New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-03-24
DEBATE. OF THE SENATE.
Evening session.

Evening Session.
MONDAY, February %, 1870.
After the adjournment Of the Court OF
Impeachment, the consideration OF the
militia bill was resumed.
Section fifty-eight was read.
Mr.. Ogden: would like to urge my oo-
iections to this bill on this section.
Mr.. Blackman: Mr.. President, | make
the suggestion, to adopt without reading,
all these sections.
Mr.. Wittgenstein: second the motion
to adopt all the sections.
Mr.. Blackman: Well, make that mo-
ton. The sections from sixty to ninety
are nothing except in reference to courts
martial, etc.
MIR. Futch Unless these sections are
read. or we hear them read, we can form
no idea of them.
The President: The Chair would state
that in order to entertain that motion, 1t
would require reconsideration of the
resolution adopted.
MIR. Blackman: | withdraw the motion.
Mr.. Campbell: Mr.. President, these be-
ing all matters Of detail, / will now renew
the motion of the Senator from Clsibcrne
to adopt sections from fifty-ihree to ninety
four inclusive. They are mere reprint
of the laws in regard to militia matters
NV motion is that sections from tifty-three
to ninety four, inclusive, be adopted, and
that the blank in section ffty-three, line
forty, be filled with 'forty- eight" in line
fifty shorty eight" and in section seventy,
line ten, fifty oue," and in section seventy
five, line eighteen, "section tifty-one."
Mr.. Ogden: MIR. President, now, before
that motion is put. and before the bill is
passed, desire, atrhe suggestion of Sena-
tor O'Hara and others, TO make few re-
marks relative to this bill. I question
very much whether the condition of the
Senate tonight is such as will make any
argument of mine sufficiently strong to
carry the weight that it otherwise
might. Yet, before the bill passes,
/ feel it incumbent upon me as a
Democratic Senator and Representative Of
the city of New Orleans, perhaps more
largely interested in this than any other
portion OF the State, to raise my voice in
direct opposition, not only to the provis-
ions contained in the bill, but also to the
manner in which the gentlemen who seek
to put this bill through intend to use those
provisions.
feel confident, Mr.. President, that no
objections that 1 and my colleagues may
use against this bill may be, that all re-
monstrances will pass, like the idle wind,
unheeded, and perhaps, therefore, sir, /
should remain silent, permitting this bill
to pass the Senate in order to expedite
business, and to return to other business
for the interest of the people of the State,
and thereby, in some measure, repair the
~, inf, oto hu pf
But, sir, can not understand the ne
cessity of passing bill like this;
can not understand why, at this
moment wien the whole coul try is
smiling in prosperity and peace, why it is
desired now to cucumber the resources
of the State and trammel her means by
establishing a militia, thereby entailing
constant and incessant taxation. | can
not understa nd, sir, why it is that this bill,
coming as it does, on the heels OF or sub
sequent to bills which indicate the dispo-
sition of the political faction in power,
should pass see no good result from it.
Are we threatened with foreign invasion
Do the hostile flags of an approaching
enemy chill us into anxiety? Do the citi-
zens, hurrying to and fro, indicate ttat
this State or city is in dagger? No, not
country is on the most cordial relations
with all the foreign powers. Only the
other day, when we celebrated the birth
that flags, not only of Louisiana and of
the general country were displayed, but
the tri-color Of France, the Russian eagle,
and almost all foreign flags were flung
to the breeze. Is it, then, for an invasion
that we fear? Do we not know that we
have here, in our midst, troops of
the United States sufficient for any sud- |
den emergency? Are we not under the |
protection Of the United States and under |
her flag? Then why the necessity of pas
sing bill like this? Have we any reason |
to expect tnmult or disorder? Are we
fearful, standing on volcano, that all
civil liberty may be destroyed ia our
midst? Is there any indication Of any
attempt to overthrow the government as
we found j.? No, sir, never, during the |
whole history of the State of Louisiana
has there been time when the condition |
of affairs was more peaceful and prosper
GUS than to-day. l saw, therefore, why !
the necessity of this bill? Can you point to
any good result from the enactment of |
such law? Do you not give power to the |
worthless and tumultous to create riots and |
disturbances in order that the militia |
organization may be called out? Do you |
not know that you subserve all constitu-
tional rules for the purpose of placing in
the hands of one man excessive bower? |
Do you not feel, and does not every man |
on this floor feel, that you are giving to
the Governor OF the State such power;
that if he chooses to use it for the injury of |
the people it must be destructive to the |
entire interests of the State?
Imay be told that the Governor of the |
State will not avail himself of this authori, |
ty, that the Governor of the State respects |
the law and will obey it. But can re-
member that when Julius Caesar occupied
one of the provinces in Italy, that he with
his military force crossed the Rubicon, in
direct violation, and contrary to the known
wishes and DEGREES of the Senate, carry
ing terror and destruction into the whole
Roman Empire. History teaches Us by
experience.
Now, Mr.. President, why was not this
bill passed before? Two years ago thele
might have been something of the color
for enacting this law, but not to-day.
Two years ago, when there were tumults
and disturbances, you might have passed
this law, but not to-day, when everything
is peaceful and prosperous, when mutual
interest has cemented the friendship be-
tween the laborer and the planter. / say,
why pass bill like this now, and so create
discord and dissension among the people?
/ tell you, gentlemen, and L call on the
colored Senators particularly. l tell you,
colored gentlemen. you have been sent
here on account of your Intelligence aud