New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-01-05
DEBATES OF THE HOUSE.


The House met promptly at twelve O'CLOCK
Ninetyone members were present.
Prayer by the Chaplain.
On motion, the reading of the journal was
dispensed with.
Mr. Burch, of East Baton Rouge, objected
to that passage in the House journal III
which he was represented as making a mo
ton to reject the eighth amendment oi Tue
Committee on Rules.
The Speaker then announced several com
mittees.
The rules were suspended for the reading
Of several bills.
Notices of several bills TO be introduced
byamembers were then read.
Mr.. Brown, of Ascension, asked for slls-
pension of the rules TO introduce Dill.
Rules suspended. Bill read first time. The
object OF the bill was to change venue III
the trial OF the Oliviers and Fisher, III the
/ Donaldsonville riots.
Mr.. Davidson, Of Livingston, moved that
the bill be referred to the Judiciary Com
| mittee, when appointed.
Motion tabled-50 to l2.
The bill was then read for the second and
third ltime under & suspension OF the
rules.
On the final passage Mr. Worrall, Of JEFF
ferson, said: / arise to oppose this bill,
simply because | know nothing about 1t.
| Not single word has been said about it,
| and no member of the House can possibly
| understand it. 1t certainly looks very sus
| picious when bill is thrust in this manner
! without a moments consideration. We do
not know but that this may be doing mani
! fest injustice to persons intercsted-it may
| be an insult to the court and tine juries-I
| call upon the members to oppose it. pro-
| test against the passage of the bill until we
| have had an opportunity of hearing SONG
! thing about it.
Mr. Lynch, of Iberville, explained that
| the bill was intended to remove the venue.
| The accused is apprchensive that he can not
obtain justice in one parish and he seeks
to have his trial removed to another parish.
| There is nothing in it that requires any de-
liberation, and no public interests will be
! damaged by it. l would ask the gentleman
who opposed the bill, on what grounds he
| can make any objection. The public in
| terest has nothing to fear from change Of
venue, and no person can be injured by it,
! and the accused can have q fair trial under
the laws of the State.
Mr.. Davidson, of Livingston. said that
| thirty years ago that bill was passed, and
! there was no necessity for express Iecisla
! ton.
The Clerk shen read the section Of the
! Revised Statutes referred 70 by Mr.. David
| son.
Mr.. Brown, Of Ascension Under the Gig
! cu,nstances, it is impossible to take advan-
! tage of the statute, from the fact that the
case comes off next Friday. The accused
| have no chance of obtaining justice. The
| counsel for the defense is now in New Or
leans, and has been unable to get up to AS
| cension parish up to this day. This trial
will do great injustice to these men. 1t
will not be possible to get justice. have
introduced this bill, and hope TO have it
passed. 1t is necessary to put it through
1 I %v,a$
| innocent. The man accused of the murder
| tried TO prevent the murder, and the other
! two parties were three miles from
! the scene Of the murder when it
! occurred. l claim simple justice to Ameri
! can citizens who are kept closely confined
F.; in dungeons. The witnesses in this case
! came FROM st. James parish. They are
! poor men, and it will be impossible for them
4; to go 10 DonaldsOnville. IT the venue i'll
this ease is changed these witnesses can be
! at hand at any moment, and the prejudice
-; is not SO great in st. James as in Ascension
l.parisil. The accused are law-ahidirg citi-
..as. and should have justice. .. tue hands
I Of American citizens.
+; Mr.. Schumacher, of Orleans, objected 70
establishing sucl' = precedent and wanted
! che ease tried where it belonged. He
memisess coming from Ascension to say that
I! shes- was II" justice in that parish. Our
time il paid iOr by the people of Louisiana.
and w. are here to- slo business. ! shall Np-
F., pose iii things which will occupy Our :ime
/; hc,e. which the people have to pay ioy: who
knows anything about this bill
Mr.. Moncurs. of Caddo: There il no sleess.
sity Tor ans such bill. The law OF Louisiana
is ample 90 protect the innocent. and hope
! this House j. not to be invoked % shield the
| guilty. THE Judge sf the District Court q
! tn. parish oi ascension can grant this
; change "f venue fthe propeS Claim is made
to him. We have none ~ the evidence al
whic!, tn. gentleman has spoken. and
whether sic y.rtscs are innocent 81 guilty
! We do not knew. Let them be tried in tEe
! couXts. where Che Otfenses SIRE committed.
| II there - sufficient reason. the Judge 3
! bound 70 make = change NS Senues and
! appeal to this House not 10 establish such
| IA precedent. but 80 permit this trial 20 take
! its regular eOuyse. because there - ample
means in the Judge. jury and GovsynoS "a
J protect the innOcene
Mro II. Lott. of Rapide.. eta:ei That !,
| was impossible 20 have a jury i'll she parish
but convict the accused, and the people
| to the dictates of their conscience.
The bill was finally passed by II Soss q
! sixty seven to twenty.nine.
Mr.. Wheyland moved an Adjournment.
Motion defeated by vote q. 3lfty t.
| twenty-six.
s4A motion regarding the supply OF news
papers to members, after slight discussion,
was adopted.
On motion of Mr.. Young, OF ConcOrHia
the House adjourned at las Z. NJ! until
| II NJ TODAY