New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-01-26

by the gentleman from St. James (Mr. Hun
saker).
Mr.. Todd called the gentleman to order.
The bill was not debatable.
The President: No amendment can be Of
fered, but the gentleman can speak against
its final passage.
Mr. Blackman: l am satisfied there can
be no necessity for the passage Of the resO-
luton. but the change that has been made
from the parish of st. James to the parish
Of jefferson has robbed the resolution Of
some of its offensive features. l can not.
however, see the necessity of making the
change Of venue by legislative enactment
when the law provides ample lneans by
which this can he done. If change Of
venue is to be made by legislative enact
ment in every criminal case, the statute
books will be filled with special laws passed
to meet special cases. The law itself pro-
vides the remedy, and court of justice
must be, OF necessity. better informed Of
the facts than the Legislature can be. Wit
ness after witness can be brought before the
court and placed under oath, and can be
called upon to testify to the fact whether the
party accused can obtain Il fair and i'm
PARTIAL trial or not. If they say he can
of course he will and should be tried in the
parish. If they say he can not, then it is
made the absolute, imperative duty of the
District Judge to render Il change Of venue
Under these circumstances, l say that the
law is ample and sufficient for all parties.
both for the protection Of individuals and
for the security of the public; and con-
tend that legislative enactments passed by
the solemn will Of the people ought to he
strictly adhered to. and ought not to be
set aside by special legislation. Ii we ito it
in one case We must do it in all These
things are wrong. They are i'll violation of
the established usages OF our State. and in
violation OF the laws made for the protection
of society as well as for the protection OF the
criminal himself. l speak now as Il nem-
beg of the Legislature wishing to see the
laws enforced. For two years past it has
been the cry throughout the State. and
especially in the halls of the Legislature
that intimidation. violence, ku-klux and
murder prevailed throughout the State of
Louisiana. and that the laws were tramplcd
under foot. Now, when the enforcement OF
the laws has been placed in the hands of
officers elected by the people. duly installed
into office. and belonging. above all, to the
Republican party-thc party in power,
placed there by the very men now :rr:tigncd
before the bar OF justice-it strikes me that
under the law itself ample justice can he
obtained by these persons, without resort
ing to special legislative enactmcn,s. l
say again. If you wish the law enforced.
RACES perpetrated, violate the law yourself,
and then You will see others violate 1t also.
] do not pretend to say what is The degree
of guilt or innocence OF these parties. If
guilty. l wish to see them punished: if inno-
cent. | wish to see them get free But there
is one thin. certain so long as l am il Sena-
TOR OF this state, SO long will | enGcavCr to
see the laws enforced.
MIR. Hunsaker: l must say am aston
ished to see q gentleman occupying the
position of the Senator who just sp"ksn.
IA counsellor learned in the lava gentle
man of acknowledged integrity, stand
ing up in this body, as the apollo
gist OF mass meeting which declared
that Justice could be done to these
men in the parish in which the crime they
We're accused of was committed. He has
stated that the officers elected by the people
in that parish have been duly Installed. and
are Of the Republican party. desire to
caIl the attention of the Senate to tina, one
assertion. l now charge back upon the
gentleman the fact that no one person
elected i'll that parish at the last election has
been allowed to be indicted into Office. The
parish. to-day. is almost in :. state ot riot
and the legally elected State officers
are prevented from enterin. upon their
duties 10y the very men VIII" composed the
"RepuhlicHn mass meeting OF which the
Senator speaks. | claim to know som.-
thing Of TIE Republicans of this parish |
know it from having lived there. and hav-
ing experienced the violence OF the people.
know the meeting spoken OF dc! not rep
resent the Republican party. but only "A
small clique determined to sink these :tc-
ciSed men whether guilty or innocent-a
clique who are seeking blood. and who are
resolved that these Innocent Mcn shall
screen them of Tie sin OF which they them
selves stand accused to-day before
God and man. | want the Senate
to know that the men who got up this
called Republican mass meeting are the
very men who did the killing. When see
meeting called together by such men,
must doubt whether there was IA single Re
publican among them, or a single man who
desired to see the law enforced. When this
BIZ first came up. it was sad SOU lt TO
change the venue t" Il PARISH where law
could not he enforced. | accedcd to tie
wishes OF promncu, Democrats. and
changed the venue from the parish o. 81,
James to the parish OF jefferson. wish to
say that do not know a single man, woman
orchid in the parish of Jefferson. firmly
believe that the prisoners also do not. / DO
not know the judge. the sheriff. or the prose
cutting attorney, and know the prisoners
are in the same case. Therefore il can not
be said that we seek to shield these men
from the consequences OF crime or TO put
them to trial in ii parish where ven-hanGeti
justice can not be melted out. l am sur
prised to hear the Senator from Claiborne
Mr.. Blackman). talk aboHt the law bein.
enforced i'll the parish Of Ascension. when
to-day the Parish Judge and the Sheriff
stand without the pale and have not even
been allowed to qualify. Prejudice runs SO
strong that these men. elected by the
people. can find no one bold enough to speak
i'll their behalf. He says the law is sufficient.
If so. how was it that at the last session of
the Legislature. without one dissenting
Voice, the Venue OF case was changed.
when another class of men sought it. |
don't recollcct that the Senator from Clai-
borne raised his voice against that change
OF venue; but, because now, an unfortunate
class of men seek a similar privilege. he
rises up III all his majesty, and demands
maintained. In urging this question |
do SO because l an familiar with the
facts, because l know these men can not
get Il fair show in the parish OF: Ascension.
l have accorded to the gentlemen on the
other side tina. these men shall be tried in
Jefferson. In acceding this one point. be
hcyc have to some extent .jeoMardiZed the
rights OF these accused. because they are
poor and will iiud it difficult to bring their
witnesses so far from home: and l do hope
that every Senator who desires even-nanded
Justice Will vote i'll favor Of this propositions
Mr.. Futch: The first proposition was, l
believe. to change the Venue from Ascension
parish to st. james. in the same district.
opposed that 1t did not seem to ne that
Justice could he secured by removing then.
from one. district to another. 1t viii be re
it was urged then that there was
fnr I l.i -,