New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-03-06
NEW ORLEANS, FRIDAY, MARCH 6. 1874


violation of the constitution of the United
States and Of the State of louisiana These
fundamental laws provide that every citi-
zen is entitled to d fair. impartial and
speedy trial by jury of his vicinage. This
has been repeatedly decided to mean a jury
his parish, where he can have the advantage
of the protection of his friends. the influence
and testimony OF his neighbors and all
the advantage his personal resources will
give him. This bill openly violates that
provision which throws the protection Of
the law around the poor mans He is the
one " no needs it, for the rich can buy their
protection. In my parish there are 400 poor
Republicans. who with a Democratic Cove
ernor and this bill law, could be transfer
red at his will 10 Claiborne parish before a
court not organized for trial. but for convc.
t;ou. ! implore the House 20 consi.
der what injustice this would be to
the poor people. ask the members to
look at the constitution and see for
themselves chat this bill violates both
its letter and spirit. There is no necessity
for the law-there is no occasion for it. No
portion of Louisiana is in such a condition
that fair trial can not be had. There is
one instance, the Ku-Klux Jaw. where this
principle may seem to be violated by the
removal from the vicinage, but it is not SO.
The Uftense is cognizable by the United
States courts. and the parties, though re-
moved from their immediate neighborhood,
are tried il the district in which tht crime
is committed, by the court whose jurisdic
tion extends over the place where it was
committed. This bill places in the hands
Of the Governor the power of life and
death over every citizen of the State.
No executive, however worthy, however
honorable intelligent, conscientious or pa
trlotic, should possess such power. Under
the strictest construction of the law, he
could organize court in any parish, and
remove to it any citizen, in defiance of the
rights the constitution guarantees to him.
appeal to the sober second thought of the
of law this bill proposes, to your faith in
the rights the constitution guarantees to
yourselves and your fellow citizens. to the
Oaths you have taken to protect those
rights, not to let such law have place on
your statute book.
Mr.. Young said the gentleman had mis-
construed the purport of the bill. The trial
of the Grant parish prisoners was proof
that the bill was proper one, and if it was
not the courts of the State could decide
otherwise. He moved to table the motion
to reconsider.
Mr.. Harris claimed the right 20 close the
debate. The Chair decided adversely, and
he appealed. Before ths appeal was de-
cided = motion to adjourn half an hour
tMr. Bickham attempting to achieve i'm.
mortality again by amending 20 sine diel
was lost, and three calls of the yeas and
nays brought the time 20 a quarter of
eleven, when the motion TO table was passed
by a vote of 81 20 %.
BY this time tho Hobbies had again be.
come filled. no member was in his seat, and
the two most disorderly members Of the
House. one on the extreme right, and the
othero balancing him exactly in noise and
position. on the left, claimed the floor
alternately on points of order, which the
Chair promptly settled adversely. only to
be rewarded with another bawl Of "Mr.
Speaker
Mr.. Devezin was At last recognized, and
desired to cali up Senate bill No. AiO. ex.
empting the Leland University from taxa
ton, Mr.. Gair moving to take up the Sunday
law at the same time.
Mr.. Martinez rose to privileged ques
tioro AS member of the committee ap'
pointed to investigate the accounts OF the
Auditor, he had been accused of holding
back the report. He showed that the
blame should be laid on other shoulders
that he had endeavored to force both the
House and the Senate committees to report
and failed. He left the matter for the
House to act upon, having set himself right
before The members.
The House didn't care much about the
report or anything else at that time. for 4
message from the Senate brought the APP
preparation bill back to The House. The
platform was crowded, some ladies occupy,
ing seats, and the reporters desk monop-
olized by lot of expectants. who volun
teered information or asked irrelevant
questions in voices only excelled by one or
two on the floor. The doorkeeper had for
gotten all about the prohibition of the
Speaker on the admission of strangers, and
the aisles were crowded.
The calling of the roll resulted in .hs sus.
pension of the rules.
At twenty five minutes past eleven mes
sage from the Governor was received
yetoing the bill providing that city certifi.
Gates issued prior to January I. 1874. may
be received for taxes, and the bill ipcorpor.
ating the town of Waterproof.
On the suspension Of the rules Mr.. Gair
moved the final passage of the Sunday law.
and the motion was carried.
A committee was received from the Sen.
ate with q message announcing that the
Senate was ready to adjourn.
Mr. Gair moved that the House concur in
the Senate amendments to the apprcpria-
ton bill, and no objection being made it
was go ordered.
Mr.. Allan moved that the House adjourn
sine die, and the motion was carried at
thirty minutes past eleven.
II the Times historian of the fire depart
ment, who discovered that "it is now nearly
half q century since the first fire company