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

to riots. l as much deprecate what occur
red upon that occasion as the gentleman
himself, but regret fully as much that
Senator upon this floor, where anything but
the passions of men should be aroused, that
he should take an occasion like the present
TO introduce resolutions and make speeches
which tend to no good but only for the ag-
grandizement of the Senator himself and
for his own political preferment.
Mr.. President the gentleman has spoken
of acts, of recent acts, of lawlessness and
crime, of property destroyed, and presses
thrown iuto the street. l can tell the
| gentleman that lawlessness and crime are
not all upon one side can tell him of
fair ladies of the State of Louisiana being
dragged from their homes and cruelty out
ragged. l can tell him how from the pockets
of an impoverished people money has been
extorted by those holding power belonging
to his own party. Sir / could stand and
repeat for days, if necessary, the grievances
we have suffered but this is not the time
| nor the occasion.
( to the destruction of press, to which
he has referred. / solemnly believe
| sir, and l say it unhesitatingly upon this
| floor, that the destruction of that press is
but another piece of strategy for the manu-
facture of political capital. Who that has
seen that sheet, the "Homer Ilidd,n as it
comes out reeklng with political filth, pour
ing walls of gall and NORWOOD upon our
| people, and insulting the citizens of the
| town in which he lives, and has done 1t, too,
in times far more turbulent than these, and
gone unframed, will suppose that this is
anything more than political trick on the
| part Of its manager Or, that it was de-
stroyed by the hands of "lawless despera-
doee?n This act will be heralded far and
wide for political effect.
This state of things will exist, Mr.. Presi-
dent, until the people of Louisiana learn to
be guided by their calm, dispassionate
Judgment, by their high appreciation of
est motives; until they refuse longer
to listen to or be stirred up by
| infammatory speeches. and res ol1tions
such as those of the gentleman.
In compliment to the gentlemen from
Carroll and Ouachita (Messrs. Ray and
LYNCH, / will say that was much pleased
with the spirit they exhibited in this discus.
sion. They deprecate resolutions and
speeches which tend to arouse within the
bOsoms of the people of the State violent
and turbulent passions. l agree with them;
and had it not been for the direct attack OF
the Senator upon my own district would
not have opened my mouth. Bullet itpass.
Let him and those who have voted with
him have the full benefit of this resolution.
So far 40 ] am concerned, / shall make no
further opposition to its passage than simply
to record my negative vote upon tine record,
who have discharged their duty as legisla
tors without passion or appeals to passion
who have had in view only the best interest
Of the State.
Mr.. Campbell-Mr. President: l was
pleased to listen to the disclaimer by the
Honorable Senator from the First District
(Mr. Braughn) of any approval on the part
of the good people of this city of the pro
ceedings upon that day, and the massacre
of those people. l wish merely to call his
attention to this point. II he and the other
good people of this city were so deeply op-
posed to the outrages of that day, and
deprecate them so greatly, who am ] in
danger Of offending? Who is it that hurt
in introducing a resolution of this kind
Whose wounds are torn afreshW Not,
surely, those of the Senator from the First
District, for he stands with me in wishing
to condemn those acts. The wounds, if we
open any, must be those which are rank.
ling in the breasts of those thugs and
desperadoes who were engaged in that
riot. What good citizen do / offend
by this resolution? Why should
not the scorn and detestation Of the good
citizens of the State, at least, be visited
upon these desperadoes if too much time
has elapsed for any other punishment!
As to the epithet which the gentleman has
applied to me as being "irebrand" upon
this floor, wish merely. to state, sir, that
are not the men who are en-
gagged in trying to seek justice and truth
but the men who are engaged in destroying
the cotton houses of the honorable Senator
on my left (Air. Ray), and the printing
Office Of member of Congress. So far as
the gentleman's opinion Of me or of my
course is concerned it is of small moment
] have my duty to perform to my constitu
ents, and / shall do it without asking
whether he considers me a frebrand or not
have only to say to him that the men who
will concur with him in that opinion are
probably the men who had something to dc
with the massacre.
! Now, sir, as to the Senator from Ouachita
(Mr. Ray there is none for whom enter
tain higher respect, but / think that in
this matter his judgment is greatly in error
and he has not done the resolution the pool
compliment to read it carefully or hear il
read. 1t says nothing about marking
graves; nor has he read it carefully enough
to see that it does contemplate practical
result. The Congressional Committee from
Washington did not cover the ground at all
which this resolution proposes to cover.
They came to investigate the violations oil
law and order with view to see what legis
lation was necessary by Congress for this
State, not with view to redressing the
wrongs of those who suffered. And / am
astonished at my honorable friend from
0uachita speaking of our remedy in the
| SOuAI os OOcS Nc AOk AtueuDeE LuaJ all
| criminal prosecutions are prescribed after
one year has elapsed
Mr.. Ray-Prosecutions for murder are
never prescribed.
/ also wish to call the attention of the
| Honorable Senator from 0uehita to the
fact that murders are not the only things
included in this resolution. There were
crimes committed against the living hardly
short of murder, but sufficiently remove
from 1t to bring them within the limits OF
prescription. For there is no redress ex.
cept from you, the first tribunal before
whom these victims Ihave had an opportu-
nifty to be heard.
The gentleman who was the incumbent
of the Criminal Court of this city, did in.
dict somebody, but who was it? The very
victims of the massacre, and he regarded
with perfect Indifference the charges
against the real perpetrators of the outrages
upon that day. Sir, as we'll might the lamb
fly to the wolf for protection, as the limo.
cent sufferers by that riot to the Criminal
Courts of this city,
1t has appeared on good authority that
the bodies Of the dead and wounded were
dumped Unfortunately by carloads into
the Mississippi river. / wish to ascertain
who those men were, and then whatever the
Legislature of Louisiana can do for their re.
dress, let it be done. Why, sir, the honorable
Senator from 0uachita informs me him
self that he can not canvass the MINER
portion of his district unless some laws are
speedily passed for the suppression of Jaw.
lessness and crime. Such state fittings ex-
lists that distinguished Judge. a man
known as conservative gentleman upou
this Aoor, informed me privately that ne
hoped this resolution or a kindred one