New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-09-28


iuit on this subject that he would burst "
II he did not say something,
he SAID that IL rested as much with the
Governor to execute the laws and the Con-
stitutioH Is 1t was for him to obey them, and
that the Governor must remember that the
constitution gave this House the power to
impeach him, and in the power of the Sen
ate to remove him from office. Let him be-
ware how he acts.
He did not think the Governor was
actuated BY any sense of duty or friendship
IN sending in such message. 1t was his
opinion that the Governor was scared and
getting weak,kneed. If this bill brought
conflict, let the conflict come. The black
man was ready for 1t. This day parts the
Governor from the Radical party.
He said he had been deceived; that there
was truth in much that Democrats said
about carpet.baggers, of whom Warmoth
is one. He said eighteen months ago he
was told that Wsrmoth would do this very
thing and to-day he sees the fulillment of
the prediction.
Mr. Noble, of Orleans, said:
Mr.. Speaker: hope that i'll the considera.
tion of this message all partisan feelings will
elaid aside, and the question therein in.
yolved, calmly and dispassionately con-
sidered.
If the colored man has rights, other citi-
Zens also have rights. This bill provides
that if the owners of certain kinds of prop
erty will not sell 1t TO all men who ask for
it, he shall pay fine Of $500 or be impris-
oned year in the penitentiary. Now, sir,
to show what widespread may say
worldwide interest there is in this question
lin what is called the social equality bill,
will mention the fact that tile very day it
was introduced by Mr., Isabelle it was pub
lished, or the essential features of it, in the
streets of New York, OF London and all
over the world they were made aware that
such a bill had been introduced. Wherever
the different races of men live together,
wherever the sun shines, the rights of
property must be respected. II they are
not, the very instant this barrier is broken
down, you might as well pass a law to APP
propriate the money that is in my
pocket to any man that comes along
without asking my consent. The prop
erty is mine, whether it be drug
shop, or a steamboat, or a railway car. it is
my right to administer it as ! choose. Why
is it, do you suppose, that property owners
are sensitive upon this point? Because
their customers-the class of patronage
upon which they live depends upon these
re9ulatlons-upon the recognition of their
right to deal with whom they choose. AS
stated on the day this bill was passed, it is a
question that entirely concerns the proper
ty holders. 1t is not question whether
you are taking away any of the rights of the
colored man; that Is not the point. 1t is
whether you will take away the rights OF
property. You are infringing upon right
dear to every man that breathes the breath
of life. Unless this right of proper.
ty and the right of its disposition isrespect-
ed, governments must fail; there lies one 0 f
the very corner stones of our liberties; and
as for Furnishing man because he locks the
d or on is own property or opens it, it is a
false principal aud one that can not stand.
Equally well might you attempt to force
every man to worship God in particular
way. It's not public or civil right that
is here concerned, it is a social right aud is
as sacred as a religious right. | know, sir,
and / accord fully and freely all that has
been said of the conduct of the colored
man. No other race on the earth has
risen so suddenly from slavery to freedom
and conducted themselves so WELL They
have been temperate and moderate beyond
what could have been expected, but, sir,
must resist to the latest hour1of my life
what can not but consider all encroach.
ment upon .he rights of property.
There lies the question. No man,
white or black, has the right to go into
another house, be that house dram shop
or a strictly private dwelling, without the
consent OF the proprietors OF that house.
an army of hundred Thousand men could
not enforce that bill | can acknowledge
duu appreciate tIle lcPltUS III LQe ntdILS Oh
the colored men-I can respect it; but | say
that this is going too far--it is q step beyond
what they shoaid ask. 1t gives the right to
go into the property of the holder, whether
he wills it or not. 1t is not to deprive the
colored man of any right that would vote
to sustain that veto, but because this act is
in contrayention of all law and of natural
right, and furthermore, it is entirely nm
necessary. Looking beyond the able reasons
of the Governor for his veto, l can sec
nothing but trouble that will ensue
for, with the whole power of the State
thrown to the execution of this one
law, it could not be done. / say
that this matter is only to, be rene
died By education, by time, | say that it /:
too soon to demand such rights as that bin
would confer. And after all, what does il
amount to? Do you find that Mr.. Bottero
who keeps dram shop hard BY and admits
every one to his couBter-do you find that
he is interfered with? This is his own ar
rangement-it is not the Legislature thai
steps il and says, "you shall sell liquor with
out regard to who buys it, or shut up your
house, This is perfectly right but give to
every man the right to say who shall or who
shall not enter his DOORS Then, again, as q
matter ofreyenue, we cannot afford to turn
away the millions that come into the trea.
sury from licenses, as we should do by pass
ing this act over the veto of the Governor,
Who, believe, has really done more good for
his party by Withholding his signature,
than he would have done by Signing it.
Now, sir, no such Law has been introduced
in those States of the North even where
they are entirely Republican. Why is it !.
Because they see plainly enough this is a
social and religious right which we can not
confer on any body. 1t is question which
must be left with the owners only. 1t is a
useless piece OF machinery which is abso.
lutely unnecessary unless it can be proved
that colored men in this State have suffered
from owners of property. There never was
a subject in this State on which the public
mind has been so intensely excited as this.
You do not know it in its height and depth
but do and regret it. Bat to pass this
act over the Governors veto would moi
diminish this excitement. 1t could
have no possible. good effect on the
idea that this people here that they have
the right-the colored people mean. 1t is
my position that they have no right over
the property Of any man without his con
sent. This is the gist of the whole matter.
Allusion hes been made TO the black code.
This is perfectly frivolous. There is no black
code in existence now, and everybody knows
that. Did the people of Louisiana make
any RESISTANCE to Reconstruction in any man
ner, in general way? Was there any re-
bellion whatever against the reconstruction
laws No. there was no resistance. They
conferred the right Of voting and of freedom
on the colored man.. But can | say
there will be no resistance. against
the opefation of this law? II is
sensation have when I think of the
horrible effects which will result from 1t.
When Think Of the excitement which even
now stirs the blood in every mans veins at
the very idea Of its passage, what can say
of what the excitement will be after il has
passed Sir, never deal in formalities. /
treat every man, SO long as I re-
main upon this floor. as the equal Of