New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-02-27

Legislatures, unless it is regularly repeale
like any other law. 1t is not probable tina
1t will be repealed, because even if me
Jority OF any future Legislature should b
IN favor of the repeal they could no
pass it over the veto of the Governor
In regard to the Warrant Clerk, thin
the provision continuing his office injud
ciOus, but it amounts to nothing more thai
eight dollars day for the performance o
useless services. I do not think that unde
this bill the Warrant Clerk has any power
as it is alleged he had during the last ses
sion, of approving claims and making then
debts of the State.
Mr.. O'Hara moved to lay on the table thu
motion of Mr. McMillen to strike out all il
reference to the Warrant Clerk. Carried.
Mr.. Sypher offered an amendment tina
the members of the Senate donate to tn,
State the amount due them for mileage an(
per diem.
Mr.. McMillen-I move that the amoun
so saved be appropriated to reclaim some
swamp or to make some bayou navigablt
in the district of the gentleman (Mr
Sypher).
| Sypher would prevail.
Mr. Campbell said it was frivolous, be
| cause it was not a proper subject for legis
lation and had not been introduced in
| earnest.
Mr. Sypher said he did not ask the gen
tleman Mr.. Campbell) to vote for the
amendment. He (Mr. Sypher) was willing
to give his part to the State.
Mr.. Harris moved that the Senator from
st. Mary (Mr. Sypher) be allowed to make
his contribution to the State Treasury.
Mr.. Campbell-I make the point OF order
that the Senate can not vote away the per
diem and mileage of any member. Can
vote away your compensation, Mr.. Presi-
dent?
The PRESIDENT would not submit to
that, and l must decide the point well
taken.
Mr.. Sypher-Of course have no right to
vote away the money of any member of
the Senate, but l thought my proposition
would be adopted unanimously, as we all
seem bent upon reform.
Mr.. McMillen moved that a committee
be appointed to receive the contributions of
Senators to the State Treasury.
After the adoption of amendments the
bill finally passed.
ELECTION LAW.
Mr.. Campbell-I move to reconsider the
motion by which the first section of this bill
was adopted. [ desire to ask whether it is
similar to the section in the law now upon
the statute books!
Mr.. Ray-It embraces the same idea ex-
w u
There are two or three sections of the law
as it now stands which have been con-
denSed into one section in this bill.
Mr.. Campbell-1 wish to ask the Senator
who framed this bill (Mr. Ray what are
the distinctive changes proposed to be made
in the old law!
Mr.. Ray-As chairman of the committee
which reported upon the bill, / will en-
deavOr to answer the. question. The first
n I Ln
tween this bill and the old law. is that the
police juries of the country parishes and the
City Council of this city shall fix the places
for holding elections and appoint the com
mssioners of election. Another change is
the provision that the votes shall be
Immediately after the closing of
the polls, on the spot where they are de-
posted, the returns thei eOf to be made in
duplicate by the commissioners at the diff
terent voting places, one to the supervisor
OF registration and one to the clerk of the
court, both of whom shall make return to
the Secretary of State. Another difference
is that the board of returning officers Gre
ated by the old law is abolished. The re-
turns are made by the supervisor of regis
tration directly to the Secretary of State,
except in the city of New Orleans, where
the commissioners of election make the re-
turns to the Secretary Of State. There may
are the principal ones.
Mr.. Campbell-That is the information |
desired to obtain. Now, before we proceed
further in the consideration of this bill, | |
will ask the Senate to indulge me a few
moments while | state the reasons why | |
cannot support it without certain amend |
nents are made which will alter the whole |
structure of the bill, and almost change it
entirely from beginning to end. | hope |
hot fn,,s o,oi1
senator's. will listen carefully to my re- !
marks. desire to speak without any feel |
ng or passion in the matter. | say, with
III the soberness and with all the earnest
less | can command, that it deyOlves upon
Is now, as the direct representatives of one
portion OF the people of the State to pro-
eed with the utmost carefulness. lest We
eopardize. and perhaps entirely destroy,
he political gifts and privileges which
hose people now enjoy in this State |
will be perfectly frank in this matter,
specially as certain leading newspapers in
he city of New Orleans have taken it upon
themselves to charge some of us with being
and not intending to carry out
hat reform which the people demand, and
Which certain Senators have presented be-
ore us in the shape of certain bills. l wish
o state distinctly and emphatically. for
lyselt, that this assertion is not true. will
|
4 this city or State in the enactment of as
air and just an election law as can be
laced upon the statute books, providing
hat the votes shall be counted when they
re cast, and in the presence of the people
Tho cast them. | want them counted in
UGH way that they Will be subject to the
lspection of all parties, and beyond the per
overture any possibility of fraud or deceit.
am willing to do that; but, sir l am not
ii .I,% 7 Il |
hat | know a certain class of people are
orking for with every energy they pos
ess. l am not willing to lend my aid to
rike out from this bill the only guarantee
lat the State has ever had since the re- !
instruction measures passed-that fair
nd free election should be held by the
eOple. | am told on good cuthority-and |
esire both Democratic and Republican
enators to listen to my assertion, and in
estlgate it If they don't believe it-that
he leaders of the Democratic party in
lis State have concluded that all at
mpts to cajole or to win over to their party
le negro voters of the State are useless
ld tallacous; and, to use their own words,
lat their policy for S72 must be a renewal |
the scenes of 1863. | tell you Republican
enators in all soberness and camness-
I'd seven months more will prove the cor ,
ctness Of my prophecy-that if this cleo
On OIL Is passed as III Is now proposed, you
i'll have repeated in the city of New Or
ans, and in fifteen or twenty of the coun-
y parishes of this State, the same scenes I
lat were enacted in 1868 If this bill is t
,ssed in its present shape the election in
Ose parishes will be controlled not by I
fair vote Of the people, but by |
timldation and fraud, and lnurderous VIC 7
nee. l tell you this without any ;nten- '
IN to create i'll feeling. l speak of it as i
y honest, solemn and well matured CON 9
cton, and | think Senators believe what c