New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-02-04

~: a ~ INC a0JOlnlng parish, where
!nis constitutional government" was also
IN Iorce, what was the result! One of onr
col0red fellow citizens, who helped to frame
the constitution of the State, was foulIy "A.
sasslnated. Tor no reason whatever excent
mat he was cOlored man and Renuh.
iican This is not the kind of ssconsfitn-
tlOnal government" that l and those I rem
resent desire. I want government that
Will protect every citizen, whether black or
white, Republican or Democrat, in the free
expression OF his will at the ballot-box, and
!naI Is !he KIND OF government we will have
IN LOUISIANA or we will have none at all,
and will 60 back under martial law and
military jurisdiction, as the gentleman
seems to desire. must refer again to that
point made by the Senator Mr. Blackman)
IN reference to majority of the colOred
men elected to the Legislature having been
Kept out of their places. At that time be-
lIeve was one of the foremost men in the
State in battling tor the rights of
now believe, were uniustly deprived of
their seats in the Legislature. My distin-
guished friend from Ouachita (Mr. Ray),
was at supper given just prior to the as
sembling of the Legislature, at which l
made strong appeal to the colOfed and
white Republicans present to see that exact
justice was melted out to the contestants,
and Mr.. Ray did the same thing. The Leg
islature assembled, and who did we find ar
rayed against these men! Did we find op-
posing them the officers whose duty it was
to execute. these laws! No; we found IA
majority of both houses deciding who should
or who should not occupy seats in the Leg
islature. 1t may have been unjust, but it
was not the fault Of the law. a. am of the
opinion that you can not pass law that
will not be abused, to q certain extent. No
matter how carefully it may be wOrded, the
eXective officers will sometimes abuse the
power which is placed in their hands. If
you change the present VS. on registration
and election to the fullest extent, at the
next meeting of the General Assembly you
will have the same abuses to complain OF.
The gentleman is mistaken when lie asserts
that a majority of the colOred men elected
were prevented from taking their seats. In
the House of Representatives there was
case from West Baton Rouge, one from
Iberville and one from De Soto, in which,
in my opinion, wrong was done to cOlOred
men. In the Senate there was one
case which l thought was decided
enormously. l believe those four were the
only cases in which colored men were de-
prived of their seats when they had any
reason or foundation of cOntesting.
think if this question were submitted to the
people to determine, they would conclude
it was better that few of their number
should meet with injustice, that the great
mass might be protected in the exercise
of their rights. No matter how we'll
regulated and enlightened the com.
munity may be, these abuses will
creep In There was another point made
by the gentleman from Claiborne Mr..
Blackman) that our party was going baC k
on us: and he cites as an instance OF it that
the civil rights bill, in reference to which we
cd Y
four votes in the United States Senate.
Now, l venture to predict that that same
measure, which was offered by Mr.. Sumner
as an amendment TO the amnesty bill, and
which received only four votes, will, before
this Senate adjOurns sine die, receive the
requisite number of votes to become a law,
and will be signed by the President. Ifmy
| prophesy is not verified, will say our party
| is going back on us. l want this resolution
| to be placed before Congress as an evidence
| of the fact that the class of people
| represept in the State of Louisiana are de-
prived of their Just and legal rights. Con
gress has solicited our information upon
this subject, and am determined, so far as
| am personally concerned. to lead the
representatives of the nation into no error
| as to whether our people desire 1t or not.
! Now, why did it receive only tour votes
| Because, in the judgment OF majority CT
the Republicans present, it was regarded as
an inopportune time to bring it up. think
| Mr.. Sumner erred when he attempted to
| attach it to the amnesty bill, as there was
marked difference between them-Ont
recurring a twO-thirds vote. while the other
in which we are directly interested, only
required majority to pass it. 1t was one
OF those errors which are often committed
nv earnest zealots like Mr.. Sumner
He has been battling for many long
weary years for the accomplishment OF tn
| object sought to be attained in that bill
| He commenced his great work OF Philau
thropy when our people were chained III
| slavery: he was one OF the pioneers in thu
old Anti Slavery Society at the North, ant
fought his intellectual and moral fight to-
twenty-five or thirty years. until he sue
| ceeded in striking the shackles from tn
limbs of nv people and placing into thei
eager, grateful hands the elective franchise
If the Republican party does not intend t
90 back upon us here, this concurrent reso
tuition will receive the support of every Re
publican Senator present. l AIN astOnishe'
tina. the Senator from Claiborne Mr.. Black
mani, who has SO often testified his vii
lingneSs to accord to the cOlOred people al
their legal rights, should endeavor to sto
the progress Of this resolution by technlca
objections, in order that he may escape tn
responsibility of voting upon it. The resul
to be attained by this measure is question
in which every black man in the State
deeply Interested. 1t proposes to save u
from the humiliation and shame when W
paw the same fare that the gentleman fror
Claiborne (Mr Blackmanj would pay on
public carrier-of being placed in the filthies
and most disagreeable part OF the steame
or train-forcing our wives into the con
pany Of dirty contemplate blackguard
while he aud his wife are enioyin
the best cabin or car. 1t proposes. also,
| permit the gentleman to associate with an
colored man he wishes without laying hin
self liable to the ostracism of his own race
In conclusion. will state. Mr.. Preslden
that if the gentleman is yet in doubt as I
the meaning or contents of the civil right
bill of Mr.. Sumner, l am perfectly willin
to allow him reasonable time to examine
Mr.. Ragan-I anticipated some remark
, from gentlemen on the other side in OppOs
! ton to this measure, and 1t was for thu
reason was not hasty in taking the foo
| AIN in favor OF the adoption OF this res
, luton, because it involves aprincipie whlc
f actuated me when | first became membt
J of the Republican party, and which has a
tached me to that party ever since; IL
, only argument that has been made befol
{ the Senate in opposition to this resoiutlo
was as to the doubt of the constitutional
, of the bill offered in the United States Sc
, ate by Mr. Sumner. During the last sessio
of the General Assembly, had occasion
3 say that if either the State or national co
E situations abridged in any way the RICH
( and privileges of any class of citizen
, was in favor of some immedla
e steps being. taken to amend theI
t | as [ could never support nor
5 spect them otherwise. Another reason
t have for advocating the passage of this re
olution is that l opposed it. | would
i acting in direct violation of the trust r
!. posed in me by those who elected me, and
o could never return to them with such