The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1870-02-05

SuOAA do tAOy "OIO Represented NY
Mr.. Ray he would cheerfully vote
for the bill, but it contemplated
only to make an autocrat Of the
Governor and perpetuating the
rule Of republican rule. Mr..
Braughn then took occasion to
remark chat he was sorry there
were not more Democrats present
to aid him in defeating the mea-
sure. e.. s.. h...
MIR. Foute asked for call Of
the roll. This gave rise to con-
siderable discussion. In order to
ascertain who was present, Mr..
Ogden, by. flank movement, OBJ
tanned the call of the roll on a
motion to go into executive ses-
sion. Messrs. Anderson and Ofutt
were the only Democrats found
to be absent. .,i+ -. SO
The motion of Mr.. Ogden failed
to pass. .-r.. ~ ., .
Mr.. Braughn now desired to
have the matter settled whether
a member had the right to ask
for call of the House. - @'
The Chair decided that he had
not if it was to ascertain how
many members Of a political party
were present.. =
Mr.. Braughn appealed from the
decision of the Chair and called
for the ayes and nays. The Chair
was sustained.
Mr.. Anderson entered and took
his seat.
Mr.. Braughn resumed. It was
not the fear of violence that in
stigated the passage of the bill,
but the fear Of not being returned
to Office by the people among
whom a revolution had taken
place. He also condemned the
absolute power given to the Gov
ernor over. all civil and military
officers on the day of election.
He ventured to say if such power
were placed before the people at
large to obtain their consent, they
would refuse by an immense ma
jority. He also referred in strong
terms to the clause which pro-
hibited anybody from carrying
weapons except those persons I'M
der the control Of the Governor.
Speaking of the competency Of
sheriffs to execute the laws, he
referred to the recent action of
Sheriff Thos. L. Maxwell in exc
cutting the law against his fellow
Democrats, however obnoxious
the duty was to him. The bill
would be productive only of iiti-
cation, trouble and annoyances.
Upon the power which the bill
grants to the Governor in author
izing him to determine who is
and who is not elected, he refer
red to the governments of Eng
land, and even France, who |
would not dare to give such ar
bitrary powers to their sovereigns.
He looked upon the bill as anti
republican. as a dangerous exper-
iment, and obstructive of the
liberties Of the people. The !
speech of Mr.. Braugfn on this
occasion was probably his best
effort since he has occupied seat !
in the Senate, and lasted over an
hour. 1t was certainly creditable !
speech, which touched on every
point of the bill.
Mr. Ogden followed Mr.: Braughn, !
and made one Of his most elo-
quent efforts-in fact, this bill |
seems to have aroused the indig-
nation of the Democratic Sena-
tors, and with it their good sense |
and eloquence.
Mr.. Ogden took occasion to say
that the bill was not drawn by |
Mr.. Campbell, but by lawyer |
whose reputation before the war
was second to none, and had !
prostituted his talents by drawing
such a bill. In connecting this !
bill he had been assisted by a
supervisor Of election present in
the lobby. Mr.. Ogden addressed
his remarks to the colored men,
denying the proposition that be-
cause q man was born in the
South, or had been a STAKEHOLDER,
he was all enemy to the colored
people.
The Senate adjourned.