Semi-weekly Louisianian. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1871-1872, 1872-01-11

oA D1"u0n Vi Ino consplracy de
sire to transfer the control of tn
State and city governments fror
the hands of Republicans to tn
. hands Of Democrats of the John I
Monroe and July, '66, era. 1 sa
that we not only intend to adopt al
, the measures of reform which the
pretend to desire, and have no in
, tention Of carrying out, but W,
! have the means at our disposal {,
do SO, which they have not. No
only have we the means and tn,
disposition to secure the passage O
these reformatory measures, but W,
possess this additional advantage
we can do it without a revolution
and Its usual results-riot, robbery
murder, and arson-which George
w. Carter and his associates Intend
to inangurate. We can do, without
these evils, what he promises to dc
and can only do with them. 1 wish
to state distinctly, in this connection
what l understand to be the ele.
ments composing this party of re-
volutionists. First, o few leading
Republicans, who desire simply to
transfer the State government from
the hands of the present authorities
to their hands; and, second, a few
Democratic ward politicians. Sofa
as a revolution is concerned, the
two branches of conspirators are in
perfect accord with each other, but
when that shall have been accom-
plished, if it is accomplished at all
their roads diverge. When the re-
volution shall have reached q point
where 1t Will be beyond the power
OF the Republican conspirators to
stay its progress, the Democrats
propose to throw out of their offices
every Republican State, municipal
and parochial official, and then pro-
ceed to annul every result of
the enforcement of the recon-
struction laws of Congress.
That l say boldly here, is the
design of the Democratic confreres
OF these conspirators. 1 say fur
thermore (and I think my assertion
will be carried out by the observa-
ton of every Senator present) that
not a single Democrat of high
standing, not single Democrat
who has the welfare of this State
and city at heart, sympathizes with
these conspirators and indorses
their action. While I say this,
Mr.. President, I fully recognize the
fact that large number of the
good, influential and respectable
citizens OF the State of all parties
feel seriously and sorely the results
OF excessive taxation and the abuse
of certain laws. I, for one, as a
Senator, as 1 said in my seat last
session, in reply to q question by
Senator Thomas, am willing to re-
peal or modify the revenue laws of
the State 50 that taxation will be
greatly reduced. I am willing to re-
duce the number and the fees of the
officers engaged in the collection of
the revenues, SO that the expense
of their collection may be reduced
to their minimum. 1 am willing to
provide by law for the reduction to
a specified and moderate sum oil
the annual expenses of the General
1 am even willing to 90
further, and amend the registration
and election laws, so that the ex-
penditures under those laws may
be controlled by the different par
ishes in which the election takes |
place. lam willing to amend them !
so far that the commissioners and
supervisors shall be ineligible to
any office at the election which they |
hold, and shall be residents of the
parishes they are in. Every one |
of the measures of reform which |
these revolutionists pretend to de-
sire in order to secure the moral
support Of this community, I un-
dertake to say that the Senate of
Louisiana, by these resolutions, is
pledged to inaugurate without any
revolution and without any violence.
While l am willing to do all this,
Mr.. President, 1 say distinctly and