de
D | relation.
He also opposed the proposition of sending Il
military sll over the State. We have just emerge
re from military rule. He thought that the civil a
L thority could redress the wrongs. When
D would be satisfied that the parish Of Franklin W
% in a state OF cog motion and revolution then
Is would yOte for a resolution calling on the mi
o. tsry but not until it was ascertained that the ci
n authorities cannot suppress lawlessness.
lie We see in the legislature a large majority