New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-07-19


with my own. The gentleman from the sec
ond district has spoken OF the Importance of
fully representing his constituents, and yet,
sir, conscientously believe they neither eX-
pected nor desired the introduction of such
resolution as that which is now before this
House. His object, sir, in making solemn
VOW to take steps when the time came that
would place him in an official position to
vindicate the rights Of those he represents
was praiseworthy, noble, and manly; but in
carrying out that vow he should ask himself
first whether he can by such means benefit
the dead, and second whether he will bene-
fit the living. | believe, sir, this resolution
would accomplish neither purpose; it could
not benefit those who had departed, nor do
] believe it could benefit those who survive,
1t would only stir up q sore which now is
healed and almost forgotten. He has said
that something should be done to mark the
graves of those who fell on the thirtieth of
July; that they silently fell, and their
deeds have been forgotten.
In the next breath he informs you that
their death was heralded from the Gulf to
the Lakes, and that it stirred up the.people
of the North and the West to such an extent
as has resulted in his elevation to official
place. What, then, becomes Of his own
argument? As Senator Lynch, as the gem
tleman himself has said, in opposition to
his own argument these people did not
silently fall and become forgotten. Joint
Committee from the Congress of the United
States came here, and after protracted
session made full and explicit report
believe, sir that the people of New Or
leans, as a class, deprecated the occurren-
ces of that day, and were Mortified at its
results. l believe, sir, that the majority Of
the people of this city, on that day, were
DESTROYS of preserving the peace, and
would have done so, had they been able
to control its events. And l believe,
sir, that the people of New Orleans to-day
desire nothing but peace. They desire to
have eradicated aud removed everything
which tends to stir up bad blood and hot
blood and believe, sir, that the people Of
New Orleans as class deprecate the efforts
of the gentleman to continually slip up
these almost forgotten troubles and sores.
l believe that the gentleman's course is cal.
floor OF this Senate, and that the majority
of the people Of New Orleans will so recog-
nize him if he does not desist from the
course which he has initiated. l was glad,
sir, that the first resolution was disposed OF
in the manner it was. | think that all such
resolutions should be laid upon the table,
never to be heard Of again, here or else.
where. / therefore, move, sir, that the
whole subject be laid upon the table.
Mr.. Ray-The subject now under discus.
| sion would seem to justify an explanation.
think, Mr.. President, that all our pro-
ceedings here should be with a view to
some practical purpose-to accomplish
some object necessary for the welfare of the
| people Of the State. am not in the habit
of voting for any resolution or any bill that
do not think has a practical object in
view-to attain something that is desirable
| for the peace and prosperity of the coun-
try. In this resolution do not recognize
anything of that kind, for l see no practical
| good that is to result from it. 1t is to as
tot, I,
victims of that unfortunate affair, and to
mark their graves-something of that kind.
Now Mr.. President, l can see nothing good
| whatever which can result from an investi
CATION of that massacre. 1t may have the
effect, however, of stirring up i'll blood, and
| producing something like the same kind Of
| a riot again.
But, sir, if there were murders committed
on the same day which have gone unpun.
ished, there is tribunal before which all
/ such matters can be brought-and that il
the First District Court of New Orleans
That Court is for the purpose of trying all
| criminal cases Of that kind. Now, / dom
doubt at all the Senator's statement, that
| he was present here and saw those murders
committed, But let him go before the
Grand Jury and have those men indicted
that violated the laws of the State. Let
the m be indicted; with the evidence that
can be brought there, and impartial iuries
these men can not only be Indicted and
brought to trial, but convicted and pun
| ished now.
l say, then, there is a proper tribuna
| before which this matter can be brought
| II is not for the Senate or House of Repre-
sentatives of the State. 1 deprecate al
| much as any man those outrsges, the great
! est perhaps, ever perpetrated in this or any
other country. But the matter has beer
given every investigation necessary to pre-
flp rnPOrd nf fhnep Tba "a
are all set forth in the report of the Con
gressional Investigating Committee and
any one who desires to be informed upon
the matter has but to examine that volu-
minOus report. ! say no man can deprecate
more sincerely than l do the conduct Of
that riot, when men were murdered with
out rhyme or reason, and those acts ought
to be punished. And if the parties who
bring the matter before this Senate
would go to the proper tribunal, and
it required any legislative aid to accomplish
that purpose, | would not be behind any
man in supporting such measures as were
necessary to punish the guilty parties. The
witnesses are innumerable; the court is
open. Then why not go before it? This is
not the proper tribunal. am not in favor
of any resolution that is merely speculative.
But if legislation is necessary to have the
matter properly brought before the criminal
courts OF the city, no one will vote for IL
sooner than myself.
In regard to what the Senator from the
Second District regards his duty to those
Republicans who elected him, did not
come here for any such purpose, but to pass
such laws as will advance the peace and
prosperity of the State-not to open wounds
that are almost healed, and to bring about
another riot.
With these few remarks, Mr.. President, l
shall deem 1t my duty to vote against the
resolution.
Mr.. Blackman-Mr. President: l did not
desire to say one word upon this resolution.
1t was not my intention to aid in proIong-
ing a discussion which il seems to me Is
made more for political purposes than anv
other. The gentleman has introduced the
resolution more, / believe, for his own
political convenience than ANYTHING else,
and so far he has accomplished what he in.
tended by it. He says it is time this Legis-
lature should pass such laws as will pre-
| vent murders in future, that the citizens OF
| Louisiana may not be massacred and her
laws violated. Does the gentleman expect
| by this resolution to stop laWlessness and
crime, or that it will have the least effect
upon the people OF Louisiana? No, sir, as
| have said, this is nothing more nor less
than bill for political effect, But. Sir, i
speak 1t in all candor and honesty, the day
will come when such appeals as have been
made by the gentleman upon this floor will
cease to have an influence; when
feelings of animosity can no longer be
aroused by reckless appeals to the bloody
passions OF men, to feelings of malice and
vindictiveness. II may win for the moment,
but the calm sober second thought of the
people Of the State of Louisiana will re-
verse and annul the momentary effect OF
such appeals. The day will come when they
will not be listened to from any part of the
House. -