New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-10-02
THE LEGISLATURES
tcoNTINrEp FROM FIRST PAGE. ]

and when they sent my horse home thess
very same men got hold of him and shaved
mis- tail. daughter, long and loud.) WheT
I hear them tell about putting our feet upor
the necks of these people, it reminds me o.
| q criminal complaining of the effect OF MS
own will and acts, because by his own act;
he forfeited the right and it is no longer his
| | know, sir, it is Contended that the recon
| structlon acts are for the purpose OF elevat
| ing the negro and the subjugation OF the
white race. That is not the object or the
| result of the reconstruction acts. They
enumerate certain otfenses for which they
forfeit their rights, and if it be black mar
| thus FORGETTING his rights he stands upon the
| same footing that the white man would
You might Just as well tell me that because
there happen to be more men in the peni
Tertiary Of one kind than another by theil
own acts, that these men are sent to The
penitentiary on account Of color. Men are
DISTINGUISHED because they raised their puny
| arm against the United States.
| Now, sir, what is this article ninety-ninC
| Of the Constitution? Is there any man here
| that says it is right to tear down the princi
| pes OF our Government? Is there any man
here who says that it is right to come out iu
| open rebellion against the Government Of
| the United States? If so. then will be the
last man to enfranchise him, to place him in
a position where he can exercise the power
OF carrying out the principles of his heart.
THIS ninety-ninth article simply says that
secession is a Moral and political wrong,
and provides penalty for it. lift is wrong,
what hor est man can rot at least want TO
make that acknowledgement, and aCknowl.
edge forthwith that he is sorry for his action
during the struggle against the United
States. When any man comes forward to
make this Acknowledgement it is all that is
asked Of him; if he has been in the COnfed-
crate army, or even President Of the Con-
tederacy, there is nothing more asked OF
him.
Now, sir, when this Constitution asks no
further sacrifice of men than to say they
are satisfied the rebellion was morally and
politically wrong, let them come forward
and make such acknowledgment and every
privilege Is open to them. Now, SIR when
hear these people complaining about be.
ing bound down and doWn-trOdden, think
sir, of one OF old, who said to those whom
he had warned to fee from the wrath to
come. Bring forth fruits meet for repent.
auce,' and we are ready to receive you to
our bosoms. We are ready to bear into OBJ.
livion everything Of the past. But while
this principle OF prescription exists, while
honest loyal men or honest Radicals attempt
to say what their conscienCes dictate, they
are prescribed, because they have that
independence of character to tell
you in the midst of YOUR threats and tur.
ing to stand the issue" WheI this right of
speech and conscience is not obliterated,
then, sir, am not willing to throw down
this barrier until see the himsy thing you
call repentance.
MIR. Foute; Mr.. President, l have very
patiently listened to what we may call a
superfluous debate uDon this Question. I
think the result is practically nothing.
Very commendable sentiments have issued
from several gentlemen who have advocated
this amendment. We have to cast twenty.
four votes in order to carry it. That is i'm
possible.
If this resolution has been introduced for
the purpose OF allowing gentlemen to ven
tlate their sentiments upon it, it certainly
be done. There are not twenty-tour Senators
here who will vote for it. Now sir do
not care personally or politically, whether
this bill passes or not, and do not see WIN
anybody else should regard it as
important Then why indulge in
this foolish and vain discussion
when you see it is absolutely impossible to
pass it by the necessary two,third majority
do not propose to discuss questions of
philosophy with gentlemen here, tending 10
no practical result. One ounce of common
sense wilt carry us and carry the people
glorlously through this struggle which men
are low making.
We are unfortunate enough, though no
fault of ours, to exist in day ofrevolution.
We are in transition state. All transition
states are convulsive. ! am satisfied that
all this talk and discussion about this bill is
Intellectual, because you have not the neces-
sary two-third majority to pass it. /, there.
tore, move to lay the whole subject on the
table.
Mr.; Blackman: hope the gentleman will
withdraw that motion.
Mr. Eontp- I wi II with raHI ~ iF I,
to speak, but Senators must see how i'm
practicable this is.
Mr.. Blaekmau: That is true, but | am
sorry the gentleman from Orleans made
the motion to lay on the table. If a resolu.
ton is before the Senate for the purpose of
relieving the people of Louisiana of the dis
abilities now upon them, if there is no mag.
nanimity and not enough of patriotism and
foresight in the party in power to pass it, |
am sorry that any one of the Democratic
party, fully allied in feeling and thought
and sentiment with that unfortunate class.
should attempt to defeat the resolution
which has been introduced.
Mr.. Foute: No, sir, what say is that we
have been consuming the public time for
nothing. Although made the motion to Law
on the table should vote against it.
Mr. Blackman: Very well. | ask pardon
of the Senator; but | wish TO say this in
addition to what has been said. / wish TO
reply TO what was said by one of the Sena.
tors from New Orleans. do not wish to be
understood, as a Senator upon this floor, re-
presenting some of that unfortunate class
who have been disfranchosed by the Consti-
tuition of the State, as soliciting and bowling
myself in the dust before this Senate. I
am the representative of an entirely differ.
ent kind of people. / represent brave.
a ehiyalrous, a magnanimous people-a con
sttuency both white and colored-a people
that deprecate this article. There has been
magnanimity enough in the hearts of the
cooIed men OF my section of the
country to say, boldly and emphatically,
that, they did not approve of depriving
single white man of the rights which he /
ought to possess and exercise. A colored
Senator from Opeiousas, yesterday, spoke
boldly and forcibly the feeling which ac-
tuated him IN TINS respect, in defiance of
the party prescription which may be thrown
upon him therefor. | am proud to say that
the colored men in my section Of the coun-
try, and believe the colored men of New
Orleans, have expressed themselves in favor
of this amendment. 1t speaks well for the
honesty and integrity and the patriotism of
the colored race of this State.
Now, Mr.. President, the dominant party
In this Legislature can exercise their own
pleasure as to the passage or defeat of this
amendment. lfthey see fit to reject it, on
them let the responsibility fall.
Mr.. O'Hara: Mr.. President, the gentleman
last upon the floor has taken pains to say
that neither he nor his constituency beg the
passage of this amendment. Now, sir. /
shall do what is right without regard to
such considerations as that. | have NV
own opinion about the right and the wrong
of the past disturbances. / believe those
engaged in the rebellion were in error, and
as Representatives upon this floor of men
who were not in rebellion, ask no thanks
from those who were, or reward for what /
may conceive to be my duty. But pre-