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

IN. fktfY&
which Is now before this bodv ~ ~, GU
far the most difficult and lmpofta p.s 81
issues which nave been releoatads Y Y NH
tine people for discussion and deta.ltso. u1|
say the most difficult, because n ,a lla1f
upon which there IL the widest ~ y tlls
honest differences Of opinion nr,,an 'af9
greatest Integrity Of purpose. Mes3
therefore, be approached with eaI,aassIssf 111
charity. AS for myself, coneeda 4
gentleman upon this floor, WIN 1 ny Y 81
from me IN opinion, full credit III NJ
honesty Of purpose with which, rn ~ n
actuated. 1'yse
/ have said that this question ,u..S.ss
tant, and the fact that this body n
assembled is proof Of the assertion, ~
recur to the melancholy year A. Is. isea ii
Ine darK anu lowering clouds which I'M h
neavy upon the political horizon Hn..ss
lenRtn, aeluglng the South with blHsasa
sweeping her fertile plains with daaassAa
War, dreadful war, was 1lpon nd IL av Mes s
long years held us as It's Drew IL ae ~
household within the State bnf n onaL
deadl Scarcely q fortune within ita'gileg
but what was shattered and redneaasS 81 u
With one stroke OF the pen one-haIf tS1ig
erty Of the whole South was swenf ar, 80
that act reduced at the same Tina ' NJ,
the value Of what remained. Enfssf,es4
the South survived, When amin.
dWelt once more amongst US, our res,sts1
fully struggling against misfortnnas fl.
zealOusly to resurrect their fallen J,sxg,
The success which was rewardinSsss
patient and heroic efforts had had NH.
before, and been equaled only by fhs
French Republic after the Franco.Pf
But, sir, the banefui year Of 1ssa a.s
upon the State OF Louisiana. With IT,
era Of oppression and corruption. Win
us would gladly obiiterate from t, dli.s =
ries. After eight long years 81 earnas
enduring effort. the people ri ~
pated themselves, and instalIed 0sss;s
their chosen ones Ia the high rIlaesa ~
and power. The people, flushed With Il
exhilarated by success, were oyerssssss
Tney hoped that with the dawn III i7sssI
era prosperity would immediatefy ratsss
we'll might they have expected sonS.s
stricken sufferer to rise at once fronlf
couch, In the full vigor Of health, M +
hood. They forgot that the Stat =
must necessarily have It's period n
valescence.
But, Mr.. President, It Is now eolnra MI
years since the emancipation Of TN sssI
the people find themselves In strsas ~
perate as they were before They Es'3s
believe that even convalescence, fiji ~ ps
stages, was not to be vouchsafed tdi2
and great fear had fallen uponf NJ
ducing them almost TO desperation ri
after session had they tried ofdinafs
tion for q remedy, but Legislative ~
been found inadequate to the task0(
relief. 10 desperate was our cudllf =
ordinary remedies were OF no ayaii
pie believed themselves to be III
straits, and that through extfaordirIS9
dies alone could they secure ealystIsH
this reason are the people Id eOSY
assembled: for this reason have IS
voked that supreme power which n =
In the body OF the people. Dill
Let uB consider moment and NJ m
city ascertain the causes oil this TfsttS5
agencies which are still at work a.
our prosperity. It was not misgoye1I
we are being governed by men Of MI
OF honesty and ability. It was IIuk0d
reckless and dishonest Legislation ~
corruption, for Of such we had nofl1I
however, the two dreadful IegaciesN
come down from the dark days OF 144E
It was the grinding tax-rate. d tkIgi
endurance to a people, unless they IL
to toll for no personal profit, i05
alone OF the State and the public cfs6
was also an enormous and unna1
public debt, largely built up By franA
sat, like the Old Man of the Ssa, &hGG
cubus upon the shoulders 81 tie Sts(s
are the evils they desire to remedy
are the vital questions the people k
us here to Undertake, and, therefore
titled In appealing to the existeA
ConventiOni itself as proof posiHve0 XIII
Importance Of this question.
While upon this subject, remembek
fhn Y1nortln a "a fyararu III d Ao0YSlj7&
dition, that ordinary Legislation and q
remedies have failed 10 relieve "a \
they have, therefore, invoked theak
premacy Of power, extraordinary
trammeled; may / ask whether NJ
hesitate In relieving the people, bee1
80 W., must invoke extraordinary
Shall We hesitate to invoke that
power, and strike manfuily and c0nt1
at the things which Cypress thenl
respect the unbearable tax rat62
fail to attack this fraud-sWollen dea
consumes their substance and dish
Slater Shall we, who came from
commissioned to relieve them, retulnH
without having so done II 80. nov
confront an injured and betrayed
ency; how palliate our coWardiee "a
ciency?
It is to be regretted, Mr.. PnsIdep !
this world, Error always finds ns1
able supporters. have no dou1s
what she ID more fortunate IA t1le
than Truth Itself. She can er6f ~
her defense hosts Of sophisma f M
as to stand almost for Sounde6l kS &
this case she has stepped forNMd
luSty battle for the public debt.
anime the sophisms che now SENDS d
endure the conflict In this instanos n
We are told, sir, that the bonded
OF this State constitute neg0t1N .ssss q
ments held by innocent third ~ 49, II
are therefore free from all egultie ss! ~ ID
the State. twill not be denied Dy
that II such obligations be not ne8 4
fact of their changing hands adoss 49,:
their validity. Non-neg0 tiabl6 y. .saa:
like any other class OF proper yI.s|R n
hand to hand with all oTigtnM w. I2ssss 81
defects, whether OF character O. 49, "
position assumed upon this p0lss n
gentlemen OF the other side at all i.a. 81
think not, and for the following b III
holder OF such bonds can prela gS
of the fact that they are issuel Rx s s1
nor can he plead Ignorance o. Mss s u
a free commonwealth sOVeret8lsy sS Il
the people. Except when, upoo sA,s7 n
occasions, they assemble IN Go9ss.s;s
impossible for the people ~ We
govern or contract, and this lmpsss q
sane man can ignore. The people.zS 81
through legal representa- yes agsss y s.
purposes Of government. The pIsf
Is the people, is, therefore, to the zss q
the world, In the character Of 40 lns
person. No obligation issued Dyas II
terdict, married woman orGtne ~
person, whether by their OWL o. b. ID
legal representatives, can % .tsss Il
and Gfill Less so WEnU XII
Is IS aware are Of ''s the ineapaeity II Il
every person knows full well ~ ~ III
of this Union are republican y ~
of government, having no depst 8
untram meled powers. They ~ I
that each State has its eonstitlln l
amental law, wherein each aepss4
roxycrnronn+ ord Tho mowers Ene4I4k% g1lR