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

with him voted against 1t on the ground OF
it's unconstitutionality. Tho propositions ID |
astonished to hear it advanced by gentle !
man claiming to be a lawyer and occupying
the position held by the Senator from Clai
borne. TIE fallacy it would cover "grins
through the Himsy gOssamer; the weakest
eye can see beneath the veil. In answer to
the assertion that only four Republicans In
the United States Senate voted for Mr.
Summers bill, say never heard of any such
thing before, and if the gentleman has ever
seen report of it, it must have been in
some OF the newspapers of this city which
are apoligists for the mob. The gentleman
from the third district Mr.. Ingraham) has
seen fit to except to my action in raising
the point Of order when he reflected upon
members of the House of Representatives.
did SO because thought he had no right
to iinpugn the action of those men, who were
not here to defend themselves. II he de-
sires to call the attention of the people
to this illegal action on the part
of the House of Representatives., let him
select the proper place-the rostrum-f0r
his denunciatiOns. Let him not attempt to
defeat this resolution by the introduction
of issues foreign to the question. In rela.
ton to my course, tell the gentleman from
Claiborne (Mr. Blackman) that il his re-
cord were us clear as mine, SO far as my
advocacy of the interests of the
people is concerned, he would
stand much higher in the estimation
of his constituents than he does to-day.
His attempt to impugn my motives and
throw discredit upon my sincerity. will not
answer the question whether the principle
of human equality is right or wrong. This
is one OF the reform measures that one class
Of the people demand, and they are anxious
ly waiting to see whether the men they
have elected to represent them are going to
fulfill the promises they have made.
Mr. Ingraham-I rise to a question OF
| privilege. l desire to state emphatically
| that when the Senator from st. James MIR.
Hunsaker) says am less true to my race
| than he is, he states that which is untrue.
Mr.. Hunsaker-I did not say that.
Mr. Ingraham-When he says attempted
| to evade the discussion Of this subject by
| bringing in issues not relevant to the ques-
| ton, he asserts an untruth. am friend
to the colored race, but l am opposed to
! that class of men who. by the force of cir
| cumstances, have been brought to Louis
lana to reign over us. The shackles OF
| physical slavery have been stricken from
the hands OF the colored race only that
these men may place upon them the letters
terrible than the first. am deter
mined not to bend my knee in submis-
sion to that class Of men. Free
before the war, l propose to remain free,
| now that the war is over and when the
gentleman and his associates attempt to
place the shackles of political slavery upon
| me, they will lind / will never submit while
the warm life current courses through my
veins. l have borne the flag OF my cOun-
try on the field of battle, and when it was
| stricken down and taken by the enemy l
rushed forward at the risk of my life to
rescue it, and cried to my comrades to fol
low me. With such record behind me, l
H. To-
have assumed.
Mr.. Barber-I introduced this resolution,
Mr.. President. because l thought it would
settle question which has agitated the
nation for some time past, and because
was DESTROYS of atfOrdirg an opportunity to
the Democratic Senators of giving practl-
cal expression of their opinion on this all
absorbing subject. 1t has been the custom
heretofore. when any measure came mp
looking to the protection OF the race
| represent. for certain Senators to at
tempt to evade direct issue; and it was
in order to bring the question directly and
uneuuivOcally before the Senate that in
PRODUCED this resolution. In my opinion. il
is cminently proper and necessary that the
Legislature of Louisiana should place itself
upon record ON this question. in order
NAV be informed officially of the wishes
and demands Of the cOlOred people OF the
State Why. sir, the very preamble to the
| constitution of the United States contain;
J the best argument that could be adducet
upon this question. 1t reads as follows
) I'VE, the people of the United States, in or
der to form a more perfect union. establish
Justice. insure domestic tranquility, pro
; vide for the common defense. promote thu
| general welfare. and secure the blessings Q
liberty to ourselves and our pOsterity, d'
ordain and establish this constitution to
the United States Of America
4 Now, sir, let us look at the results to b.
attained by the passage OF the civil right
bill of Mr.. Sumner. Under the presen
l status of affairs, if a committee OF Senator
, composed of black and white men should b
S appointed to 90 to Baton Rouge or else
g where to make an official investigation, tn
+. colored men would be forced to take decl
D passage and abide by the accommodation
= there provided, while their white colleague
: would enjoy the comforts of the cabin.
$ is to remedy this unjust discrimination tina
), Mr.. Summers bill is intended. How woul
t the gentleman from Claiborne (Nlr. Black
+ man like to have his wife forced, as min
t was once, into a dirty, filthy smoking cal
/ into the company Of low, vulgar men, an
n subjected to insult and disrespect. when, a
l. the same time, he has money enough
S provide the best accommodations for hel
9 The gentleman says he wants Congress
|
= government and then he stultifes himse
t by refusing to grant the cOlOred peOpl
II equal civil rights forgetting that one OF tn
" very first principles OF republicanism, a
a understood in its broadcast sense, is the pei
! feet equality, civil and political of, all mel
IT The gentleman would hold the cOlOred ma
n strictly responsible for any infraction of til
e law, aad yet, strange to say. Is unwilling
= extend to him all the benefits which I'll
l law affords him. Could any prOpOsitiO
o more monstrously unjust be advanced! W
e ask for no superior advantages over OF
white brethren: we simply ask that Col
o cress shall pass such laws as will secure
n us the enjoyment of our legal rights, an
% compel those who are opposed to us
e cease their causeless persecution. We wal
to see the barriers of prejudice which ha,
W been reared by the favored white RAJ
v broken down and destroyed forever.
E has been argued that We have no right to il
10 struct Congress how to act. 1t is true til;
he we have no such right. but still l think
.e necessary that the national governmel
ID should be informed through the State LIE
y islature, of the desire of the cOlOred Poop
E. that their rights and privileges be place
lie upon solid and firm foundation. Let
n cOlored man 60 to the Varieties Theatre
Ut this city, and how is he treate
h Why, he is put away up i'll the q
" lery. to be looked at like monkey
l. a cage because he is nothing b,
is a niger The proprietors of these plac
to of public resort tell lis they can n
to afford to admit us on equal terms with til
re whites. as they would instantly lose Il
SIS patronage by which they are supporte
at Gentlemen may say we want to tor
| social equality upon them and their tan
he lse: but they who make such assertions a
IT, bat little acquainted with the retiring al
IL uuobtrusive nature OF the cOlOred rae