Claiborne guardian. [volume] (Homer, La.) 1877-188?, 1878-01-30
OUR LEGISLATURE.

| tUtP measures VI ltipiui dliu ttoIIo
my in the administration OF affair
does not meet with our appreciation
In looking back upon the histor,
of Louisiana for several years past
we find ample reason TO cXcus'
their shortcomings. Reasons to,
which should in our opinion be am
pie justification to the mind of any
reasonably honest man who has n,
selfish motive TO snbserve when h,
criticiscs the course of the legisla
tors of Louisiana.
Let the people Of louisiana give
a thought to the facts. In 1876 tn,
Democratic party of Louisiana car
ried the state but did not come into
actual possession of the machinery
of government until the Spring OF
1877. Without having at any time
during the first two months OF the
year any real knowledge of the re.
suit of the contest between the two
governments in New Orleans, they
were forced By the nature of things
as they were, to avoid any lcgisla.
ton except SUCH as was absolutely
necessary To keep the legislature
together as n branch of the State
Government. Whcm the decision
came and the delegates of the pco
pie were left free to enact laws for
the good of the people they found
themselves unable TO do so until
they could evolve some degree OF
order out of the confusion in which
the Radicals had left everything.
Not one bad Law, easy of repeal,
was the cause of all our trouble, but
many such laws, Il few valuable
IN some respects perhaps, but per.
niclouS III others, required iuvestiga.
tlon. Every branch of the govern.
mcnt was rotten and corrupt TO the
core, but investigation was necessary
To reach the facts and 50 suggest the
reforms. The people were clamor.
Ing at the length of the session
were complaining of the expense
and demanding that legislators
should come home. They did so.
after accomplishing such legislation
~ was absolutely necessary TO carry
on the government and after laying
the basis for II thorough clranSin.
10y the appointment of committees
of investigation for all departments.
All that WAS done indicated an in
tcntlon to thoroughly economic
and To repair the Iavagcs made bN
the horde OF robbers who had proved
upon us so long.
We do not think the first session
furnishes III itself, nor in any of It's
actions and dolngS, any legitimate
rauSr for adverse criticism either
upon the Intentions. character, or
patriotism ut the men we have
chosen To represent us. We believe
,hat 1t would have been impossible
tor the same number of men in the
state To have done better than
those did who represented us in
New Orleans in 1871. When We
consider all the difficulties they had
To encounter We feel surprised that
they did So we'll. The first session
was naturally occupied 10y such pre-.
IInnary arrangements as were nee.
tHslIN To enable them To find out
What was TO be done and how the
reform should be accomplished in
the cheapest and most effective
manner. We presume that our dele.
gates felt themselves almost help
less When confronted 10y the accu.
INFLATED iniquitous legislation OF
Years. The knowledge OF the cx.
lstcncc of evils did not carry with
II the power or capacity to immcdi.
ately rcmovethem. So therefore. with
a Wisdom which did them credit,
senators and representatives began
with iutplliuput cara ,nl v.;,o ,ll;i