St. Landry democrat., 1878-04-06
work Of the Legislature.
THE REFORMS 1T ACCOMPLISHED.
From the \. y. Democrat.

From the \. y. Democrat.
We publish underntatlantl in ertens0,
fnr the information of the Democrats
and Conservatives of Louisiana, the,
s,...ch made in the Senate by Senator
| White. of Orleans, just before its adj
,ourumellt ut the recent session, in which
~ re-, iewrd somewhat in detail the re-
furnatUry Legislation "f the General As
.cnbly ut it's SESSIONS of 1877 and 1878.
ana summed up the work " ltlci, had b' en-
lone and the improvements I'D the adj
tinistratiuli of the government which
,,ad been ttfrrted. Mr.. White $;id:
Mr. PRESIDENT am >oiry that gentle
,,r,, uu the O,ilri side of the lsollSt seem
T., Object t" IL tIftuSSi"n OF the pentlnE
..solutl,u. Ituit~, dnuhtl.sA, Offered by
| ne Senator from HapidrS with the ol.-
ct of furnishing an 4" caSiolr, III the
| II hours of the srs~in'l. for making
.n. : a,ellltnt in Il c"unecied nial,iitr
| )" t,. syst. III of legislation devised by
rt., nIai,,rity uf this General Assembly,
| daring this and the luiiner session, tor
III. relief ut the people. nt the State. In
aillny myself uf the 0pptrtnnity which
! rhr resolution makes | am impressed
will, the .l,Iicacy of the task, for it is
| ilf1irult to review with appreciation The
uo,k accomplished without seemingly
| ,u,lufging in self-praIsp, associated as
inl with the majority on tlli~ floor, to
shum the responsibility of power was
lntrl,sted at the last general election.
| However,, IL stnse Of l'Hl'llt dutv ahd OF
| public veal should dominate amt control
| Ill personal considerations, "nu belitv
| ing that much mistppr-tnnsiun exists
| IS to what has been done by this Gen
| ..ra Assembly, and hat IL statement
1.t.iI will Ia, s.,,,,
.urtiyr tuyuhlic good, as tending at le.st
e., r,.nlose, IN part, this misapp,eht n>ion,
will eudeavnr to present such state
,nelit, ttlscIaining III The outset any
,,rlst,aI claim 10 cultlnientsaiOE other
,iluu that which may result frOni a'i
,,py,pst effort TO perform my duty.
Sir. when turn back to the political
condition of tins State, prior to the last
general eirc,lons and then look upon
n+r condition ;.uw, NY heart Is Lifted up
uot unl, in exulta.ion hni, | trust also,
IN tta,tkfsllness tn an NIL wise pr,tl-
Ienc-, who has merc,fniiy guided her
through 81, many dangers and silfncnl.
tit.s 10 the condition of peace, order iind
freedom which siie now enjoys. Then
n4r ,,enuie. were pnveiaprd IN the dark
ness which followed reconstruction.
Despite the awful sacrifices WHICH the
war had entailed, despite the loss Of her
| nest blood upon SD nlany battlet,tlds,
lesuite the destruction of her social AMI
material system, despite the ssg"isles of
reconstruction and the deprivation ut
liberty which followed, her people, with
devotion to public duty, had again anu
again saged silcctsSful- struggle Tor
ltrai self government only to nu'i tnelr
victory frustrated and ftis fruits Thereon
turn to ashes in their bands ty the IN
srr,nrntality of laws created for stihlnE
and pervtiting their Will. LII 1870 tlih
struggle. was renewed With al eaF1isst
ness of purpose int .icatIve at me a"iu'
ruils..auti.c,.s toresnlt flDln<aefeat. SIR,
that Struggle was st,ccessfusI But when
wr, the representatives OF the people,
net to carry Ou: their desires, tile same
obstacles which had previously pre-
vented the establishment nf Il rtltieseli-
tative government confronted us. Tie
State House occupied hy II flsurDihK
government, aud with the. Federal gov
rrnnient, if not aiding, ut least seeming
ty conntenancing it, rendered the hope
If it's 0vprttir.,w faint indeed. l knew,
sir, that the hrase hearts 0f the people
of the State We're really tO respand To
| any call uIslale upon them. hut know
the suffering which weuid have been
tntailed had turmoil ensiied. Con-
| scious uf this, sir, and trusting ts fGe
| ,l..vulion of o':r own and tils. patriotism
nf the American people, W.T. organized
;.ur goa and put it i'm practical
,sppmfinh. .ThrougIlmany weary weeks
Ut viels>itude, Vi anxiety, and nf danht,
we passed sroin Il e.sntiitinn ut uncer.
| tainty 10 Que pf cerfsipiy. Without
| e,e sacrifice uf principle. without an-
.slvity, the usufpatiun Was oteffiiiphp
| mt government Of the people, for tHr
| ipaple, and by the people," WAS tstab-
.Islsed, never. trust, to pass away again:
when consider tile struggle lllrh it'tl
to fl,is happy consunmatin,. when
lnt,k ipIn the faces of my colleagues
upon this fioDryana recall the first anx-
inns meeting. the frequent after con-
ference, slle difference uf opinion ex-
iStiag, the fHrtRasance by which uliaiiI-
nifty WAS sattaillati and above ail, Mr..
President, when hriag back the wise
counsel, the prmptness in acting when
action was required, and the equal fifn-
MESS In nat acting WHEN inaatial, was
hest, shown by the true gent leinsI whom
the people, had called to the. chief silrpe-
tim nf their affairs, and wiie, with more
than Roniila cs,siasige and simplicity.
NEW discharges the antirs of his high
office, am impressed with !llf c0nsic-
tion flat not I'LL ellanee led ia this sue
ressfnl ISSUE. Sir,.g0u dnnbtlesa bring
l,aek the image Ut this struggle 70 yDtir
inind, fas yen were IN actor I'M IFS NJ
ftilisiflnns sf iappe ami despanleiicy.
You isat the mid sf yonr experience.
,anr qaiekness of apprehension, anti
Your deviation To the public serslse fn
its Termination. However, is WIS mot
my purpose to make reference tn the
turmoil ef the past. hut rather to en-
deiv0r To render some account OF the
stewardship with which the govern
npents resulting fr0m the restoration TO
local liberty, WAS iltrHsfetl. and in SO,
sluing, ii speak in the nanla of the
ll,ainrity on this floor, | desire fu dis
claim. any intentinn af woumiing file
Feelings vt any gentleman who may diff
fer in pnlitieal upinioH from myself aud
e.aieagnes. desire to ilielnsle every
gentleman acting with the minority who
may have lent his aid to the accom-
nlishment Of any good wi,iel, has been
rtr.cheti. s
mir. President, when coming ins.t
powsrs this government succeeded tn Il
aleiailnrahle heritage. Everything vas
aasarrangsa and In confusion. Every