New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-02-25
Aelr 0rlea,,s Republican.
fFIClAl JOURNAL OF THE UNITED STATES
OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF new ORLEANS
DEBATES IN THE SENATE.
FRIDAY, February IL. 1872.
THE ELECTION BILL.

THE ELECTION BILL.
Mr. McMilleu moved that leave of abb
Sence he granted to Senator Sypher until
Tuesday next.
Leave of absence was granted.
Mr.. Misunderstanding that every Sena-
tor should be present when this law Is DIS
cussed. and leave of absence having eeen
granted Senator Sypher, l, alter 'cohsui'a-
fion with number of Senators VINO concur
in the proposition, am about to move that
the election bill be recOmmtted to the
stapding Committee on Election and Reg
istration. with instructions to report II PACK
on Tuesdy next, and that it be made the
special order of that day at two o'clock
Mr., Hunsaker seconded the motion, which
was lost seventeen yeas to eight nays. -,
Mr., OHara proposed to make the Dill
the special order of the day for Monday.
The proposition received no second,
Mr.. OHara-I was requested to make the
motion by a gentleman VINO now oeciihes
TO second it.
Mr.. Campbell-I ask the consent OF the
Senate to change the amendment oHered by
me so as to read that live persons be Sc,
Iected by the Senate from both political
narties. who shall be the returning officers
for all elections in the State, a majority OF
whom shall constitute quorum, and have
mower TO make returns for all elections.
In case of O vacancy, the vacancy to be
filed by the residue of the board OF re-
turning officers"
Mr.. McMillen-That is the same PROPOSE
ton as that made yesterday.
Mr. Campbell-Exeept that fill up the
blanks.
Mr. Hunsaker-I object to political parties
being named in the amendments. l am
willing to vote for a Democrat, If he Is
good man; but object to pledging myself to
do SO in any case.
Mr. McMllen-Does the Senator from the
second district mr. Campbell) propose to
introduce further amendments clothing this
board with extra powers!
Mr.. Campbell propose first to settle the
question as to whether we are to have a
board or not, and then as to how they shall
be appointed.
Mr.. McMillen-Then after that we will
settle what power we shall confer.
Mr. Campbell-Yes.
Mr.. McMillen-The proposition of the
Senator from the second district MR.
Campbell) embraces, then good deal more
than a mere substitute for the second sec
ton of the bill proposed. In its length and
breadth, as understand it, it contemplates
the creation of board ofreturning officers.
with power to revise the returns made py
the commissioners of election, and to de-
clare who have been elected by the people
of the State to the various offices, and by
their means, also, presume it is proposed
to throw out certain polls, precincts or par
ishes at their discretion. This is the gen.
eral proposition In other words, it is pro-
posed to re-enact the provisions OF the
Law of 1869 or 1870, and clothe the
board of revision with the eXtraOrdl-
nary powers therein conferred. Upon that
general proposition the Senator from
the Second District Mr.. Campbell)
entertained the Senate yesterday twice
$ with such arguments as in his judgment
were necessary to secure its passage The
Senate was also addressed on the subject
by the Senator from Claiborne Mr.. Black
mani, and by the President of the Senate,
Lieutenant Governor Pinchback. By these
two latter Senators, if may be permitted
to say so, in a most extraordinary manner,
and without particular reference to the
matter under consideration. The Senate
nd large lobby We're entertained with
two very remarkable speeches, which
might be proper on the stump. put whch
seem to me entirely inappropriate in the
Senate-the President of the Senate going
into the collateral issues Of civl. rights, the
rights of the African race, and the rights OF
the people of louisiana; and the Senator
from Claiborne (Mr Blackman) INDUCING
very freely in comments and remarks on
the right of revolution against constituted
authority, holding over the heads OF Sen
ators threats that unless we enacted such
laws as he and his friends in the name OF
the people demanded, they would by force
take the rights which we failed to give
them by virtue of law. This is remark
able statement, particularly to come from
Senator addressing the Senate on propo-
sition before the Senate in the interests OF
the constituents he represents. But we
must not forget that we live IN remark
able time. This is revolutionary period;
revolution is the order of the day.
From 1861 to 1872 we have had nothing
but revolutions in Louisiana. Every revo-
luton brings its revolutionary hero. and
the Senator from Claiborne Mr.. Blackman(
seems on this occasion to loom up as the
hero of the elements he represents. He
holds out threat Of violence if We do not
give them their demands. They cover
their demands under the glittering name OF
reform Reform in their estimation repre-
sents all the powers necessary to enable the
Democratic party to regain the control OF
the State at the polls next fall. This is
what they consider to be reform. In my
daily walk and conversation | am IN the
habit of meeting representatives OF the
Democratic party, and when, in conversa-
ton, / detail to them what this General
Assembly has abstained from doing, and
what it proposes to do; what great improve
ments we are going to make upon our past;
how in our own expenditures we are gong
to save seven hundred and fifty thousand
Assembly: how i'll the matter of assessing
and collecting the taxes we are going to
save another quarter of a million: how III
the matter of the Metropolitan Police ex-
penses we are going to save to the city OF
New Orleans "A quarter OF million; how
we are going to pass the city funding bill,
which has been prepared 10y the City Coun-
Gil, to limit the authority Of the city OF New
Orleans to create more Indebtedness; how
we are going to inaugurate and carry out
all these reforms; how | propose to intro
duce Joint resolution into this Senate, for
bidding the creation of any more indebted
ness on the part of the State
The President-The Senator from Carroll
aMr. McMillen) will pardon the Chair if he
calls him to order. He appears to have
fallen into the same error which he says
was committed by the Senator from Ciai
borne INF. Blackmanl and the President OF
the Senate.
Mr.. McMillen-The Senator from Car
roll has such illustrious precedents that he
NAV well be excused. l was about to say
that when / talk with these Democratic
gentlemen and detail to them these various
Dropositions to bring about financial reform
in the State, they look with indifference
unOn these statements of mne-these facts
which are either accomplished facts or sc
nearly so that no falr-mlnded man can saN
the statements are not correct-they looh
with indifference, say, on all this and turn
round and say, "What are you gong TO &c
about the election law! What are you
going to do about the registration law. DOL
lars and cents, which are SO often alluded
to by the Democrats on the stump, lose
their fascination in private conversation i
find their feelings centered round these re-
forms in the political status oil The state