New Orleans Republican., 1868-09-18
THE LEGIsLATURE
[cOsr1NuED FROM FIRST rAOE.l

l
| and am proud to put myself on record as
| icing in favor of the largest franchise pos
sible. | most cordially indorse every senti-
ment expressed by the Senator from Qua
chita. / believe that no country can long
have peace while large portion of its in
habitants are deprived of those rights with
which all men are endowed by their Creator
by any human law whatever. Further than
this, favor the proposition because never
have believed that the ninety.ninth article
| of the Constitution was what its authors or
large majority of the mem bers of tho con-
ventioD intended 1t should be. That article
of the Constitution will have no prohibitory
effect in this State, unless it may be in the
case of some men who have a good deal of
pride about them, and will not make the
recantation required. Furthermore, the
ninety.ninth article, in my Judgment,
| fourteenth article, known as the con-
stitutioDal amendment. If l recollect
the wording of that article, it says in case
persons are prohibited from holding office
by virtue of any act of theirs, by giving aid
or comfort to the rebellion, the disabilities
can not be removed except by u twothirds
| vote of Congress itself. Now, sir, what
Constitution propose? 1t says that a man
disqualified for holding Office simply has to
make an oath Of recantation, and he is re
stored to all of his civil and political rights.
| Now, sir, it seems to me that this article of
| our State Constitution comes in conflict
with this fourteenth amendment TO the Con-
stitution of the United States. This four
teenth amendment declares that these dsa-
| bilities shall not be removed except by Con
gress itself, while our Constitution says the
recantation oath is all that is necessary.
/ shall support the proposed change in
this article, because | do believe that
the colored people in the country,
while thew laEn all the time
claimed, begged, and petitioned for the
rights that they enjoy to-day, are not III
favor of turning around and doing to an.
other class of people that injustice which
that class of people have long inflicted upon
them. In other words, | believe they are
governed by the golden rule, 'Do unto 9th
ers as you would have others do unto you.
1t is for this reason that l believe in this
change. And l believe that after few
years time has been given 70 these people to
do away with their prejudices, they will
have no desire to disfranchise us, and We
certainly will have none to disfranchise
them.
The time will come Wh9n men will be rec.
ognized not by their c0lor, but by the man
hood aud merit which they possess. ! be
lieve this can be brought about more
speedily by the enactment oflaws to govern
men rs men, and not classes of men. / de
spise class legislation in any aud every
shape 1t is for these reasons that should
favor the adoption of that article, and | hope
that the Senate will be unanimous upon it.
Mr.. Campbell: Mr., President, would ask
whether this bill has been printed?
Mr.. Ray: think not
Mr.. Campbell: Mr.. President. this is the
first time that have been notified that such
a bill was to be brought up. 1t is bill of
the highest Importance, because it is bill
designed TO change the fundamental law of
the State. think, therefore, it becomes us
to act upon it with due deliberation. l
think it should be printed and laid upon the
desks OF Senators, so that We may know
what we are doing. / am certainly not
ready to-day to vote upon such measure as
this or to make any argument upon it.
move lat it be made the special order
for Monday next.
The motion was adopted.
Senate bill No. 107, an act granting the
exclusive right to William ]. Taylor and NJ
c. Conner toerect platform scales for weigh.
ing, and to reduce the price of weighing in
this State, being under consideration
Mr. Ray: Mr.. President, l introduced this
bill originally into the Legislature, and it
has now been twice submitted to the Com
mitteeon Judiciary. | would now like to
state to Senators It's object. The different
sections of this act, taken together, very
fully explain the object of the bill. 1t is
not the purpose of this act to interfere with
weighing, as now carried ON in the State in
any shape or form. Weighing, as now car
ried on in the State, may be continued after
the passage of this act, without in any mau-
ner interfering with the rights granted by
it; for its object is only to grant the eX-
elusive right TO these gentlemen to work
kind of scales that are very rarely found in
the State for the purpose of weighing large
loads of ten tons or more. The object of
asking the exclusive privilege for ten years
is this-thAt if they go into any Of the little
inland towns Of this State and erect these
scales, It will probably cost $1,000
to do it. | have had one of these
scales myself for railroad purposes,
which cost $1,000. Now, that kind of weigh.
ing is important in our little towns, and
unless men can be protected from competi.
tion after their scales are erected, they will
not go to the expense of making the neces-
sary preparations tor doing this weighing
For instance, suppose that these men should
go to the town of Monroe aid, at a cost of
twelve or fifteen hundred dollars, erect such
scales, and the weighing should turn out to
be profitable business, unless they are
protected, as is proposed by this bill, some
other persons, supposing they could make
money out OF it, Will erect their scales there,
and the competition will be such as to break
down the business altogether. Now, know
that If scales of this sort are erected and
kept up in the portion of country where
live they will be Of considerable advantage
W ~. VIC hOM nave no means Oh weighing
large amounts OF hay and grain, or other
articles, and we are generally compelled to
guess at the weight Of such things. If we
had pair of scales that a wagon
could drive upon with its load, and he
weighed, no one would regret paying the
price charged for the purpose OF ascertain
ing the weight with accuracy. There are a
great many articles now sold by guess which
1t is very desirable to know the weight of.
This Inconvenience, to which the people are
now constantly subjected all through the
interior of the State, will be obviated by
this method of weighing should this bill be
passed. OF course this bill is not intended
to particularly benefit, or at all interfere
with the business of weighing in New Or
leans, because there are, of course, in such
q city as this, plenty of facilities for weigh.
ing; but it is more particularly calculated
to benefit the smaller towns and the people
OF the interior, who are now without any
tuch facilities. Now, when see that this
bill does not intend to interfere with the
mode of weighing now used in this State, it
seems to me that the Legislature will be
doing service 10 the people of this State,
and especially to the little towns throughout
the state by granting this privilege. The
only purpose 10 to protect these men from
composition shat might grow up, if 1t should
prove 70 be profitable business This is
lle wnole scope and object of this bill. II
y not 70 restrict or curtail commerce 10 any
iorm, 1n. = la simply for the purpose Of en-
of the Interior with much needed mann ~
weighing bulky and heavy articles. for want
Of which they are now subjected ii nurh
Inconvenience. As It Is exnen5iVe II haerjy
and carry on such business. ~ 1anrs s,sssr.
antee it some protection Ia order IA se..nre
its advantages. believe that kind of Eeigh-