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

watchwords Of the day. On these prhci.
pies l have taken my stand, and here /
will stay, firm and immovable, as long as
l have a vote to give or q voice to raise;
and if, in spite Of all my endeavors, the
banner of liberty, equality and fraternity
should fall, will die fighting in its defense.
AID my last words will be an appeal to the
people-"to the rescue, to the rescue"
Mr.. Smith, favor the passage OF the
civil rights bill Of Mr.. Sumner because it
secures to the cOlored people the rights to
which they are entitled. 1 should favor it
still more if it guaranteed to the whole
people, regardless of color or prejudice,
the enjoyment of their legitimate privileges
under the law. l desire the passage Of
law under which legally elected colored
men will not be refused their seats in the
Legislature because they will not be the
subservient partisans of one man.
Mr.. Lewis thought it advisable to order
the resolution and the civil rights bill
printed, in order that Senators might be
thoroughly acquainted with the subject
matter before voting upon it.
Mr.. Ingraham-The question Of granting
civil rights to the colOred man equal to
those Of the white people has been agltated
by the politicians of this country for the
last two or three years. do not know that
uything could say would influence the
vt0e of any Senator on this floor. because
believe every fair and unprecedented mind
is convinced of the necessity of the passage
of the bill offered by Senator Sumner. While
supporting this resolution, however, l can
not refrain from saying that the colored
people of this State sadly need the passage
Of some law protecting them IN the exercise
of their political rights also. l look to the
House of Representatives, and see that Mr.
George Washington, honestly elected to
that BODY by the cOlored voters of De Soto
parish, IS not permitted to take his seat,
which is usurped by one Mortimer Carr. In
the parish of West Baton Rouge We find
that Mr.. Theophile Allan. a cOlored man,
was legally elected by the people to the
House of Representatives. and yet his
place is now filled by somebody else. In
the parish Of st. Martin the wishes and de-
sires of the colored people were again dis
regarded The seats Of Mr.. Castillo and
his colleague. legally elected from that
parish to the House Of Representatives, are
now usurped by Mr., Mcfarland and Mr..
La Saliniere.
Mr.. Hunsaker raised the point of order
that the members of one branch of the
General Assembly could not impugn the in
tegrity of members of the other branch.
The Chair decided the point well taken.
Mr.. Ingraham-I hope the official reporter
has taken down what l have said. l think
it exceedingly strange that the gentleman
from St. James Mr.. Hunsaker) should
quietly listen to similar remarks from the
Senator from East Baton Rouge (Mr.
Ragan) without Directing.
Mr., Huusaker-1 object to the official re-
porter taking that down. as it is not true.
The President said the official reporter
was not employed to write down facts OF
falsehoods, but to record what was said in
the Senate Chamber.
Mr. Sypher moved to amend the resolu
ton by inserting the word Recommend
instead of the word instruct" He did moi
think it came within the province of a State
Legislature to instruct the national Congress:
how to act.
The President said the word instruct
did not appear in the resolution.
Mr.. Sypher-I do not deem it necessary tt
speak Of the civil rights bill of Mr.. Sumner
1t is perfectly proper that Senators wh'
have become converts to RepuDllcanisli
more recently than have, should talk Ions
and loud upon this subject. They have go
thirty years talking to do before they cal
catch up with me, and when they do over
take me, shall be ready to say sOmethin:
more on the subject.
Mr.. CAMPBELL am happy to learn iron
| the Senator who has just spoken that HI
| does not deem it necessary to say anythin!
| in support of his abolition or Republican
| record l also think it unnecessary that h
| should do So | am also delighted to hea
the Senator say he pOstpOnes his mex
speech for thirty years. | do not know
whether | shall be alive at the end of tina
period, but promise if am living to liste
to that speech with as much satisfaction a
have listened to the last effort of the gentle
man. have few words to say upon thi
resolution think it highly nece:
sary and proper that Congress shout
| be informed as to the wishes of the peOpl
through their representatives IN the Genera
Assembly. desire to call the attention c
| the Senator from Claiborne Mr. Blacl
man. who am sorry to say has just lei
| his seat to the fact that he has torgOtte
that one-half of his constituents desire th
| passage OF such a measure as this. In
| gentleman SAYS he has never read the civ
| rights bill of Senator Sumner. venture
say that a more humiliating confession wa
never made before by any gentleman on tn
floor of this or any other legislative bod.
| ask the gentleman, who appears to be
anxious for the passage OF reformation
measures whether he does not deem it ne
essary to acquaint himself with the wish'
and needs of his colored constituents, VIII
as he himself admits, compose One-half :
the people he represents In the face
that admission the Senator has though
proper to question the expediency OF cOnsl
ering this subject at present and to impue
the motives Of Senators who desire to co
slider this question, touching the privilege
and immunities of &C, goo people OF this Sta
and 4,OOO,O 900 people of the whole country,
preference to some paltry question IN ret
renee to the representation of some distrl
on the floor of the Senate. SO far as l a
personally concerned, am not afraid
the record shall make and have made as
Republican. I am satisfied that every X
publican Senator, whether he has agreed
disagreed with me on political questions +
the last twenty days, will coincide with q
that it is duty we owe to those we repr
sent to support such measures as thus.
desire that our Democratic friends, wi
have preached long and loud to the Peep
of the State their doctrine OF reform, III;
have an opportunity presented to them
place themselves on record on the qucstl'
as TO whether they are equally DESTROYS
protect one-half of their constituency IL Il
exercise OF their rights.
Mr.. Hunsaker-I desire TO add a ft
words more to the remarks ] have alrea'
made. The argument used by the gent
man from Claiborne Mr.. Blacknan, is {
same that we have heard throughout t
, State of Louisiana and the South ever sin
, the close of the war. The gentleman al
| his party dare not come forward and s.
: boldly that the position assumed oy the Il
publican party is wrong, but the VIII!
, burden of thei: song is that we are insi
, cere in our professions. 1t matters Il
whether my antecedents are OF are not su
) as to warrant the people in believing in I
sincerity; the only question is, are the pri
! ciples | advocate right or wrong! That
tue question upon which l desire him
: place himself upon record. l want him
r say whether he will vote against a measu
which bears upon its very face the imprt
, of justice and right. He can not evade I'll
: question by asserting my insincerity.
| shall not ask the Senator from Claibor
a (Mr. Blackman), nor any other Senat
~, inInrSa me as a consistent kcnuI