New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-01-10

| fully concur in the sentiments expressed in
| the resolutions now under consideration.
| If I we're to give utterance to my individ-
uaI sentiments and opinions upon this sub
iect ! would be more specific in pointing
ou6 to the people Of the State certain evils
| which have crept into our laws, and which,
in ny Judgment. need correction. believe,
| however, that the expression of these resO
buttons, although general is intended to
cover those evils, and intended to convey
| TO the minds of the people OF the State the
| fact that we are disposed to correct
them wherever they exist whether they
or have grown up in the execution of
those laws. l will go hand in hand with
| every citizen Of the State of Louisiana in
| demanding and in trying to obtain from the
| proper legislative authorities the passage of
| the refOrmatOry measures which are neces
sary under existing circumstances. The
people are heavily taxed, and l am in favor
| of the reduction OF their taxes. The ex-
penses of the State government, in both
the executive and legislative departments,
are enormous and beyond the means, be-
lieve, of the people of the State l am in
| favor of the reduction of those expenses to
something within the limit which obtains
in other States of the Union. l believe in
cutting down the expenditures of the State
|
| and then living within the means that we
| collect from the people OF the State for this
| purpose. One word in regard to what is
| called the revolution in our midst. l
deem the action of certain members of the
General Assembly as revolutionary in its
| character. l believe that some OF those
| Republican members who have been led
| away by the false teachings of prominent
| members of the Republican party are SIM
ply mistaken in the view they take of the
situation. l believe they are leading them
| selves and the Republicans they represent
| upon the floor of the House of Representa-
| tives into serious and, perhaps, fatal error.
l believe they are guided and controlled
| by the enemies Of the Republican party
| of the State of Louisiana and the enemies of
| Republican institutions everywhere. l be-
| lieve that the leading spirits of this conspir-
acy are members of the Democratic party;
| and it is unnecessary for me to tell you, MIR.
! President and members of the Senate, that
| the Democratic party OF this State is OPP
| posed to Republicanism and republican in
| situations. The annals of 1868 fully prove
| the truth OF that assertion. The conduct OF
! that party ever since the close OF the war Is
| full OF evidences that it is antagonstic to re-
| publican institutions, and that it will not
| stop short OF any means at its command to
| overthrow Republican rule in the State Of
Louisiana. believe this to be their purpose
now, and believe these Republicans who
| are cooperating with them do not know
their real object, but are led astray by these
| glittering generalltleS In regard to reform.
| If they want reform, let the absent members
| of the Senate come and take their seats and
| act reform. Let us revise the statute books,
| and strike from them those measures which
are against the well being Of the people of
the State, and pass other laws which will
grant everything that a peaceable and law
abiding community can desire. But do
| not wish this to be done through revolution
and bloodshed. No good can come from a
successful revolution in our midst. To-day
the city of New Orleans and the State OF Lou
| isana are losing more, in pecunlary sense
from the bare possibility of a revolution
than they could possibly lose from co..
tinuation of the unwise legislation which
characterized this General Assembly last
wear. l repeat that if the Legislature
should go on in its career of unwlse leglsla-
ton until the close of the session, 1t would
not inhict upon the city of New Orleans
and State of Louisiana One-tenth OF the IN
iury. SO far as dollars and cents are con
cerned, that they are suffering from the
presence of these Republican revolutlonlsts
in our midst, who have cOnsplred with
leaders of the Democratic party to over
throw the present State government. That
is the purpose they have in view, and do
not believe they will stop short of the use
of any 1aeans at their command to accom-
piish their ends. Are the people OF Louis
lana to be benefited if they succeed Are
the people of New Orleans as well OF to-
day as they would have been if this General
Assembly had convened properly and gone
on to adopt such legislation as was neces,
sary! Does the credit of the State stand
as well as it would have stood if this revo
luton had not occurred BY no means
The loss to the people of the State through
the shadow that is thrown upon her credit
the loss to the people OF this city through
the decrease in business and IN patronage
and the driving away of people and trade
will be far greater, in my Judgment, Oh
account Of this threatened revolution
than it would be from any injudi
cious legislation on the part OF the Gen
eral Assembly. Therefore, in a pecHnlary
point of view simply, this revolutionary
! movement is unwise and injudicious. Blu
they do not intend to stop for any reasons
of that kind: they propose to overthrow
the State government by the use OF any
and every means at their command Ihey
} intend, through riot and blOodshed ano
} anarchy and confusion, and by invoking
the very worst elements in the city to theu
. aid, to succeed in their nefariOus schemes
Those ''nefarious schemes" that are re
, ferred to by the Democratic central Com
mittee are justly chargeable upon them
| selves, anu upon luoSC WIN oo-oPStdeo " 40
them in the Republican party. They arr
the men'who are trying to throw discredl
upon the State government, and, by ever!
means in their power, to overthrow lesltl
mate authority.
} Shall they succeed! hope not. trus
that the seventeen Senators present vii
continue to come here day after day ant
; wait for quorum; that the House OF Rep
resentatives will stand by US, and that tn.
| oxaoutivo nf the State will he able, VIII
the force at his disposal to withstand an,
! onslaught that may be made against us
Let it 90 forth to the people OF the State
that we are here ready to enact measures
of reform; to secure to them the benetlcla
, results of wise and just laws; to rellev
them of any unnecessary burdens tina
thew bear, and to give them ample protec
ton in the exercise Of their Legitimate
rights.
The resolutions were adopted, and tn
Senate adjourned.