New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-10-03

Lei US lay all party feelings aside, and
eo4e 70 the conclusion that we must build
" LoulslSAa at all hazards. five do this the
ouYeGt VIII soon be accomplished, and in
short time the State will be made second
to none In the Union. If we only put our.
selves together with the Determination TO
built it up at all hazards it can be done.
hope the Senate will excuse me for +ras
passing upon their time with these remarks:
but feel perfectly confident that If we do
this we can establish tranquility and secnr.
ity Ihave no apprehension of a riot. am
told that the excitement to-day arises IRON
the fact that the Board of Registrars refuses
10 register certain newly enfrdnchised citi.
zens. If that be the case, how easily it can
be remedled by appointing committee to
call upon this Board, and see if they have
arrogated powers not given by the law.
There is no cause whatever for excite.
ment. II a drunken party attempts to ere.
ate disturbance i'll the streets, let him be
arrested. Let any man, no matter of what
party, who attempts to create disturbance
be arrested. II we find a disturbance do
not let us jump into it, but ascertain who is
at fault and let him be arrested.
We have part of the population here
that has no interest whatever in the pros
perity and peace OF the community if riot
takes place they go to robbing banks and
stores. 1t would do no party any good to
have riot except these depredators. Hence
say this General Assembly and every good
citizen should lend himself to the establish
ment of peace and harmony throughout the
state, and Furnishing those who break the
peace.
thank the Senate for listening so long.
The question is now upon laying the Joint
Resolution upon the table subject to call.
MI. Lewis: Mr.. President, l acknowl-
edge, Sir, that you have given very fair
reason why we should remain here.
But you forget, s.r, that there is a
raging fever consuming the minds OF
almost every member OF the Senate, and
prooaoly OF the House. That power, sir, is
the congress fever Qaughter), over which
the potency of your arguments will be use
less. presume that nine-tenths of the
members of this Legislature want to go to
Congress. Laughter.) Every curse that
| could be hurled upon this State; if she were
to be crushed to atoms, if they could boost
themselves comfortably upon it's shoulder
ing ruins into the balls oil Congress, they
would be satisfied. For my part, / am will.
ing to. stay here as long as is necessary tt
work for the interest of the State.
The JOINT resolution was laid on the tabl
subject to call.
Under a suspension of the rules Mr.
Braughn introduced the following resolu
| ton:
| Resolced, That a committee Of three b,
appointed for the purpose Of investigatin,
the character OF the instructions given b,
the Board of Registrars to the Board of So,
pervisors, and whether the Board Of Regis
trars have done anything not authorized b
the law of registration, and that this com
mttee be authorized to send for person
and papers.
Mr.. Braughu: Mr. President, l happenet
| to be in one of the courts this morning, an,
saw crowds of men coming in, with paper
in their hands stating that the Boards o
Supervisors in the various wards through
out the city had refused to register them, OF
the ground that their papers had been is
sued by Judges whose courts were close,
from July to November, and such being III
case, aud the Supervisors acting under il
structions from the Board of Registrars
shows plainly that that Board has don
something not authorized by law, and thu
this action of the Board of Registrars ha,
as you truly stated, done more to brin
about the feverish state of excitement whit.
to-day exists than any other cause. Their
is a general fear sir, throughout the Stat
of Louisiana, that the desire of the party i
power is to deprive the white people of tn
rights of registration, with the tlltimat
view ofdepriving them of the right to vote
and we all know to what extent fear {
|
sir, has found tangible ground in the seleC
tion on the part Of the Governor of MI
Baker as chairman OF the Board of Regis
tTars. appointment that could have beel
made to any office in the State of Louisian
could have given greater dissatisfaction
than the appointment OF Mr.. Bake
to that all important office. and when sir
in obedience to the wishes of the Stat
Central Executive Committee, the Governo
of the State appointed one Democrat to re
present that portion of our population Of
the board the people were willing to wal
for the issue. They were willing to wait il
order to see if they would be treated wit
some consideration or regard. But when
few days afterward that Democrat foun
himself compelled to resign because hi
wishes and suggestions had been oyerrit
den, because the principles and the object
for which he had been appointed had bee
disregarded by the Board, the people agai
became alarmed and it required grea
suasion and patience on the part of tn
Democratic leaders to keep them uuin
Again they succeeded. But now, TO-DAY
when the doors of registration are throw
open and newly entranchised citizens
anxious to avail themselves of the privilege
guaranteed them by the laws of the country
presenting themselves at the counter, the
are told ''that they can not legally register
and that they must go away" There is n
relief to be sought in the courts, becaus
their portals are closed until Novembe
next. That, sir, is the principal cause {
the excitement to-day. Something is nece!
sary to show the people that, as the custC
dian of their liberties and their protectors, W
are determined to see that Justice is done
1t is useless to say to this Senate that MI
Bakers action is unwarranted. 1t is use
less to say that it is illegal, because we a
know that the Judges have certain power
| E.. ,,-.l NTn Ill A..
the Judges OF the Third, Fourth, Fifth an
Sixth District Courts can not try cases O
render judgments, but we do know that the
can issue writs and naturalization papert
Why, sir Ihave been told by the distinguish
ed gentleman from Carroll that he himsel
was natm allied by judge in chambers. an
hence the ruling of Mr.. Baker would dii
franchise him as we'll as these people of tn
city of New Orleans who now wish to b
registered.
The action of Mr.. Baker can be called b
no otherlname than that of usurpation; an
when state of excitement exists in consC
| quence of such outrages, the people shoul
be excused, because they are driven to it b
the officers of the State.
Now, sir, let this committee be appointed
let them inquire into the facts of the case
and if Mr.. Baker has been guilty OF thi
misconduct let him be removed and worth
man appointed in his place.
Mr.. Bacon ;1Mr. President, seconded the
motion Of my colleague, and am very GLAD
that he has introduced this resolution, al
though hoped the bill introduced by my
self on this subject might have been acted
upon. NV colleague has come short of thu
matter, when he says that the refusal Il
register these lately eufranchised persons
has produced this excitement. Another
cause is that Mr. Baker has directed his sub
ordinates to inquire OF voters whether the
voted for the Convention and for the Con,
stitution or no-yOu, sir, are aware tina