The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1871-03-29
familp Reaoino and Mems Jtems.
The Louisiana Legislature.

The Louisiana Legislature.
A correspondent of the Missouri Repub-
lean. writing from New Orleans soon after
the legislature adjourned, states:
| The general assembly went for all tina,
was in sight. both present an prospective,
So extraxagant had they become in the
''bargain and sale" business that a mem
ber bingham, coIored. of the senate), pro
posed that they appropriate every thing
that the state had. both in the way of 6uan-
ces and credit for said he. ..it does seem
from this last proposition that it is the pur-
pose of this body to MAKE a clean sweep of
the entire monetary institutions of the
state" l must do this member the Justice
to say that he at this the eleventh hour (for
it was near midnighD became Disguised
with tho robbers and pulled out from them,
f0riously denouncing the whole proceeding
and offering his take ,ll amendment on pur-
pose to block the game and Kill the Lili Ia.
tended for more robbery. The house broke
up without a regular adjournment except
that the speaker announced in the uprcar
''sino die," which abruptly terminated the
spree in all official capacity. Tho order of
the house had been wretchedly badfor some
days, but not till the last day did it get in
,olerable to the individual ingredients that
composed this legislative compound. Ii
quor, which had flowed freely all the after
noon session, began to run wild as soon MS
they got together for the night session.
There is but one scene on earth that can
be compared TO the last hours Of this gath
ering. He who has seen the low breeds and
doggish ours of a whole region meet to-
gether under the veil of night. to conclude
their feast and pick the bones of the carcass
ses of sheep they had previously destroyed.
and has heard the bowling and barking AZ
the carnival became exciting. and each dog
felt hims elf spurred by keen relish for the
ringleader's share. l repeat, he who has
seen at this. has some idea of the magnitude
of the .disgraceful scene Witnessed in the
house of representatives of Louisiana, The
large hall where the lower house meets was
with the lobby ring, niggers and
others interested iu the scramble for spoils, |
fully one hundred feet back Of the MEM
bers' chairs and around the outside railing. |
every sort and sample of the human race |
that did not look respectable hung in clus- |
tiers like bees settled on limb. No ono |
offered to keep anything like order. except |
the chairman, and he finally, in the height |
Of the confusion and uproar, when men we're
answering to the ayes and noes BY accla-
nation aud bowling, many of them over and I
over again. like hounds baying on the track
Of deer, that their vote might sound as
dozen voices. when all was in one grand
wrangle and. hurrah, some standing on the
top Of their desks. shouting and waving
their hats. and calling ..Mr. Speaker
II 1ohk
he rostrum. behind and around the speaker.
him on the back end kicking
be desk and floor to help him max noise
hat was Impossible for chairman with one
yavel, in all this wild reveiry and g,and
lrunken spree the chairman overcome by
nd olsc;s!Iy ferniffhhaaqqeeapncead .:aips die"
rand annual pow-wow Of the Legislative
arpet- bag scalawag who have abolished
hame to glory in the title Of the champi-
ms of fraud and perfidy., All former ses-
ion have appeared respectable in ther last
,ours compared with this. Never before
las there been so general anAbandonment
# decencv and self respect as was INDUCED
n through the last FIVE hours of the session
which has just closed.
The moral character of the members of
he Legislature of this State is thus defined
by the above writer: p,
Few, very few of the members belong in
This state. They have no interest here ex-
cept the chance of stealing which their po-
sition gives them; and. as Bingham OF the
senate said Louisiana treasury warrants
will soon go down to Zero" Tho chance
for more plunder is poor indeed. The pro-
bability is that the great majority of them
will 60 off to some other country, where
they will not be known as having once been
part aud parcel of the Louisians carpet
bng legislature. 80
The following picture Of Legislature cor.
ruption aud effrontery is as true to nature
as it is humiliating to the State:
A series of resolutions had been propos-
ed, and some other business named in CON-
nection with the next meeting of the leg
islature which was for the consideratiOa
of members between now and that time.
Thanks were offered 10 those who had been
most dnigent and energetic in putting in
shipshape and engineering various schemes
of pIundering, and the coincidence of oil
was rendered to the unlucky who had fall
ed to get their bills sthrDugh. on Account
Of the Termination of this body after sixty
days sitting ms provided BY law. Stand
ing committees were announced tor the
work of getting up aud arranging schemes
Of robbery roady for the next session. 20
that they could 60 at once to work - soon
~ it meets and get the, largest amount pos
sible from the bone dust left Of the car
cass already picked. Fse r-.aistiona we're
(some of them) exceedingly witty, and had
evide dently been prepared By one thoroeghiy
acquainted with the secret operat'ons o.
this body. Several Of the resolution were
80 planted as to indicate the entire a0an-
don Of the legislature to system OF roo.
berry. The language used was to the point
and quite plain; not equivocating in the
least. but calling thief aud robber by the
straight out name, aud the parties most
conspicuous in plundering were emphssi I'd
i cspisal style Any one mot acquainted
here could hat have believed that this bur-
i-sque scene relating TO the proficiency OF
members of the loveyseouse in the business
|of appropriatins. aryneiqg md engineering
bills to a succsssfal fopo VOID have been
relished aud tolerated y coensil Of law
makers supposea to be convened for the
good of the State; but il 10 20, and not
the half has been told in 'psblic.
And who stands behind this Legislature
to protect it. aud to give, i aid and com
fort! The President Of the United States
and the Federal Congress! A as further
protection. thcy raise the CRY Of '.Ku
Klux!" appoint heartiess comihittees exact
heartless laws. aad pretend that good IN.
| ion men who bold ofices 1t the South art
| in danger should be protected BY the y
s. Army. Curious that the southern pse'