New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-11-12

Merulag sessleu,
FRIDAY, February "a, 1877.

districta and opening new ones. He though
was unconstitutional, aud at any rat
ought not to be done until the next election
as the number Of judicial districts was lin
3ted TO twenty. He advised Senators VII,
nad friends they wanted appointed Judge
to pitch in, ~ there were only two district
left: The bill passed. a
The rules being suspended, to enable th
senate to take up the joint resolution I,
amend article ninety-eight Of the constitu
ton - -
Mr.. Hunsacker said Standing ON tbi
floor ~ Republican, representing 4 Repub
lcan constituency, can not INT reenr.
this as direct blow aimed 1t the peonle
represent. This amendments, If adopted
will have the practical effect Of cutting OF
one-third Of the Republican voters of m,
district. When the constitution was frames
1t was noted fact that the majority Of th1
persons composing the Republican part,
had no fixed locations. By their poverty
and their occupations they were bound Il
wherever their interests could be served
! am . little surprised at the source
from which this bill emanates. If it haG
come from the other side / should not have
been surprised at it. think can ace The
object of the author Of this bill. 1t is Il
compel certain period of residence before
person can hold Office. If that is the rea
object OF the author Of this message, will
vote tor that; but when see resolution
which will practically disfranchise almost
one-third Of the voters Of this State must
oppose 1t. stand committed to Republican
principles. ] believe the cardinal principle
OF my party 10 that If man 10 q citizen Of
the State he is q citizen all over the State.
venture. to assert that in the parishes Of
this State the greater portion of the Repub
llcan vote changes annually. and will con-
tinue to change throughout the year. IS.
Mr.. Sypher: When ! voted for suspen.
sion of the rules, to allow this bill to be
brought up. did not understand it at all.
l would he very much in favor Of the
amendment If it were restricted to Office
holding. If am in order, would make q
motion to reconsider the vote by which this
bill was placed on its second reading.
Mr.. Hunsaker seconded the motion.
Mr.. Lewis: am in favor of this resolu-
ton from a practical experience of the
tone of the minds of q number of honest
men with regard to this subject. There has
been custom in this State, under the pro-
vision Of the constitution defining citizen
ship and the registry laws combined, to
transfer into parishes outside the city of
men who have never seen the bound
aries of those parishes, probably. in
the whole course of their lives. Other
people 60 out into the parishes ~
registrars of voters with NO intention
OF becoming citlsens of those parishes, but
simply to get their salaries. As registra
ton, however, takes more than ten days,
they thus become citizens under the exist
ing laws, and IN nine cases out of ten, or
ninety-nino cases out of hundred, the
registrar, instead Of returning az an officer
who has fulfilled the special mission on
which he was sent, comes back as repre-
sentative to the General Assembly from the
parish where he was registrar of voters. He
did not intend when he went there to he
the parish, but simply manipulates an Office
Of the parish-simply exercises the power
given him to receive the ballot boxes and
keep them in close custody as long as he
pleases. and count the votes at his leisure.
What is the consequence? Instead of bona
fide citizens who are interested and identi-
fed with the people of the parish, this man.
who owns no interest in the parish, and
cares nothing for the people, is sent here.
What is. the effect OF this carpet-bagSing in
the parishes What gain is it to any man
outside the city of New Orleans to be a re-
publican citizen and a strong advocate of
the Republican party. If nm can live in his
parish, and stand up for Republican prin-
ciples, does he gain any Of the emoluments
of the partyl No, sir. Instead Of getting
an appointment he is ignored. Nothing is
der the present system it is the carpetbag-
gers from the city Of New Orleans, sent
here from parishes they never saw till they
went there as office holders; that get all the
emoluments of the party. At the same time
gentlemen living in the parishes, conscien-
tious Republicans from infancy, hav-
ing an interest in the country in
and are treated as if they were
worthless or without principles. What
advantage is it to have been Republican
in the face Of all opposition Of the pioneers
Of the Republican party, the men who fought
on the skirmish line; the men who have
been tried in the fire of persecution and
found pure, are set aside for New Orleans
carpetbagger. It is contended that the
adoption Of this amendment will operate
ton comes on in November, and the colored
man does not make his contract until after
the first Of January He moves after he
has made his contract if he moves at all.
1t takes twelve months to make . crop, and
consequently he will always he six months
in parish before election. This does not
affect the colored vote, but it does operate
against the principles of carpet-bagging.
say that the clause Of the constitution -
now existing, combined with the present
election law would crush any country in
the world into the dust Of degradation and
humiliation.
Mr.. Barber: am in favor of the adoption
Of the resolution, with one exception. 1t
seems to be the wish of the majority of the
Senators that the resolution 60 as to make
it apply only to holding Office, and I feel
we have had sufficient experience of the re-
suit of the operation of this provision of
the constitution to induce ct this time some
action. think it is necessary before any
gentleman can be entitled to represent any
constituency that he should be fully aware |
OF and acquainted with the wishes, designs
and objects which his constituency require |
him to advocate. l believe it is impossible |
for gentlemen to leave any portion of the |
come sufficiently acquainted with the wants
of the people Of that section of the State as |
to properly represent their wishes and their |
demands. When tho constitution was |
adopted q new order Of things was lust |
being started, and it was supposed that |
many of our people would change their |
localities. But after two or three years we |
have learned that these changes were not |
SO numerous as it was supposed they would |
be- and that, consequently, the object for |
which this clause Of the constitution was |
enacted no longer exists. am not at all |
astonished that some gentlemen will oppose
the adoption Of this amendment. What |
does it propose. l have listened
luton, and the only change see
must live six months instead of ten days. |
Even six months think is rather limited, |
put will support the adoption Of it in its
preset form. The gentleman who opposes I
his resolution INF. Hunsacker) says he |
Oes SO because il ODeratee against the |