The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1875-03-20
Two Sensible Speeches.
Remarks Of Lieut.. Gov. Antoine and
Speaker Hahn.

Speaker Hahn.
On the 4th of March, when til,
time for the adjournment of the Sen
ate of Louisiana arrived, the presid
ing officer Of that body, 1t. Gov. An
tome, rose aud made few appro
pirate aud sensible remarks by wa,
"of returning thanks to members 0
the Senate for their uniform kind ant
courteous department. to the presid
ing officer in his efforts to maintain
order" The New Orleans Republican
gives the following synopsis of his
speech:
The President SAX! that the inter.
course between Senators had been OF
q character that was calculated h
aid legislation and bring about much
needed reforms-reforms that have
been promised the people by the rep
resentative men of all parties. Bnt
while he could congratulate Senators
on this exhibition of general good
feeling among them, he said it was to
he regretted that the Conservative
members who are present, and add
SO signally. to the intelligence of the
Senate, had not made mp their minds
to come in at an earlier day in the
session and aid in adopting the meas
nres of reform that all cOncede are so
! much needed to restore Louisiana to
peace and prosperity. The President
said he believed the slavery that ex-
listed in Louisiana before the war had
not been more pernicious than was
that which compelled men to be the
slaves of an unreasonable, unsound
prejudice. When this prejudice was
thoroughly removed he believed the
cloud that had darkcned this fair
land would fade away, and i brighter
day would dawn upon Louisiana.
He thought the presence of Conserva-
tive members in the Senate was an
indication that prejudice was giving
way. The fact that these gentlemen
were in the Senate, and had treated
its presiding officer-a man who be-
longs to the African lace-with mark
ed respect, was sufficient to satisfy
him that a better day was in store
for his native State. He was proud
to bear witness to this fact; proud to
acknowledge, as the Lieutenant Gov
ernor of one of the greatest States Of
the American Union, and as repre-
sentative Of the colored race, that
there is evidence-cOnclusiv evil
dence-tflat the men of Louisiana are
fast throwing off the shackles which
bound them to he the slaves If an
unreasonable and unsound prejudice.
The President then babe the Scna-
tors a kind adieu and adjourned the
Senate sine die.
Hen. Michael Hahn, Speaker of the
House, responded as follows to a res
olution of thanks for his exemplary
discharge Of duty as presiding Of
ticer:
Gentlemen of the House-As it will
soon be my duty to declare the
House adjourned sine die. permit me
to say Il few parting words. We as
se:nbled a,nder peculiarly disturbing
influences, and our labors have been
perturlnoA III the midst Of trouble
some doubts arising from the pro
ceedings of the government at Wash
ington aAd our domestic inquictude.
That, under sach circumstances,
we should have those occasional dis |
orders which more or less character
ize large parliamentary bodies every
where was to be expected, but no
tably have you distinguished your
selves as reputable Representatives,,
in the expulsion of il member Of your
own body whose contlhct was unbe-
coming the dignity Of a deiiberative
assembly. With the exception on
that occasion, it is a source Of pride
10 me to be able to congratulate YOU
upon your dec0rous behavim, and at
the same time to congratulate the
people upon che industry and zeal
with which you have considered the
public welfare. There are some
measures in which I did not concur.
but feel it a duty incumbent on Me,
as we are about to return to car
homes, to bear witness t. the PIE
vailing desire for the public good
avinced in the reforms you bave
passed. With the work You have
lone, it is your privilege to challenge
with any House convened
since reconstruction, and to show the
world that au era of improvidcpt and
'ften corrupt legislation has at last
seen terminated and given place to
,are and patriotic government.
elit.ye | represent the general sen
imest Of the House in expressing my
'egrets that we lad not, in our aims
It reform, tlse aid of the respectable
md intelligent body Of gentlemen
sho have thought proper to absent
themselves during the session. Thank
ng keu sincerely for your indulgence
o nae as soun presiding officer, for
he aid yo,, have given me and for
he courtesy which has marked our
now declare the Heuse
adjourned sine die.
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