Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-02-04
NEW ORLEANS.
Exposure of Legislative VlIlaInies by Gov
Yarmouth.

NEW ORLEANS, February S.--The
Committee appointed by the citizens
meeting in Lafayette Square, Monday
night. waited on Gov. Yarmouth
Yesterday afternoon, and presented
The resolutions. The Governor, re-
plying, said he was glad personally to
see them, but desired, however, to say
something relative to that meeting, IN
Justice to himself and the Government
he represented; stated that ne had
vetoed a great many bills making
subsidies and grants to individuals
and companies, which IN few m
stances had been passed over the veto;
chat there were many in the Leglsla-
ure ignorant of the manipulauons OF
iobbyists-men who have been recent
ly entranchised-they have to be
taught and instructed. g think, gem
tlemen, that if you will give me the
support and assistance which you
ought to give, from your standing IN
this community, / shall be able 10 re-
strain these people from running into
the excesses complained OF IN these
resolutions.
Let me make one complaint
against you, gentlemen, as the repre-
sentatives OF those IN whose behaIT
you appear. You charge the Legisla-
iure with passing cOrruptly many bills
looking to the personal aggrandize-
ment Of individuals and corporations.
Let me- suggest to you that these indl-
Viduals and corporations are your very
best people. For instance, this bank
bill that is being lobbied through the
Legislature now by the hardest kind
of work. We have been able to de-
feat that bill twice in the House, and
now il is up again. Who are doing it?
Your bank presidents. The best peO-
ole of the city of New Orleans are
croWding the lobbies of the Legisla-
ture. and continually whispering
bribes into the ears of these men to
pass this measure. How are we to
defend th8 State against the interpo-
sitions Of these people, who are po-
tent in their influence in this cOmmu-
nityW
The Governor went on at length,
making disclosures as to how various
measures were engineered through the
Legislature by the SAME good cluzens,
to sign one of which he had been Of
tered $50, 600 by one party, and in ad-
dition, Mayor Conway, Of this city,
had offered him any consideration 20
sign it. The bill was vetoed. The
biz here referred to was the i've mil
hon gold bond bill for redeeming city
money. He was also offered S5O,OU
to sign the NicolsOn pavement blIl,
which ne vetoed. rhe Governor COM
ulaine d OF the refusal of the leading
men OF the State to counsel with &4m,
although be had invited them y do
20. ana said: 81 make this complaint
10 you as an ind. viGual. l make il as
a citizen of Louisiana. l came here
TO settle among you, and by accident
I have been elevated to the position l
now occupy; and If you and the 25UO
citizens who were presentat the meet
ing which sent you here would only
give their support TO me and honest
members Of the Legislature, there
Will be no difficulty IN restraining
imprOvident legislation. L think l
have Il right 10 ask it, and ii you VIII
give it l assure you that many of the
evils complained of VIII be avoided" e"
In the course OF his remarks, the
Governor stated that Auditor Wick
lie had robbed tins Stats of hall a
million dollars, and said-in conclusion
it was his purpose to administer the
affairs Of government and State 10 the
best OF mis- ability i0r the interest and
welfare OF the people.