The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-06-12

answer to this fancifuI theory that the divl-
sion OF the State into two States never had any
actual existence; that, as we shall snow mere
after, there has never been but one political so.
ciety In existence as an organized Stats OF
4 Tennessee from the day OF It's admission TO
the Union In 1906 to the present time; that Il
| is q mere chimera to assert that one State Of
Tennessee conquered by force OF arms another
Tennessee and imposed laws upon It; and
| finally, that the logical legerdemain by which
the State goes into rebellion, and makes,
| while thus situated, contracts for the support
| OF the government In its ordinary and useful
tence Of social life, and then, by reason OF be-
ling conquered, repudiates these contracts, is
as hard to understand as similar physical per-
| formances on the stage.
Mr., Wheaton says: 'As to public debts
whether due to or from the State-a mere
change in the form of the government, or In
the person Of the ruler, does not affect their
obligation. The essential power Of the State,
community, remains the same; it's accidental
form only is changed. The debts being con-
tracted In the name Of the State, by It's al-
thorized agents, for its public use, the nation
continues liable for them, notwithstanding
the change in Its Internal constitution
The new government succeeds to the fiscal
rights and Ia bound to fulfil the fiscal obliga-
tions OF the former government. lnterna-
tional Law, s 80. And the citations which he
him fully.
Sir, hope there will be no elimination and
| recrimination, but let us deliberate upon this
question calmly and dispassionately. Let us,
We have done the best we could, each feeling
that the other has acted from conviction and
| for the best interests OF the State, Us they
understand 1t.
| DELEGATE M'GLOIN
next addressed the Convention. He spoke as
follows:
1 Mr. President-I has been from no choice
Of mine that find myself compelled to follow
| the learned gentleman who has just taken bis
seat. Sharing with o number OF gentlemen
the opinion that the majority report pre-
scented correctly the Issues on this case, /
have been compelled to obey the wishes of the
majority In this respect. They have thought
i proper to honor me by considering me as the
one among their number the most compe-
/ tent to take up the debate at this period. Re
| GREETING the necessities which have reduced
them to this contingency but nevertheless
willing, In all respects, TO do my duty, aas
cause even to following the gentleman who
has just addressed you.
In 30 doing I follow one whom / consider
intellectually q giant, and feel as David
against the giant Goliath. His heart must
have sank within him as he contemplated the
towering and powerful frame OF the gigantic
Philistine and compared 1t to his own diminu-
tive figure. But, sir, when David went forth
to that historic contest, do not imagine he de-
pended upon the strength OF his own arm.
4 His reliance must have been In the strength
of the Almighty, In His Omnipotence His
cause was Just, for he defended his people;
and he relied upon that power which always
lends It's aid to the distressed and Injured.
And So Mr.. President In undertaking this
contest might we'll feel abashed and des-
pairing. But, sir, when remember that my
cause Is just one, feel satisfied that It's JUS
4 yUi1 win nj A m w
always lends his aid to the cause which Is
| just.
| The gentleman has gone to some length in
| fig uriDg, to show that the riches and re-
sources OF this State are enormous. He has
recounted the number Of bales Of cotton pro-
duced In this State, the number Of hogsheads
OF sugar which have rewarded her planters.
He has told us Of her many other products
tions, OF deep interest to US all. But, sir let us
appeal from these statistics to the experience
of the people. Let me interrogate every class
represented upon this floor, and ask II his
| figures do not initiate against him, and
speak for us tones Of thunder. His argu-
ments show that we possess a State Of re-
markabie resources, with soil OF wonderful
fertility But let me ask all gentlemen with
| In the sound OF my voice, representing the
different classes, II they now enjoy the legi-
| the merchant tell us that the trade ID stag
nant, that his business is upon the smallest
profits-is more precarions, and In
every respect less Eso Satisfactory p,oy th n,1
not the generality OF our planters tell us that
although some OF the few fortunate ones may
be doing well, that, as rule, the great body
hOf them realize from continued and energetic
Turning to the laborer, has all these enormous
products Of the State enabled him to take any
great step forward upon the road to pros
perity within the last ten years? Are they be-
coming property-holders to any extent?
Where are the homes that q prosperous labor
ing community should expect as a reward for
thrifty labor2 In what has their condition
been made more comfortable?
Mr.. President, were this State really In the
prosperous condition the gentleman will have
us believe 1t is, what would meet his eye were
he to traverse the rural districts Of the State?
Would he not perceive our planters building
new residences or repairing old ones? Would
we not see them furnishing their homes and
Frightening their plantations2 Sir, he would
see none Of these things; he would, on the
contrary, observe that the majority OF our
plantations are becoming, year by year, more
dilapdated.
/. / have said, sir, that the gent1eman's figures
speak against him, and support the assertion
by reference to the proposition that IT, in q
State of such wonderful natural advantages
as Louisiana is shown to possess, our people
are not advancing In practical comfort and
| wealth, there must be some great cause
which defeats the benefcent will OF nature.
Sir, this great cause is grinding taxation
and an enormous and unbearable public debt.
1t has been fashionable with gentlemen OPP
posed to the majority report to compare the
aggregate OF the State debt to the assessed
value OF the property Of the State, and to
argue therefrom that our present State debt
is a burden extremely light to bear. Sir, were
this the sum total OF all that our people had
to struggle with, would consider Louisiana
fortunate State, indeed. II, however, we
are to take into consideration all the assets OF
the State, must we not consider, on the other
side all the obligations under which our people
labor? Sir, we owe as State, from twelve to
S15,000,0o0. The city OF New Orleans owes
alone, upon its account, over $2o,OoO,000, and
presume every parish Of this State Is, more
or less, heavily involved. To this add our
share OF the enormous national debt, and l
am satisfied that the public debt for which
we are liable exceeds the value OF ali the
property OF the State. But, sir, there is an
other Important item. II they will include
in the calculation all the private property Of
the State they must not omit the Individual
debts OF the citizens. All these things con