New Orleans Republican., 1868-08-27

1
then, have confidence in it. We must trust
I somebody. We are compelled to trust this
court. l propose doing so under the law.
We should not go beyond the law in our
legislation. Now, cir, there can be no just
| fears of tyranny being used.
If man has contracted to labor upon the
J plantation of another, and by undue infiu-
ence, or by threats of violence, or by any
! improper or unlawful means attempts to
control his vote, he can leave and sue for
damages, because he has been driven away
contrary to the contract.
l do rot believe that q contract would be
legal, SO far as the second section of that act
is concerned | do not believe one man can
bind himself by contract to do what another
man should dictate to him. / do not believe
it would be legal to say will give you an
eye II you will give me your labor.
submit, therefore, for the consideration
of the gentleman who introduced this bill
that 1t is certainly imperfect. ] think it is
necessary, and that the further delibera-
ton will show it to be SO.
Mr.. Pollard: Mr.. President | have been
listening TO the discussion upon this bill,
and the way l understand the bill it is that
IT farmer hires me to work by the year.
make that contract. He saws he won't
make contract in any other way. You
must work all the year or / won't hire you.
Well, in my present condition l must work
all the year in order to make a living.
Then on the day of election | will say to
him, Mister, want to go to the election TO-
day. He says, you can't go, sir. Your con.
tract was to work every day Of the year.
say yes, but to-day is the day of election and
want to &c, to the polls. He says: Well,
sir if you will go you must leave my plan
tation, and then you will get nothing.
Now, the way understand the bill is to
make him pay me for my labor if he turns
me off.
Now, I know very well it has
fl,A
reside l know at the last election there
was not less than two hundred men exclu-
ded from the polls, because they were hired
upon plantations in that way. They dared
not go.
And, then, suppose know about fifty
that did go who had done years work
and never got dime.
Now | can't see why there is an intrusion
upon the part of the Democratic party, be-
cause they know they have got the advan-
tage of US i'll having all the land and all the
money, and we are obliged to go to them to
would be honest with US and will give us
justice.
am watching the point now to see how
they will make it that the black man can
get paid for his labor. If they want to give
him chance, when he works for his money,
they would pay him.
They say it imposes on the planter. /
don't see it. I think it imposes on me be
cause he knows I have got nothing, and
must go to him to get something to do. |
, think it is & good bill. They have been max.
! | ing great deal of cotton this year aud nine.
. tenths of the laborers have not got cent
f for their labor. l suppose the Senator
knows these things to be facts. Aud it seems
: as il We should make some point Of law that
the employer may be compelled to pay the
laborer something for his labor.
g We know that on the day OF election il
= ! mil lapk q q 40
e many will be excused from the polls be
: cause he is poor man.
. We have been working for these men, an(
t fear we will all be driven away if we go Il
t the polls.
# think this unjust.
Il Then l believe this about it-that it is
o good bill, and / will support it, too. wan
It to be paid for my labor.
e You say will steal. | want to be pro
:, tected in my labor, so ] can live withou
stealing. lhaye asked that we may hav
# laws to give us fair chance, laws to pro
IS tect us, and then if we can't live let us al
e die, and L say so to-day.
: Mr.. Bacon: Mr.. President, it strikes M
= that this bill, however valuable and usefu
a to the laborer, is very imperfect in that
Il does not go far enough. There are other
beside the laborers on the plantations
q who have to trim their sails to suit tn
d | Wind-the overpoWering blasts aroun
st them. And l think if the Chairman of tn
Judiciary Committee had perfected his bill
e. somewhat more, it would have been mucl
al more useful. 1t would have saved US al
le and given US all a chance.
D. /, therefore, would propose, sir, this amend
.e I1ent as an additional section, which thin
n would serve some Others who are in DANCE
le of losing their places or Of failing to &C
ut places for which they feel themselves entire
a fy competent, on account of their politics
is opinions.
t. The section propose is this:
ct "That any officer in this State, having tn
! power to remove and appoint to office, VIII
st shall remove any man from place or ofiic
Il. on account Of his political opinions, or sha
ih appoint any man thereto by reason thereo
lie shall be subject to the penalties prescribe
al in the first section of this act.n
Now, sir, it is lust as right, ii am hold
IS ing the Office of Inspector of Hay, or an
lie of these offices for which names have Zee
ly sent in to US here, by which might be ma
q ing "a living and should be disposed to vo
against the opinions of his Excellency IL
rs Governor next fall, that should be pre-
at tected in holding my office and not subje
d. to removal by HIM, as it is that man thi
r. is laboring on plantation, who should
to disposed to vote contrary to the law an
bit opinion of the planter, to be removed frol
ut his place and position.
Then, sir, do not think that the Governt
ch had any right to appoint any man to plat
be and make contract with him. sir, after tt
e- manner or these planters, that he shall hay
to the Office 'or the year, with the understan
ing, expressed or implied, that he Is to site
wv to the Democratic or Republican party.
he do not say that there is any express CO
he tract written, or anything of the kind. B
nd we all understand very well that there is
or understanding of that kind which is We
faithfully adhered to upon one side or Il
ay other. If the man appointed to Office chang
he his politics, if the officer who has the a
ot pointing power has the power to remove
NJ Is very apt to use it.
its Now, sir, think the protection extendt
to the laborer should also be extended (
l others, and that white men should have {
or equal chance with colored men in this kiI
a of protection in the exercise of their polite
it opinions, and in voting for whom they pleas
lis 1 think this would be reasonable, and
tn trust that the Senator will accept an amen
ia. mendment of that kind as perfecting his bi
ng There is another thing, sir. There is nc
Of by the grace of the Triumvirate one Repu
Is, lican paper which is the living and movi
ID. paper in the city ofNew Orleans. Well, s
is that paper has vast amount of patrona
r at the present time. Il publishes the ju
la. cial advertisements, the laws of the Sta
he aud the proceedings of the City CounC
nd But sir, Notwithstanding il has so much I
ew cellent matter there are a great many p
IN sons who, on account OF their polite
opinions, refuse to take that paper. Th
a will not voluntarily advertise in it, and th
VII will not voluntarily subscribe for 1t, a
rty pay for it, and read it. Now, sir, | do
of know what right people have to refuse
nv take that paper. If it is right to punish
N mau because he will not employ men
sh laborers except upon the agreement Il
I, | fbary oraA hp hall