The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-02-27
LETTER FROM SENATOR BLACKBURN.
THE RADICAL PARTY OF LOUISIANA
ARRAaGNED ~ A leHsP u BLRCAN SEN.
ATAR
CnaeY naAieal Rule ''NO VANS Liberty Is
safe, and No Measure Of an Honora BILE
Prosperity AttaInAbIe"


Editor New Orleans Democrat: ta.r
me hearing against the blind and ignorant
ss hs my State kyfg ns dd
for MT. Eustis for the United States Senate the
Iaoid Radical majority in our State Senate,
IN It's bind Ignorance and unwashed bigotry.
has displayed - native doegish delight in
voting down every measure and proposition
might bring forward. regardless alike of merit
and reason. and often palpably contrary to
all parliamentary rule and usage. Such was the
case yesterday in the action Of the Senate on the
following RESOLUTION introduced by myself;
Resolved by the Senate OF the State OF Louis
lana, the House OF Representatives coleurring,
That the equal political rights oil all citizens res-
gardleSs OF race or previous condition. are per-
manently fixed and secured by the Constitution
OF the United States. which is recognized by this
body as the supreme law OF the land, and that no
abrldgement or interference with these rights is
proposed or contemplated or desired in any
action OF this General Assembly, or by the peo-
pie whom we represent; that any and all legisla-
ton In contravention thereof. either by the
Legislature or by convention OF the people.
would be null and void"
This resolution contrary to all reasonable ex-
pectation. was most bitterly and vindictively op-
posed by the leading colored and carpet-bae
Senator5-the main argument being that IL
was the same resolution passed recently by the
Democratic Legislature OF Georgia; and thus
originating from a Democratic source. was Of
course a lie and cheat. and should not have
kind of feeling was manifested on the part Of
those who opposed the resolution. amounting
even TO blackguardism and personal abuse to-
ward the introducer; and then, under the most
unusual and arbitrary rulings OF the Chair. all
chance Of reply was cut of and denied 1t was
plainly and even defantly indicated that no olive
branch Of peace coming from a Democratic
source was desirable or would be accepted by
the Radical leaders in our State Senate-those
who In that body constitute q ring which can
defeat or pass any measure introduced
stated. when the resolution was first called
up. that had introduced it 10 order to get per
sona pledge from both political parties in the
IpOIStatu thai they WDIl6 observe and rpPO0-
nize each others rights In the next campaign;
stated that ms own party seemed determined to
Returning Board" feature Of the Election law
still hanging over the heads OF the Democracy,
which feature was believed to be unjust and ty,
rannical and that IL this resolution was voted
for by Republicans. 1t might have a tendency TO
satisfy the Democrats that we claimed no undue
advantages under the Returning Board, while
il the Democrats voted for the resolution it
would certainly be u solemn pledge on their
part that the Republicans needed no such
protection as the Returning Board feature
u the Election law. etc. 1 stated
distinctly. what is simply true, that my sole OBJ
Iect in introducing the resolution was to obtain
a formal token Of goodwill from each party To-
ward the other to save us, if possible, from the
Dad and bitter feeling which 1t seemed likely
would come up in the ensuing campaign. al
luded to what had been termed the recent shot
gun campaign in Mississippi, and referred To
the importance of removing all pretext for any
such thing in this State but did not say. as |
have been reported and published as having
said, that the Democratic organs OF thlS state
have advocated this same line OF conduct, that
Is. the shotgun cam paign policy. only said,
in reference to the Democratic news papers that
the Democratic organ of the State--the New Or
leans DEMOCRAT published this same reso-
luton before introduced it. and had thrown il
into the face of the Republican majority
of the Senate. as embodying liberal
and CANDID sentiment. which that majority
candid to say that tho action Of the Senate on
this resolution has proved the assertion Of the
DEMOCRAT only too true. And 1 never once
an Ia1 20 fh, nE
my remarks.
Now. / must say that I have meyer wit
messed a more bind and unjustifiable spirit
Of tyranny and unseasoned big0try manifested
by any set Of men. in or out OF a Legs! afure,
than that displayed by the ruling Radical ring
present session. No mans liberty Is safe no
measure of justice secure. no elements OF
permanent and honorable prosperity attainab!e,
with any such spirit or any such material In the
ascendant. w. JASPER BLACKBURN.
February %. 1875.