The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1870-02-16
The Movement in New Orleans.

body in reference their manner of legislation Or
the Sd inst they, accompanied BY number of citizens
waited upon both houses. Some speeches were made
as to the proprety of their being admitted to the bar
of the Senate They admitted, however, to both
houses and presented the resolutions of the mass meet
ing to the committees appointed by the Legislature to
receive them. Several of the leading Radicals were
opposed to receiving the delegation upon the ground
that the resolutions disrespectul in manner and
matter. So much for the Legislature.
The interview with the Governor much more in.
teresng, and we give his remarks pretty much in full
although they will occupy much Of our space:
| little before o'clock the committee waited upon
the Governor, in the Executive Chamber, at the Me-
chanics Institute and the Chairman, Mr. G. DeFeret,
formally presented the resolutions to the Governor
Governor Warmoth replied: ..-.- ...
GentLenten-l am very glad to see you personally
desire to say something, however, relative to that
meeting whose delegates you are do so in Justice
to myself and TO the government which represent It
is fact, which is papabe to all of you that have as
Governor of this State vetoed great many bills maxi
ing subsidies and grants to individuals and COMPANIES
Those bills in few instances have been passed over
my veto by the Legislature; for these acts of course
am personally not responsible, neither do believe
that the Legislature, taken body are responsible
for them. 1t true that in general sense they are
responsible for their acts; but n is unfortunately the
case that there are great many men in Legisla
ture who are Ignorant of the manpulatons of lobby
lists. Men, many of whom have been only recently en-
franchised They of course have to be taken care of
nay have to be nursed; they have to be taught and
instructed, and L think, gentlemen, that if YOU will
give me the assurance ofyour support you will on
y give me the assistance which you ought to give
from your standing in this community, we shall be
able to restrain these people from running into the ex
cesses complained of in these resolutions which have
already read. Let me make complaint against
you gentlemen as the representatives of those in whose
behalf you appear
You charge the Legislature with passing corrupty
many bills looking to the personal ACKNOWLEDGMENT of
individuals and corporations Let me suggest to YOU
that those individuals and corporations are your very
best people. For instance, this bauk bill that is being
obbed through the Legislature now By the hardest
kind of work we have been able to defeat that bill!
twice in the House, and now s up again to be passed.
Who are doing it? Your bank presidents The best
people of the city of New Orleans are crowding the
obbies of the Legislature continually whispering into
| these mems ears brides to pass this measure How
to defend the State against the nterpostion of
these people, who are potent in their influence in this
community? "A
rpassed through the Legislature its first session. pro-
vdlng for the issue of bonds the principal and inter-
est OF which were to be paid in gold take up the city
notes. That bill 1 vetoed. By whom was it lobbed
through? By your Carondelet street brokers. who
crowded the halls of the Legislature and thronoed tho
avenues leading to the CAPITOL taking out member af
ter member and suggesting brides. That bill as I saw
vetoed, and the very next day the House of Repre-.
sentatives, probably through the influences of which
have spoken, passed it my head. The bill went
to the Senate. walked into the Senate Chamber and
saw nearly every prominent broker of the city engaged
in lobbying that bill through the Senate and It was
only by exposing the fact that of their emissares
had come into this very chamber and laid upon the
desk OF my secretary an order for $50O00 that was
able to defeat it.
Mr. Conway, the Mayor of your city, came here and
offered any consideration to induce me to sign this
| bill
! Look again at the Nicholson pavement bill Taking
hundred thousand dollars out of the State
for the benefit of private company. gentleman Of
your city offered bride of fifty thousand dollars
and one-sxth of the net profits to sign that BILL Who
are the Nicholson Pavement Company? Mr. E. J.
Hart is the President, and some of the most respecta
Die men IN the city are among the directors
Mr.. Marshall j. Smith, one of the delegation, here
interposed to remark that he objected to the Gov
ernor's styling those men who had offered brides
/" the most respectable men in the city,"
Governor Warmoth--I have thought it proner GEN.
temen, to make these remarks in your presence, be-
cause have repeatedly asked the best citizens of this
State to come and counsel with me about these mat
tiers. have sent them invitations but have never
been able to induce them to lend me their aid and
cOuntenance. Political difference has been so intense
that they have not thought proper to give me their
assistance. When say respectable men, I mean
those whose names fly like flag in the public estima-
ton say if it is true that these bills have been cor
rupty passed. that they have been so passed by men
who, from their standing in this community, ought to
have relrained from a resort to such expedients
have vetoed more bills, probably, than any ten Gov
errors who have preceded me. l have taken the bull
by the horns, and have vetoed measures introduced by
my own party, because thought their legislation 90.
ing too far | have not received the assistance and
support from you, gentlemen, that ought to have
received. am pacarded in this CITY, and spoken of
IN your press as rascal. am spoken of as no bet.
ter than those whom you say have corrupty induced
the passage OF these bills of which you complain and
yet have invited you to assist me in defeating them
and you have given me support. l vetoed sixteen
os passed last session. giving relief to this individual
and to that to this corporation and to that for mr.
poses of no public utility amounting in the aggregate
to at least million and half dollars. Have been
spoken OF In your Democratic press or in the press
OF this city, as entitled to praise for my conduct in
TINS matter? No; when l am engaged in prosecuting
rhe Auditor, who has robbed the State of half mil
non OF dollars find two leading Democratic papers
representing it to be merely eight between the
Governor and the Auditor, contest between two
thieves, in which the public ought to take no part"
make thlS complaint to you an individual |
make 1t as citizen of louisiana whose interests are
11fSi uollal nave IN the world is here
vested. l do lot come here merely to make dollars
Or position, and then to leave came here to settle
among you, and BY accident have been elevated to
The position now occupy. Ny ambition is to become
/ good officer. want your support If you will
give to me, you and the twenty-five hundred citi
zens who were present at the meeting which sent YOU
1ere, would only give your support to me- and to the
honest members OF the Legislature, there will be no
iltlcuty in restraining improvident legislation l
hlnk have the right to ask it, and if you will give it.
assure you many of the evils you complain of will Ii
,e avoided "
Mr.. Marshall J. Smith-For one, | acknowledge the
rror feel that if your intentions have been snch
S you now state, that have beenTto blame and in
feat many respects which have observed, perceive
hat what you have stated is perfectly correct Ibave
cen you veto bills of the most infamous character,
nd have kept aloof Though | have no ambition
politician, believe, for myself, it was our duty
give you support. l am sorry, Governor YOU did
OF present yourself at this meeting the other night
mere is party forming in this city, who design to r.
CT against dishonest of every political shade and
dior. We intend to hold meeting. and to that n
eetng honest men, without respect of paryor color ii
i'll be welcome. P
In reply to Judge Cotton who asked his aid in pre-
enting the Legislature from passing such bills as the
lection Militia, aud Others similar he remarked: be
DO not want any laws that are going to establish
despolSn IN this State. shall be Governor only
ort time. am not eligible for election second eJ
NE by express provision of the constitution ca %,