New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-01-17

by Senators on this floor. to stay in this
State and fight to the last day of my life,
and / make this prediction, should these
men succeed for time, they will find the
party-whether called Republican or not
the party in favor of what We are now
struggling for, equal rights to all men,
they will find this party, though 1t
may be many years to come, once
more resurrected and clothed In all Its
power, and until that day comes, and when
it comes, ! propose to stand upon the soil
of this my adopted State and hold these
men up to the scorn and cOntnmely OF the
people thew have betrayed. l have done
nothing Of which l am ashamed. l have
done nothing for which l will abandon my
home and my interests at the beck OF any
mob or assemblage of rioters. propose to
stay in this State until l shall one day
bring Packard and Casey before the bar of
an indignat people and convict them Of the
crime of attempting to sell out the rights
of the very men who put them into their
positions.
Mr.. Harris expressed himself satisfied
with the explanation given, and withdrew
his opposition to the resolutions.
After the passage OF the amended resolu-
tions-
Mr.. Campbell said: l perceive by the
evening paper that the dispatches from
Washington are of this character: that the
feeling of the administration is decidedly in
favor of keeping hands off in Louisiana at
fairs. | am glad to hear it, because the ad-
ministration down here is decidedly IN favor
of keeping hands on. l wish to inform the
President that the actions down here are
not in accordance with the feeling up there.
MONDAY, January -, 1872.
Roll called: eighteen Senators present:
quorum.
ELECTION LAW.
The bill repeating the election law being
on its final passage, Mr.. Whitney asked to
be excused from voting.
Mr.. McMillen objected.
Mr. Campbell desired to explain his vote.
Mr.. Whitney objected.
Mr.. Raglan thought some arrangement
should be made by which Senators could
explain their votes.
The bill finally passed.
CoNsTABULARY LAW.
Mr. Thomas. by unanimous consent, in
troduced a bill repeating the cOnstabulary
law, which passed it's first and second read
,ngs and was considered engrOssed. The bill
being on its third reading
Mr.. Campbell said Mr.. President, as
Senators were SO ungenerOus as to deny me
the privilege of explaining my vote on the
previous bill, l desire now, without making
any set speech, to state briefly the reasons
for my action to-day. In view OF the hiatus
which existed in our legislation On account
OF the absence of quorum Of senators
from their seats Democratic Senator, be-
longing to that portion of the people who
are opposed to the various laws upon the
statute hooks in reference to registration,
election, etc, has consented, as l under
stand to take his seat and make a
quorum of the Senate, on condition
that those laws be repealed. This
is done in the presence of a threatening and
rotous mob of men, who have armed them
selves. and are making efforts to take pos
session of the State government and over
throw the regularly constituted authorities.
This demonstration on the street threatens
the peace, the property and the lives OF the
citizens of this city, and it has already done
GREAT injury to their commercial interests.
In view of all this, against my own feelings
and against my firm convictions OF what is
best for the whole people OF the State, l
vote for the repeal of those laws. l wish it
to be placed upon record that yield these
convictions simply because in SO doing l
assist in removing this lock upon the gov
eminent. upon the business and prosperity
State from threatened anarchy. In voting
as do wish to say that adhere strictly
to the principles of those laws which are
about to be repealed. l had agreed to
make notifications in them but believe
their total repeal is unwise and im9rovident
at this time.
Mr.. Thomas-I have little to say to you,
Mr. President, and to the members OF the
Senate If it were possible, wOuld like to
address myself directly to the people of
Louisiana. for whom these remarks are in
tended. have taken upon myself great
and solemn responsibility in taking my
seat and constituting quorum OF the Sen
ate to-day, although it may appear to many
that, in doing SO, was simply discharglng
the duty l owe to my constituents. De-
,ayed unavoidably at home for many days
after thu meeting of the Senate, have only
recently made my appearance in this city.
have looked upon the contest which has
been raging here for the past fortnight,
with the view of judging fairly and impair
tally of the relative merits of the contest
ants. Fortunately for the people OF this
State and city, it has not yet eliminated IN
bloodshed nor do ] believe it will co so,
even though this body had not con
vened as it has today. 1t seems to
me, as an outsider, viewing this
contest from an unprejudiced standpoint,
that it has resolved itself into personal
contest on the part of those who desire to
place themselves in power against the reg
ularlv constituted authorities OF the Stale
using as their argument the demand OF the
people of the State for reform. l, as
Democrat. was willing to fOment these
troubles, thinking that out OF them good
might result. and believe the time has
now come when these good results can DC
attained. The meeting Of the General AS
sembly today, for the purpose of passing
these neutrality-suspicious. is an assurance
TO the people that their demands are al
last meeting with an adequate response
1t is to you, Republican members OF the
Senate, that the credit for these results
should be given. We can not expect t.
force ANYTHING from the hands of the domi
nant party; we have not the power to &c
so: we have not a sufficient number of votes
to BASS such laws as we may desire to place
upon the statute books. 1t is for you to pass
them and tor us to give our quiet assent tt
them. If Won pass these measures OF re
form. if YOU repeal these obnoxious ant
monstrous laws which have been pressing
like an incubus upon the people OF the
State, it is an assurance on your part thai
Won have some regard for their interest.
and welfare. So far as this personal con
test is concerned, / care not for 1t. The
GOOD people of the city with whom have
had the pleasure to converse, have assured
me that they DO not desire its continuance
Their commerce and material prosperit,
have been seriously affected by it, and viii
be almost ruined if it continues mucl
longer. ! have come here and taken M
seat for the sole purpose of cooperating
with Won in passing measures OF retrencl
ment and reform measures that will lIghte
the burdens which my people bear recog
nizing the truth of the axiom that 'tha
government is best that is least felt by tn