The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1870-02-12
Peoples Meeting in New Orleans.

We have full accounts of the
immense Indignation meeting
held at Lafayette Square, in New
Orleans, the object of which was
to consider what steps are necessa-
ry to check the unwise and cor
rupt course of the legislature
Several speeches were delivered,
and no little Indignation mani
tested, although the meeting was
quiet and orderly. The meeting
resulted in the unanimous adop-
ton Of the following resolutions,
and the appointment of a commit
tee to present them in an appro-
pirate manner to the General
Assembly,:
Whereas, certain measures have
been introduced in, and are now
pending before the General AS
sembly of Louisiana, which pro-
pose to give to the Executive of
the State the control Of the cleo
tons, and the. administration of
:justice; to establish in our midst
an armed and uniformed militia,
subject absolutely to his orders;
and to confer upon private corpo-.
rations exclusive privileges, and
to grant them State aid to a ru-
inous extent; therefore, be it re-
solved by this meeting. represent
ing as we claim to do, the people
Of Louisiana, without distinction
Of party ....
/. That we view with indigna
ton and alarm the efforts which
are being made by unprincipled
and selfish men to impoverish us
upon the one hand, and enslave
us on the other, and that we can
regard the men who advocate
these measures, whether in or ont
Of the Legislature, in no other
light than as public enemies. =
2. ResOZred, That the series of
measures known as the constabu-
larry bill, the registration bill, and
the election bill, are but parts of
a. system which, if successfully
(inaugurated, will destroy the free
dom Of elections. and in cOnnec-
ton with former legislation, con.
centrate in the hands of the exec
utive controlling and most
! dangerous influence over all the
brancheso of the State government,
| and make him an absolute despot,
clothing him, at the same time,
with the means of, perpetnating
his power. .~..s..s..-,. -. -.
g. Resozced, That our opposi-
ton to these measures does not
depend upon the character of any
particular individual who may
now or hereafter fill the Office of
| Governor, but we solemnly pro-
J test against conferring such un-
limited power upon any man, as
| utterly opposed to the genius of
\ republican institutions, and dam
gerous to the liberties of the peo-
pie. .....-.. ..........-...-- =. .
| 4. Resozued, That we are not
here as the opponents or advocates
of any particular financial or rail-
road scheme Or schemes now pend
ing, or that may be hereafter in
troduced into the Legislature,
but we declare ourselves unaltera
bly, opposed to any increase in
the liabilities Of the State, and
equally opposed to all schemes
which propose to establish mo-
nopolies or confer exclusive rights
or privileges upon individuals Or
corporations, believing, as we do,
that all such Legislation tends to
repress competition, to shackle
and embarrass commerce, is des-
tructive of liberty, and at war
with the fundamental principles
OF free government.
5. Resolced, That while we earn
estly desire to maintain the credit
and honor Of the State, and will
cheerfllly submit to any taxation
that may be necessary to pay in
principal and interest every debt
of the State that has been honest
1y and fairly contracted, yet there
is a point beyond which we can
not and will not go; and we now
give notice to the world that we
intend to use all the means in
our power to prevent the pay
ment of any bonds Or other obli-
| 0atiOnS of the State which NAV