New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-09-20

be assisted in buying, that would cultivate
this land, and thereby secure revenue to
the State. There are laborers on planta-
tions receiving fifteen, or from ten to fifteen
dollars per month, out of which to support
their families, wives and children, that
would gladly cultivate these idle lands.
Here you have been voting away millions
and millions, and the very moment We step
in here and ask the Legislature to assist the
poor man, then the interests of the State
must be looked after.
For these reasons, L say that in nv
opinion no more important measure has
come before the Senate than this. They
have come here and asked us to vote for
the election bill, the militia bill and the
constabulary bill. Remember that the Re-
publican party promised to assist the poor
man now here is q measure that tonight
will test the sincerity of these promises,
and show us whether they meant what they
said.
With these few remarks, Mr. President, l
hope the bill will be adopted.
Mr.. POindexter: Mr.. President, ask
that that portion of the bill be read which
says, or whether any portion of the bill
says, that the poor man or the rich man.
the white man or the black man, are to
form these corporations !; that Is the point
that want to find out.
Mr.. Darrell: Mr. President, withdraw
the motion to postpone this bill till Tuesday.
Mr.. Poindextcr: Mr. President, believe
l have the interests of the people at heart
as much as any man in the Senate, and
expect l have gone further than most gen
tlemen here in behalf of the poor. l have
taken $40 out of my own pocket and got
hOmesteads out of the land office for poor
people among those that I represent, and l
think if any gentlemen here wants to show
that he is in earnest let him go down in his
pocket and take a part of his gain to assist
the poor and show that he means what he
says. Now. Mr.. President, believe that
can say that am as uncompromising a Re-
publican as any, but this bill has no more
reference to the Republican party and the
black man than have to glass or to brick.
Do you tell me, sir, that a bill framed so
general as this, taking in every man in the
State, is any protection to the poor man !!
If you rouse the prejudices and feelings Of
those men that have the land to
sell. the people that l represent
will not be able to get any
Now, sir, l want to get land as well rs
any other man, and as much as possible.
and / want all poor people to become land
holders, but do not want to be dictated to,
or to have it said that | have gone against
the Republican party on some such dis
guise as this bill. 1t ia not gotten up for
the good of poor people or colorcd people,
and if not amended and put in proper form
it will make rich people join together and
buy land. There are great many colored
people that are not rich; if they were, they
would cultivate the land, instead of the
land lying idle. Suppose these men had
capital. would they not go down and take
this land and make money! On the other
hand. some of them are like myself; ! had
$500 when the war broke out, and Cap
tain arrested me and another party stole all
| had. And that is the way with those
planters too-they lost all the money they
got. can buy land now on good terms.
say. let the bill go through with proper
amendment. and l shall have no objections
to it.
The amendment of Senator Lynch was
adopted, and the bill finally passed.
The Senate adjourned.
The opening chapter Of a Western novel
contains the following: All of a sudden