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

ing in effecting such legislation as will re-
lieve the people of their heavy burdens,
and thereby challenge the respect of the
people of the State And when that time
comes we will give the Democratic mem
beers, who have said so much about reform.
an opportunity to prove their faith by their
works, and to stand shoulder to shoulder,
elbow to elbow, with the Republicans who
are striving to relieve the people of their
burden of taxation. This being the anniver-
sary of the battle of New Orleans-a day
that ranks with the anniversary of the
birth of the immortal WashingtOn-I say
that we should have a little rest, as am
sure that rest will be calculated to quiet the
public mind. l am in hopes that before the
close of the day those 4uondam Senators
who have been out in the Wilderness Will
make safe their return to the State and take
their places in the Senate and participate in
that legislation which the people OF Louis
lana SO much need. We will then embrace
the first opportunity to make clear to the
people that when we say reform we mean
it. And, as | before remarked, reform is
no new thing to me; have always been in
favor of reform. l am actuated by no mo-
tives of alarm in making this declaration to
the people OF New Orleans and of Louisiana.
that pledge the support Ut the Republican
members of this House Of Representatives
in the turtherance OF these projects of re-
form which have been fOreshadowed
in the Governors message. l am
in favor of the repeal of the election bill.
l knew at the time of its passage that
we needed some security to the people in
the full exercise of their right OF suffrage;
that we needed some measure to insure
that security, but this bill was too strong.
| believe that the people OF this State are
willing to extend the right of suffrage to
every man, without regard to race, color or
previous condition. | do not wish to give
the Governor that power which this bill
| gives him. l further believe that the regis
| tration laws likewise require some mOdlh-
cation. l believe that the constabulary bill
may be changed. The time has arrived
| when it may be safe to modify that bill.
| / always believed that the Metropolitan Po-
| lice bill required somes change. / believe the
| people are right in calling for these changes.
j tell you, sir, that the people are right
| in calling upon their representatives for
| these changes. l tell you, sir, we owe it to
them to further these reform measures as
much as is compatible with the constitution
and the peace of the people. Now, sir, in
| reference 10 the anomalous condition IN
| which we find the Legislature of the State
to-day. Last Monday the House of Repre-
sentatives met and assembled here, but
there was no quorum in the other branch
of the Legislature. Day succeeded day,
|
occurs to me that the only business of that
Senate is to adjourn and assemble. Yet,
| Mr. Speaker, We are in the right, as Is
proved by the history of legislation in this
State, and the position occupied by George
| w. Carter is revolutionary. am told that
| the Gem of the Wilderness has disappeared
forever. In furtherance of the passage OF
the resolution offered by me with
| view to advance reform, and to show ts
the good people Of this State and city that
! we are sincere, and intend to sustain the
Governor in his measures of reform, which
have been called for by both Democrats
and Republicans IN the city and outside OF
he city, we will transact all business that
we have a ri ght to transact, as soon as the
Senate gets quorum; and propose, MT
Speaker, that as soon as we get through
with these acts Of reform, we adjourn and
90 to our homes. believe sir, that if these
Guandam Senators return We can pass all
these measures in thirty or forty days.
Mr.. Harper, of st. Charles-1n the mids,
of all this excitement now pervadins
throughout the city, want to say. as tai
as 1 am concerned myself, that Governor
Warmoth has always been in fayoEof and
mended it, as is fully proved by his course
since he has been Governor of the State
MI Speaker, | believe that all this hue and
crv for reform is raised by the broken dowT
rebel aristocracy to get possession OF the
State Legislature. | don't believe thai
these men who support the Rum Shop Leg
islature mean reform any more than the J
did when theystook the labor of the blacl
man and never paid dollar for it. | be
lieve that these gentlemen are actuated 10y
the same motives now that actuated then
in 1868, when they kept the black maj
away from the polls because Ia
asked for the same rights tina
other men had. Tie Republican party i
in favor of reform-has always favored it
the same kind of reform that placed tn
negro III possession Of equal rights with III,
white man. am satisfied that the lntelll
gent citizens of New Orleans are not il
sympathy with the Carter Rum Shop Legis
lature. And | am glad that the opportu
nifty has come to lis at this time to declar
to the people that we have their welfare a
heart. and that we will labor to frustrat
the designs of those who, through tn
medium of the Carter Legislature, are try
ing to force the State back into anarchy an
barbarism. If the people will lend thl
Legislature their support they will obtal
their much desired reform. l say that
have always been in favor of reform.
have always labored to promote the caus
of education, and agriculture, and every
thing that was identified with the interest
of the people of the State.