The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-06-13


Can gentlemen who were compressed with
the Importance OF railroad connection with
Shreveport and Marshall that they we're Will.
ing to vote S2,000,000 to the New Orleans ana
Pacific Railroad, condemn as unwtse leglsla-
tion which attempted to do the same thing
only few years beforeY
Again, are not our Senators and Represent
atives In Congress voting soidly for bill
which lends to The Iexas t ts d company
struct q railroad beginning at N arshall, Texas,
and running west to the Pacific; and did not
| the Legislature of 1877 pass q joint resolution
which Gov. Nichols signed, instructing our
Representative in Congress to so vote? l
refer to Joint Resolution, No. SO, approved
| March A. 1877.
Now, / submit to the candor of this Con-
vention if it Is fair to condemn legislation as
dishonest and unwise which was passed by
| Republican Legislature, in the face Of the
historical facts relate, and when the advent
OF the Democratic party to power was sig
nalized by the very same kind of legislation
and for the very Same purpose.
Now, MIR. President, have briefly given
the history Of the several issues Of bonds dur
| ing my administration. have endeavored to
do 80 fairly and truthfully. The causes and
motives that induced the acts | affirm we're
patriotic, and had In view the welfare of the
State of Louisiana and her people. That
calamities arising from our political compli-
cations. from the schemes Of railroad rivals,
and the great panic OF 1873, prevented the
realization OF our hopes, possibly too SAN
guine, gives me more sorrow than any man
In the commonwealth.
But beg you to remember that 1t was the
same men and the same political party which
| created this debt that subsequently induced
the creditors to come to the relief OF the State
in its misfortunes, and obtained o compro-
mise of her obligations, whereby she owes
to-day only s., 991 500, for which she received
In actual cash or Its equivalent Sc, 404, 72O, or
S413,7 100 more than the face value OF the bonds
outstanding.
The State by the result of the funding Is
not the loser, but on the contrary has gained
$413,72o and the losers are the creditors OF the
State, who bought our bonds at seventy-tw
and ninety cent on the dollar, stood a redue-
tion OF 40 per cent on the face OF the bonds,
having paid into our treasury nearly half
million OF dollars more than their face value
and which are worth but forty cents on the
dollar to-day.
Mr. President, will make no extended ap-
peal to this Convention to maintain the pub
lie faith by paying the debt according to the
contract. do not, SO help me God, own q
bond Of The State Of Louisiana, nor do be-
lieve | have among my large constituency
one man who does. speak not for the bond
holder, but / speak for the honor and good
name OF the people OF this State. Here have
all / own on this greer earth; here is my
family ,l and my little boyt here expect to live
have no enemies, for there Is not a man In the
length and breadth OF thp limits OF the State
that would not serve with my best efforts.
Then when we are starting out In the new life,
as It were making q new government and u
better one let us start together and as friends.
Let the world know, In the language OF the
immortal Douglas, that i've will settle fair IL
we never pay q cent
Do not be- discouraged, gentlemen of the
Convention, but look at our mighty resources
and have courage.
The mouth OF the Mississippi river has now
q depth OF thirty feet-more water than the
bar of the harbOr OF New York. Thirty-fiye
steamers Of heavy tonnage were at our
wharf at one time last winter. The West Ia
her countless steamers and barges, is pouring
her grain down the Mississippi river to our
metropolis. Weshall have railroad to Hous-
ton, Texas, within eight months, when an en-
I'LL the Red river country will have the New
Orleans Pacific completed from New Orleans
to Shreveport. Weshall have peace and law
shall triumph over violence. Then our labor
ers will be contented. Thousands of people,
who know the wealth of our resources. will
pour into oar State to cultivate our sugar, cot
ton and rice lands Our mines of salt and
sulphur will be opened and will produce more
wealth than the gold OF California. Let us,
then, be honest with our creditors and they
will sound our praises and help to fill up our
waste places. Let us pay what we can, and
nobody can ask for more.
Who of us with $1,000 OF assessed property
would not willingly. pay 81 to support the
the public schools and pay the interest on
the public debt. Who, with property as
sessed at $4,000, would not willingly pay $40
for that purpose, and who, with 100000,
would not willingly pay $500 every year for
that purpose.
A tax Of seven mills on an assessed prop
erty of s150,O0O,0OO, S27,OOO,0O0 less than the
present assessment, will do all this and pay
the ne whole debt IN thirty years.
We ought to do it. We can do it, and be-
ltlVp fpd IN 4 ho
honest, the brave and the chivalrous people
OF Louisiana they will do 1t.
Isubmit this question to the consideration
of the members Of the Convention. thank
the members OF the Convention and members
OF the committee for the kind consideration
and courtesy with which they have treated
me. / thank the members Of the Convention
for the attention they have given me, and
promise not again to trespass upon their
time.
DELEGATE FORMAN.
next addressed the Convention. His remarks
were as follows:
Mr. Chai,mon-I rise, sir, not particularly
to reply to the remarks OF the gentleman who
has just taken his seat, and who has spoken
against the report of the Committee on the
State Debt, although in the course Of what l
have to say may allude to some things upon
to present some considerations in favor Of
the adoption OF the report of the
committee, and to present some views
on different line than heretofore pre-
sented on that side. Sir, this is grave
political question, political not in the sense Of
party, not In the sense Of craftsmanship, but in
the sense OF craftsmanship. It is question,
sir, for us to determine upon the broad equi-
ties OF the case, what is right and what is Just
for the people OF Louisiana to do under the
circumstances. It is, sir, because the ordi-
nary functions OF government are incompe-
tent to deal with it that you are called to-
gether. The demand OF the people of this
commonwealth for this constitutional conven-
ton was because after two years Of experience
In endeayoring to redeem the State by the
ordinary means of legislation it was found,
sir, that it could not be done.
Mr.. Chairman, In the growth Of political
liberty and the expanse OF political thought
America is the first of the nations of the
world that devised the expedient of written
constitution. The sovereign power really re-
sided in the people In other representative
governments, and had been from time i'm
memorial reposed in the legislative depart
mn ant Rnf cir