New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-01-12

! or the bare ruInor Of its presence, upon al
branches of trade, has been estimated. by
practical business men, at several millions
CT dollars annually.
| A growing spirit OF harmony end good
| will, between the different classes OF on,
people, has been strikingly evinced during
the last year. 1t has been seen in a strongly
| pronounced disposition on the part OF all
good citizens in most parts Of the state,
| without respect to partisI1 differences, t0
| preserve order, enforce the laws, and render
obedience to all legally constituted all.
thorty. The devices and Vaccinations OF
| evilly disposed de,nagosues and restlessand
irresponsible parties, who seek 70 profit by
| times of alarm and violence, have eeen set
aside Ivy the good people Of this State, who
| are most deeply interested in is peace and
prosperity. The result has been that this
disposition, aided by the SOLITARY laws
| passed by the General Assembly. and by
Congress, have secured, during the last fall,
the most quiet, peaceable and orderly elec.
ton the State has witnessed tor many
years. IN former elections, even " thin two
years, New Orleans and the State have been
the scenes Of violence, riots and blOodSbed.
which have diagrtced their name. and
greatly injured all their interests. This
fall. an important and exciting election was
held without any conflict or disturbance,
and with scarcely an arrest. Such a ghin.
was never known in New Orleans before.
fee! especially gra.;tiesl 10 I've able
10 lay this before you as "a matter
Of record, because the last Genera Assem-.
bly, deeply impressed by the alarming and il.
creaeing violence and lswlessness displayed
in our elections, and their lamentai.e effects
upon every interest OF The State. had. with
a. view to remedy these evils, enacted strin-
gent penalties against such OttenseS, and for
their more certain enforcement had clothed
the executive with ample powers. have
endeavored to use these powers with mod
GRAFTON as,d impartiaG:y. bat with tirrnness
and viii, the single aim 20 preserve the
peace aud to secure 20 all men irrespective
of party, race, or color, the -ree exercise OF
all their rights az citizens.
That have been able 30 DO SO without
arraying against the law any class Or party.
may be accepted az IL proof that tie laws
were wholesome and W Use, and tina. the peO-
pie, ~ q Whole. have been satisfied that
their execution was faithful and impartial.
l can not pass from this subject to other
details. in justice. without calling your AZ
tenton to the general and peaceab!e acqui-
essence of our people in .he results ot the re-
construction policy OF the general govern
meut. Their acceptance o! It as rnailty
has been much more satisfactory n LOUISE
ana than in any other State II TIE South.
This must be attributed 70 the patriotism
and wisdom of orr people, ana 10 those
features OF State policy which hive led 10
this great and desirable result. !, has
always been my sincere conviction that
il is safe to trl,s: to the good sense. the
honor and the sober second tho, Oh. OF the
people. This conviction TITS determined my
course on matters Of State policy. even in
matters where | was forced. for shor: time.
to diff troE many of my po':tica! friends.
The peaceable character OF the late election,
and the favorable condition Q. Louisiana as
compared with many other Southern States.
have, | think. convinced both friends and
foes that l was right. J have RETAINED
from all severe and Arbitrary measures, or
recourse to mere force, appealing. on al &C
casiOns and in al localities, 70 The Justice
and discretion OF The people themselves.
Under all circumstances. however. I have
held myself in readiness 20 employ all the
resources At my command. both ciN!. and
military. to enforce the laws. preserve order.
and protect cyerv cit zen in his rights. 30
far az the authority OF the executive could
be lawfully used. The good results 81 this
spirit of harmony on al sides. uron the
prosperity of the state, can 10. ne estimated.
!. has been my pleasa:. ,c,:rne. during
Ike past season. 20 T.si: :. ",ca! portion OF
our State. ~ answer 20 repeated and cor!ia!
Invitations from many o; my .a..ow.':izens.
which were extended 20 ne cy gentlemen
o. all political parties. had Teen led TO
believe. from the assurances o: :l.anv prom
inent citizens, that J sould IND the lead
ing. mos. influential and entclTrising people
OF the different localities lnht.e, with better
and more advanced 1teas tran those petty
partisan animositles and -nctioIa. hates ant
nrejtjdices. which, Vayiug The breasts OF =.
small class OF men. Eiore noisy than !ln-
portaEt. had hitherto caused mitch Of the
domestic trouble O! on. State. and brought
disgrace llpon IS name. AID that :he good
people Of the State had taken IS peace and
order INFO their own hands. IS was proper.
ana that tho power II these tat. and rest
less spirit. va. gore. an, g.ad 20 say
that these ASSURANCES nave been realized.
i have everywhere been received with tia:
vented cordially and hospitality for which
ipul-!anans are so Gcservetly famed.
y kat is more important. everywhere saw
evidences that the people were determined
to see thai the laws were oteyed. and the
rights Of al men, under the Jaw. respected.
! was mel with assurances ron al parties.
that IN every effort 20 advance the welfare.
credit and the greG: interests 81 the State.
should receive ~. Hearty .crro,: d The
people"
AMENDMENTS 20 TIE CONSTITUTION.
Tie last General Assembly proposed four
m pertant amendments TO orr constitution,
people at the last election. The first amend
ment repeats the ninety ninth article Of the
constitution. This article, by reason Of its
Il S.raachsement of an influential class of
our citizens, for political reasons. was OBJ
noxicus to them and their friends. Is the re-
suit has proved, was distastetul TO almost
all. incorporated in orr constitution by an
wise>spi.'it of retaliation. and by its
peculiar phraseology, serving mainly 10
irritatc and humiliate. while debarvinS from
suffrage and office only the most scrupulous
and upright Of the class it was aimed against,
and admitting all others. il had all the most
odious features Of distranchisemen.. with
none of ITS good effects, if such there he.
II - to the lasting credit OF the frs. Re
publican administration OF Louisiana. that
the amendment to strike ont tl,is last vestge
OF the war, i'll our constitution, was passed
with the unanimous Republican vote OF the
General Assembly. and Endorsed unani-
mouslv by the people. 1t is no .onge- a
part of the constitution. NencetortL. in
Louisiana all disabilities resulting from tne
war are removed. and no citizen j. dis
franchiSed by its laws, excer. 10: c:-me o.
mental disability.
The second amendment limits me total
amount Of State Indebtedness TIA: ear lie
contracted up to the year 1899 - :he SUN Of
%, 100000. All indebtedness, Of whatever
character, contracted above ire amount
before that time. is illegal and nuI. and
VOID. This voluntary Limitation IL the
people Of the amount ot indebtedness v .lick
they Will incur, for Il term of years will
have the double effect OF increasing The
credit Of the State securities. thus lessenirG
the interest the State will have 20 'av on
any future loans, and of compelling rigid
on the part CT The state govern