The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1870-02-05
Gossip About the Legislature.
NUMBER ONE.
Il From the N. O. Commercial Bulletin. I

Editors ButtetM-l propose to give,
from time to time, through the columns
Of yonr paper, All insight of the secret
operations of the body now assembled in
The Mechanics Institute, ycl~pt the Leg
;slature Of Louisiana. In doing 80,
shall give the names in full of the mem
hers who. by their votes and disreputable
combinations. known as ''rings," make
themselves ameuable to the charges of
bribery and corruption. A full and com.
plrte exposition of this kind will give to
thr world "a correct idea of the character
of the men who propose to make laws
for the people Of Louisiana, whilst at
tie same time it may tend to deter some
of the more timid from yielding to the
corrupt propositions of parties interest,"
ed in the passage of bills which grant
extraordinary privileges anI State aid.
No one at all familiar with the work
ings of the Legislature will deny that q
large proportion, if not u majority OF the
members. derive their support from the
sale of their votes. Men who are noto-
riously known to have no property, with
ont ANY occupation, who formerly we've
bar-keepers, cigar vendors or hackmen,
now sport diamond rings and breastpins,
goldheatled canes, drive their own horses
and buggy, and live at the most extrav-
as,nt restaurants, and drink the most
expensive wines. All of this they do
with an air of freedom and impudence
that would pat to blush the inmates of
the peuitrntlary.
1t is u well known fact that at the last
sessian of the Legislature the Ship Island
Canal hill, the Slaughter House bill and
the Louisiana State Lottery bill were all
passed by buying the votes OF both
branches of the Legislature. Some Dem
ocr.ts. too, iS well as a majority OF the
Republicans, sold themselves to the pro-
,iect"rs of these outrageous schemes, and
hence have made themselves liable to
the same scrutiny that | shall exercise
over the Radical vampires that are suck
ing the life blsod from the State. This
session either and more gigantic schemes
Of fraud are contemplated, and in some
instances have already been introduced
and hi ve found active and Jealous ad
voeates among the Radical members.
Senators Beares. Wittg-nstein, and
O'uara have only to be convinced that Il
bill contains :'brass tacks,'a the leei$ia-
tive term for money, and a fair division
with the friends of the scheme, and their
support can he secured until an "pp"-
sing party offers a higher price and
stranger Inducements. The gamblers
have ia Pincll,'ack, with his partner An
toins, strong supporters of all measures
for facilitating the pursuit Of their avo-
eationa. These negro Senators, witt.
ans Belot in the House, are themselves
professional gamblers, and it would
seem natural tor them tO use their efforts
in the Legislature to remove all legal
barriers from their road to fortune. The
more unaophisticated and ignorant ne
gro naeml'ers from the country, Pollard
and ,Poindexter, are entirely influenced
and controlled by their more elegant and
knowing co,freres from the city. Acting
iB concert with this sable crew is seen
tAe aafiaifea WittgeHsteifi .sttA tie ita
mense Bearss. Both are over jealous in
their efforts to force this new gambling
bill thrnugh tise Senate, aud the question
naturally a:.~.s, how much pay are these
worthless t0 :'.eive for their services
q lu the House see u resolution has
been Introduced by the Hon. James Nc
Cullen, and passed, appointing u CON-
nsftteeTtO s.xamine the charge Of corrup-
tsa,n made against members Of the Leg
islatare 10 passing tile bill giving State
aid % the pesitsntiary. Mr. McCull-n
ls arhl consistent Democrat, an ex-
celasutI representative and strictly hon
co 8Dd irreproachable. As he was a
ntessber vi the Penitcntiary Committee
lust scssiOn, tiIs charge reflects upNn him,
aud BE- EOHly WISHES to DIX the corrupti.n
upoa the members who are really guilty.
Al szatainati0p of tisis matter will show
that Zen thonsa.id dollars were divided
aEaOsg gthe camasi iftee, aud Senators Bea-
fes and Witteepstein received n large
seaa. gf the money. It will be- sinipossf:
as. Aeweser. to ,oe,tain u committee that
1 VIII In vestigate, these charges. The
speaksr himself. Mortimer. Carr, being
interested ID all these corrupt transac-
Iioha VIII appoint on the committee only
.isoss who ARE In the same category. IN
taas.Eay NO report will sver be made
Iaslafeating any member or con victing
Them &c the charges. In fact, 90 noto
Iiois EiSaf cBrraptions and . venaiity of
taesaaaaical members 0f the Legislature
sass0nesof she members Of their own
party, and an officer. publicly denounced
and ol.enls enlarged them with having
sald ont, % rinss organised to secure the
paasage of certain bills. J.. A. Craig, the
! ASssnsaslt Sergeant tat Arms, is the Of
dsualag man, and the House 10 ahoRt to
Gan,sii him for bis tenasrity by removing
Alllla ffsssn 0sice. -
!. AL 81 this stage Of the sesaion I Dee that
ngsT have bees formed TO put through
I. .As sallnRing bills, and 40 they. progress
" Y Their work Ishaii faithfully rspsrt
sIas asans adopted for aocamp plishinls"
slelr pasaage, with tile nAsnca OF the
.aslaaeFs who figure most prssRinent9v
e slasaf sapport. The bills referred TO
4 IN 81 - fssE* ~
lht gsmbling acs. .s.'i.' =. ..ss:.
p bill TO aid the Chattanooga Rail
4 x0al. sh al ss 81 ri tsFs@@S*s5$ss tEsss
#5 N ashill ID aid Margan's Railpad.4
. ~ slHll 10 E~iieve eertain hanks.
s.ls w VII 70 appropriate @5.000 600 for
I 3 salse Honse.s s.sz..s|s ~
Z s,aa ll'tless ether siiIs Of like character
VI III, !. Present themselves before' the close
w sstsaiaI, ami as they do I VIII 6s
s t'asasa fOgiyt ynu their secret history,
ssse II NAH watch them with the eyes of
SeB WORK done at this Office. Il