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

80 of Public Accounts should come for
dIodi now and attempt to shield himself
from the responsibility OF paying claim
Inch was at least supposed by large
w.'n,her of the members Of the Legislature
n ~ he illegal aud fraudulent BY stat
=; ~ that j expressed the opinion
~. NJ such certificates of Indebtedness
tn. included in that act; and that he, poor
;nnocent man, shall pay every claim that
nomes before him, whether legal or illegal.
That is not the character of the Auditor; he
anss not generally act in that way. l do
S uOt wish my name to be connected with
u. .S;s matter in such way as to indicate that
fssuctiOned or in any way approved the
I.sru,ept of this claim This is q very small
Raie tor the Auditor to try to creep out Of
1.aneat. with all due Difference to the
senator from Ouachita (Mr. Ray), that in
nc opinion, certificates of Indebtedness
iuru = part of the floating debt of The State.
While expressing that opinion do not in.
,snd TO countenance in any manner the
's.ronosition that the Auditor can, without
riutbority pay claims which are regarded
as Illegal and not a part Of the floating debt
of the State.
u Mr. Anderson-The act authorizes the
! hoard of liquidation to take up certificates
of indebtedness.
tho Auditor of Public Accounts shall be EN-
covered to issue certificates of indebted
boss when he is satisfied there Is legiti-
mate claim existing against the State, put
that such certificates shall not constitute a
debt of the State until the Legislature shall
have passed an appropriation to pay them!
| Thu subject was referred to the Judiciary
Committee.
CIVIL RIGHTS BILL.
The Joint resolution requesting Congress
~ mass the civil rights bill presented by
1,nsn hxaf.N %t,r, c.,
Mr.. Blackman said: shall vote
against the adoption of this resolution be-
| cause | do not know what Mr.. Summers
civil rights bill is. l am perfectly willing
TO Grant to the author of the resolution (Mr.
Barher), and the class he represents, all the
protection possible, but l cannot vote upon
a matter which l am entirely ignorant of.
If the gentleman Mr. Barber) thinks OPP
nose it because happen to belong to the
other side of the house, he is entirely mis-
taken. The object the Senator has in view
in calling up this resolution is to crowd out
another resolution which have introduced
providing for the proper representation Of
The people in the Senate. have never read
Mr. summers civil rights bill, and it would
he an act of self qualification if voted for
this resolution. If the majority is deter
mined TO adopt it anyhow, would like to
offer an amendment.
Mr.. Hunsaker-I have pledged myself
to the people who elected me to vote for
the passage of such measures as this, and
when feel satisfied that am acting in
accordance with their wishes and desires,
lam perfectly willing to postpone the con-
sideratiOn OF other measures which are not
necessary and important to them. stated
at the last session Of the Senate that was
elected by a constituency which looked
to me to advocate such measures as
suaranteed to the cOlored people of the
State equal rights before the law. That
oueston has never been settled. To-day
We find the colored people of the country
asking the Congress of the United States
toyeicIlsafe to them the right to enjoy the
same pri vileges which are exercised by their
more favored white brethren. What is the
nature of the resolution now before the Sen
ate, 1t is simply a petition from the dOmi-
nsnt class Of this State. through their
chosen representatives, to the Senate and
House of Representatives OF the I'M. ed
States. asking them to recognize their man
hood and give them equal rights before the
law.
Mr.. Blackman-Did the Senator (Mr
Hupsaker) ever read Mr.. Summers civil
rights bill
Mr. Hunsaker-I have read it.
Mr.. I,lackman-Then you can vote upon
this resolution advisedly but do not intend
10 vote for a measure know nothing OF.
Mr.. Hunsaker-I am aware, MIR. Presl
dent that it would be against the estab
lished rules by which they are guided II
certain Senators did not vote against any
y measure indorsed by Mr.. Charles Sumner
but | happen to be a member OF the great
party OF which that gentleman is a recoS
nized leader. and the measure now under
consideration sets forth the main principle
for which that party has battled SO many
years. The Republican party is the party
of progress-the party which has practlcall,
iuaucurated and carried out to its legitimate
extent the great doctrine OF the equality
of man. In order that the gentleman iron
Claiborne fMr. Blackman) may know VIVA
the civil rights bill OF Mr.. Sumner Is, VII
send a synopsis of it to the Secretary desi
to be read.
The Secretary read the paper
Mr. Hunsaker-I doubt very muci
whether the gentleman Mr.. Blackman) o
the constituency he represents ever reat
bills OF this character: OF, IT they 90 reat
them. that they do go intelligently, o.
acknowledge that they understand them
But | venture to assert, without rear
successful contradiction, that the senate
himself and every man he represents ma
read what is known as the amnesty Dill
which il intended for their relief. Ii
understand this resolution correctly. It ]
simply a petition from the Legislature Q
louisiana to the United States Congress
asking for the passage OF the Dill introduces
by Senator Sumner in relation 10 the gram
ING Of equal civil rights to the colore
people of the country. l regard sue
questions as this of the utmost lmpOrtanc
to the people we represent, and 90 no
think any Senator can honestly assert tina
our time is improperly expended III thel
consideration. l can easily understand WI
the senator from Claiborne (Mr. BIackman
onposes this measure. He is "a membe
and a champion of the Democratic party
which has been opposed to the prnclpl
enunr;ated in the bill of Mr.. Sumner eve
s;nce its first organization. We can, there
fore. easily conceive why the gentlema
should tax his ingenuity FOR some DreteA
for not placing himself upon the recor
as opposed to granting 70 the co
orcd people of the State those flsn'
which he himself enjoys. lie opposes TN
measure because he dare not do otherwise
nn .,ccnunt of the odium he would subjet
himself to from the class of people he r,
presents. He rises in his place ana graVei
tells the Senate that he, gentleman
supe,ior intelligence, Representative nia
and the leader of his party IN his section
fine state. has not read bill which lnVoiV'
one of the gravest and most lmpoftal
ouestions that could attract the atten,lo
of the nation. Why, have not picked u
aucwsDaper in the last month Which, n'
NOT contained some allusion to 1t.
Mr. O'Hara here called for the oraer !
the dav. Postponed until two cioch. /.
Mr., Uunsaker-I am glad the Senate u;
coon nroper to postpone the cOnslderatio
Of tLe order OF the day, as consider I'll
:, uuestion of so much magnitude that
sbtnId devote our whole time to 1T until
;s finally disposed of. | want to give u