New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-10-22

of the Southern leaders l would not have
had the right to represent district in this
Senate to-day. It was because they would
not, in the first instance, accept the situa.
tion, the constitutional amendment, etc.,
down through the whole catalogue of
reconstruction, which finally culmin-
ated in the franchise being given to
the colored race, were passed. l say that
l am, to that extent, benefited by their
actions; but while | am benefited, | will
tell them, when they speak with SO much
bitterness of oppression, they need not
charge it to the Republican party, but lay it
at the doors of their own leaders. When
the Confederate armies laid down their
arms and returned to their homes think it
was under the agreement that they were
simply paroled, and in their parole they
agreed to abide by the law, and to keep the
peace in the several States. Now, sir, in
how many cases have they done so How
do they put down riot, especially lift hap.
pens to have any colored people in it?
They first take away their arms, and then
shoot them down by the hundreds. That
does not seem to be very peaceable and law
abiding. If the reports in the New Orleans
Times, and other Democratic papers that |
might name, are correct,i they put down
riots by killing the innocent and unotfending
colored people in the parishes, an sorry,
sir, that this state of affairs exists. | can
will increase the bitterness between the two
races but if by the appointment of these
constables the peace can be preserved, and
people of all shades and classes protected,
shall most assuredly support the bill 1t
was because | wanted to hear the bill dis
cussed, in order to hear a correct Judgment
upon it, that asked to have it brough- up
this morning.
Mr.. President, when it is said that the
governor would appoint partisans under this
bill, and that these partisaus will select
others in order to carry out their political
ends, may respond by saying that in the
parishes where they have Republican sheriffs
those sheritfs will, under the same principle,
call out Republicans or partisans, and thus
we shall have partisan Organizations of an
other kind. So do not think that argu.
ment holds good against this measure, and
unless some better argument is adduced
am afraid | shall be forced to support it. It
is lame argument against the bill, if what
these gentlemen tell US be true, that organi-
zations are being perfected and will have
the effect to prevent the execution of this
law, and that they are determined to pro-
tect themselves-that is to say, ii the Demo.
cratic party propose to disregard the laws
and take things into their own hands, the
sooner it is shown to the nation the better,
And II there was no other motive to induce
me to support this measure, | think that
would claim my consideration. had not
believed, and do not now believe, that the
people of this State, as a general thing,
who belong to the Democratic party, pro-
pose to act in this manner. | think, sir,
that they intend to bide their time, and,
by discussion of these questions on the
stump before the people, to overcome the
Republican majority in the Legislature
which makes laws which are obnoxious to
them; ] think, sir, that is the only proper,
constitutional and legal way that we can
get rid of bad laws. If the Democratic uarty
proposes to resist them by armed force, then
we will indeed be in condition of strife
and bloodshed. But l can not believe, sir,
that we are in such state of force in this
great State; can not believe that the De-
moCrauc party as it has been stated on
this floor by some of its members, will
do any such thing. l do not believe
the great body of the people would
many men H. the party who will advocate
such conduct But believe a great part of
the people Will check at once any such
monstrous doctrine. There is no man in
the State of Louisiana or under the sun
who would 90 farther, or make greater sacri.
fees sthan | to restore confidence, har-
mony and peace And desire that result
so much that | am willing to make any
compromise that will effect it. Yet, sir /
shall be driven by these threats to vote tor
the passage OF this measure, and propose to
cast my vote, having in consideration, all
the time, | hope, the best interests of the
people For these reasons l shall favor the
adoption OF TINS Dill unless some stronger
argument can be brought against it.
Mr.. Autoine: Mr.. President in response
to the learned Senator from the First Dis,
trict, would say that ! am not unmindful
that the minority has rights which the
majority is bound to respect. The dominant
party, which just now happens to be the
Republican party, should not be unjust or
oppressive in the exercise of its power.
But the gentleman has referred to peace and
tranquility in the country, and said that the
people have accepted the situation in good
faith; but the majority OF the people in
Northwest Louisiana say they were never
conquered, and have not vet surrendered
do not say that the wealthy or most re.
spectacle portion Of them say so, but those
who lave made these assertions and believe
them are largely IN the majority, and others
who say they desire peace give COuntenance
to these things by taking no steps to pre-
vent them. The gentleman has stated that
1t Will cause counter organization. Since
the adoption of this Constitution, in the
majority Of tie parishes, aud especially
in the northern portion of the State, there
have existed organizations gotten up for the
express purpose of int:midating ReDubli-
CANS VI lLLdL SCCllOA Oi lle country. ana 40
not believe the organization which the
gentleman supposes will result from the
passage Of this bill can be any stronger than
it is. man in st. Mary parish was mur-
dered not Il very long time ago for no
greater crime than that he was Republic
can. His murderer is now at large and the
sheriff of that parish has disappeared mys-
teriously. Now, if the people wish peace
and tranquility, why do they not bring
these criminals TO justice? / nave no wish
to help to enact obnoxious or proscriptive
measures. II cast my vote for any meas
ure it would be tor the people of the State at
large, irrespective of color. But the gentle
man in his remarks seems to have confined
himself very closely to the question Of race.
throughout the State you will find that
there are one hundred negroes murdered
to one white man. Now, is it natural to
suppose the negro is so cowardly as
to stand up and be shot down like sheep
without resenting it? There are men who
affiliate secretly with these organizations of
rutlians, pretending that they want peace
and tranquility, and under that pretense
they go to the colored men and tell them to
lay down their arms, and the moment they
get the confidence of those people they fall
upon them and slaughter them. If the dis.
tinguished Senator will devise some means
by which we can have peace and tranquility
through the State, without passing stril gent
laws, such as this, it will have my support.
When it was proposed in the beginning of
the session that we should have a militia, it
was called an obnoxious measure, and il was
said the people would resist it. And even
among prominent Republicans it was thought
to be Unconstitutional so the bill was not
urged, and this bill was brought up by
member of the House as
and has been lying here for many
-a1I-a ! Al.
evident for some such measure by which the |
people in the country can be protected, ire