New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-01-25

on In6 part OF the feFlbOFs, IL Is better TO
let this matter go over till the next General
Assembly, when it will have the advantage
oflthe suggestions from members of the bar.
Mr.. Blackman: 1t seems to me unnceces-
sary to refer this act which has been gotten
up by some of the most able lawyers of the
State, thoroughly acquainted with the juris
prudence of the State, and who have been
for a long time practising In it from thu
time it was admitted into the Federal
Union up to the present time. To refer it
now-sfter having been carefully revised by
these skilled lawyers, looked over by them
and thoroughly examined-to refer 1t now
10 outsiders seems to me unnecessary.
Does the Senator suppose that the members
of the bar of New Orleans, or any other bar,
would devote the time--and 1t would take
one year for any lawyer to examine it, and
see whether there be ady verbal inaccu-
racies in lit would be a strange prOpO-
slttOn, for lawyers never do anything with
out pay, and l am well satisfied that no
lawyer will undertake this work without
pay. Elijah Garrett is an old practitioner
in this state, and there is not more able
lawyer in it. He has devoted his whole
time to this work. 1t would be an impossi.
biity for members of the General Assembly
to examine this work in sixty, or q hundred
and atty days. 1t is possible that there are
some verbal inaccuracies, as any such
work is liable to, and if there are any the
therefore hope there will be no second to
the motion to postpone action of the
General Assembly. We have long needed
revision of the code, and it has been care
fully and ably prepared.
The bill under discussion was passed.
House bill No. 81, joint resolution author
izing Joint committee of the General As
semblY to investigate the charges of bribery
and corruption in connection with the pas
sage of the PeDitentiary bill of last session,
being under discussion
Mr.. O'Hara: l see that resolution proposes
to take notice of some newspaper article;
some gentleman has attacked the members
of the House, and they come forward with a
resolution to investigate these charges.
Now, according to my views of this matter,
| think that il any person charged me with
committing any such act, would be acting
foolisbly were to ask committee to look
over the whole country to find out whether
| was guilty or not. Some one says mem
bers of the General Assembly have been
bribed, have taken money or something else
for the passage of certain bill; some gen.
tleman, with honest indign alton, arises and
wants committee appointed to fnd out
whether he has got the money or not.
think it is the place of the
of the gentleman who charges the General
Assembly with corruption, first to substan-
tiate his charges. For my part, | am not
and never have been in favor of examining
into the one thousand and one tales that are
circulated on the streets, not only against
members of the General Assembly, but
against everybody occupying official posi-
ton. 1t does not become our duty to notice
every frivolous remark that may appear in
a newspaper. Certain papers in the begin.
ming of the session informed us that certain
members of the General Assembly had
graduated in the Penitentiary. Uaughter.)
According to this resolution we ought to
have appointed a committee to find out who
these members are. / look upon this as the
same material and therefore shall move tn
dispose of the resolution in short order. /
move to indefinitely postpone it.
Mr.. Antoine: AS might not have the op.
portunity of explaining my vote, desire to
say here that | am compelled to take the
same position that Major General Ben
jamin +. Butler took when asked
why he had not replied to Ger
tain newspaper charges made against him,
in regard to spoons that they charged be
stole in New Orleans." must say that, if
we undertake to sustain that resolution, we
would have TO investigate every charge
made by every newspaper, both in this city
and in the State. There Is no doubt but
that newspapers may have some substantial
reasons for making such assertions, or to
write such articles; but If we we're TO under
take this work, we would have time for
nothing else; therefore, l favor the motion
to indefinitely postpone.
Mr. Ray: l desire to say word in regard
to this resolution. l think il rather un-
dignihed to take such prominent notice Of
newspaper articles, but in consequence of
the connection that l have had with this
bill, l would like the charges Investigated.
was the author of the bill, and 1 believe,
wrote every word in it, as originally pro-
posed. was in favor of the bill and sup
ported it all through; and as to there being
any bribery and corruption in its passage,
rs far as / am concerned, know Of none,
aud would like to have the matter investi-
gated. l believe the bill was good one
and to the interest of the State; there
may have been some abuses that / know
nothing about, but as far as Il am con-
cerned, 1t is as pure as any other bill
passed by the Legislature; aud as TO COM
peDsation or any other consideration, even
good will, ! certainly know Of none. say,
therefore, would like to have this matter
investigated, although think it undighifed
ON the part of the Legislature to take notice
of such articles.
Mr.. Bacon l would remark in reply to
what has been said by the Senator from
Terrebonne (Mr. O'Hara), that these are
special clarges made by one, who processes
to be able to suhstsntiate them, aud there
or statement made in general terms on the
streets. The party who makes these char
ges signed his name thereto, and processes
to be able to prove what he charges and
feel that it deserves 70 be investigated.
Mr.. Phi choack Iuasmuch as it is said,
that this bill was passed by distribution of
these bonds, would ask the gentleman, did
he get his bonds? (Laughter).
Mr.. Todd voted with the minority
when the bill was up, bat shall vote to in
definitely postpone this joint resolution,
because neither saw nor heard Of any
bribery.
Mr. Thompson: understand that the
parties gave bonds for the faithful perform
ance of their duties, Snd that they complied
with the conditions of the bonds, and that
the bonds were Cancelled. 1t is, therefore,
not the business of the Legislature to inves-
tigate this matter. ! am told that COM
mittee has visited the Penitentiary and 1
would like to see their report before vote
to support this resolution.
MIR. COuplsnd: After the remarks made by
Senator Thompson, would move to lay
the resolution on the table subject to call,
so that we may ascertain what Is the report
Of the Committee on the Penitentiary.
Mr. Bacon: The question is whether, In pro.
curing the passage of this bill, improper
means were used-nOt that they have not
bought any machinery, or complied with the
terms Of the bonds. The charges of Mr..
Winfree are. that q note Of five thousand
dollars, which came into his hands, was
alleged by the parties who gave it, and who
werethe prOmissoRs of the note, to have
been given TO somebody in the Legislature
in consideration of his vote in favor of this
bill. 1t may be true that machinery has
been bought to q large amount, but 1t may
also be true that this $4,000 note was given
fur such consideration. Mr. Winiree says
that he was compelled to compromise and