New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-01-23
THE STATE HOUSE,
House.


ceedIngs. The most important OF these
were Mr.. Martins resolution for special
committee on the investigation of Superin-
tenient of Educ alton. which increased that
committee to seven; Mr.. ThoSas' resoi-
ton for special election il Bossier; and
Mr.. Eiliot.s motion TO amend rule seventy
three.
The election bill took Up nearly two
hours and half, the House beginning with
Mr.. keeting's amendment to the thirteenth
section.
There were many other amendments aud
much tina consumed, as will be seen by
the minutes, the roll being called toar
times before the section was adopted.
On this question Nessrs. Murrell, Sartain
and Levisee, on the Republican side, ard
Meredith and Scales On the Democratic
side, conducted tie debate for tho tirst
hour, although their points were princ;-
paliy points Of order.
MI. Scales insisted that in his parish, De
Soto, there was no intention Of permitting
such = thing as to deprive the colored
people OF appearing at toe same polls and
having the same fair chance as the white
man. lie believed in the bill as it steod.
He indicated that he thought the co.ored
people would mass themselves to prevent
white people from voting, but was inter
1upted By Mr.. Sartain WHO demanded to
know when il tie history of Louisiana the
nnin Ia h,I >t<v,, clx-n-
to prevent any white man from voting.
Mr.. Scales said be had no intention Of
asserting such thing. He said in his
parish the desire of the people. in justice to
themselves, was to give equal rights to
every one.
Mr. Murreil stated that he had no desire
to object to the adoption of the section, so
tar as the parish Of Orleans was concerned;
but in the country it was necessary that
there be a different provision than that
forcing a man to vote in the ward Of nis
registration. In the parish OF Madison,
many would have to go sixty miles 20 vote.
Messrs. Walker and Young opposed this
idea of Mr.. Murrel!. Mr.. Young hasing his
arguments on constitutional grounds.
Mr.. Stewart said that in the interest Of
all parts of the people he represented; in
the interest of peace and harmony, and be-
leviEg that he represented every one of
equally honest convictions IN louisiana he
wished to assure the majority of this House,
who see,ned to determined to pass this bill.
that it would work equal injustice to both
white and colored people. To him it seemed
that nobody could vote for the BIZ. without
the anendm meut OF tie gentleman from Cad
do. lie claimed that he lad no preiudices;
that he wanted every facility granted, not
only to his own people, but TO every white
citize Il. VII ether he voted for his candidate
or not: but under this bill it can not be
dore. Ths colored people Of lis parish
voted for Mr.. Spencer.
Mr.. Murreli lnterruptirg g-Don5 you
know that Mr. Spencer was eIected--that
he was the choice OF and elected by the
colored people
A point Of order cut short the debate,
and the matter went to vote, Mr. Hun
saker and some others denlsnd7 the priv;-
lege o. explaining their vote.
When Mr.. Hunsaker's name was called
he said he proposed 10 vote against the bill.
because i. was not good law. Section
thirteen was n conflict Wit. a.ticlo FIVE Of
the constitution When It was provided
by the fundamental law that a man could
vote on ten days residence. the Leg;sla-
latrro would stuitify itself by passing q
bill which restricted the right OF suffrage
By imposing a condition OF & residence OF
one year.
The House finally adopted the thirteenth
section, on CON bination Of Messrs. Young
and Murrell. Mr.. MurreIl secord:ng Mr.
Young's motion. In tie same way the four
teenth and fifteenth sections were adopted.
Messrs. Lowell, koontz and Lavisee sue
ceeding in slightly amending them.
On motion Of Mr.. Bower, TIE BIZ went
through its second reading.
Mr.. Murreil put in resolution FOR Ell IN
vestigation OF himself, and called for a
committee of three TO dc It. He said Judge
Ray, of the district composed Of Eichland
and Ouacbita, had made charges that he
had attempted to b,ibe jury 1t was false.
The case CT Clarence Travis was transferred
on motion of the district attorney, and after
trial by one jury that hung. jury com
him. On this charge OF Judge Ray, of
bribery, Mr.. Murrell said he knew
Mr.. Hill, of Ouachita, was going to bring
up resolution he had in his desk.
but he got in ahead. He had
objections to its being introduced, as he
wanted the House to investigate the whole
matter; he asked that the entire Democrat
ic party would vote to adopt this resolution,
and that the three smartest Democratic
lawyers of Louisiana, and the best talent.
Denmark. He had no fear of the investi- |
cation, but sought it. He demanded it.
Mr.. Hill presented his resolutions, and |
both of them laid over under the rules.
While the matter was being discussed |
Mr.. Hahn obtained the floor and made one !
of those humorous speeches that invariably |;
please the House without injuring the resc
luton presented for discussion. He said |
he rose to second the resolution Of his most |
distinguished friend from Madison. This |
was the most serious question the House |
had had yet to consider; it WAC the most |
important that this august body could de-
Iiberate upon; the apportionment was trivial |
in comparison. The election law, that had |
the better Ia-t of two DAYS