The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-06-13
THE CON VENTION.
Debate ON. the Report Of the Com.
mittee ON the State Debt.
Addresses by Delegates Warmoth and
Caffrey In Favor of the Minority
Report, and Of Delegate Forman
in Support of that Of the Majority.

Report, and Of Delegate Forman
in Support of that Of the Majority.
THURSDAY, June "A.
The Convention WAS called to order at IL
o'clock, President Witt In the chair, and 104
members present
Prayer was offered by Rev. Mr.. Hu-
bert.
The journals Of previous days were APP
proved.
THE SPECIAL ORDER OF THE DAY,
being the report Of the Committee on the
State Debt, was taken up.
The Convention resolved itself into commit
tee of the whole for the purpose OF taking up
the reports, Delegate Mutt In the chair.
DELEGATE wARMoTH M~
took the floor, and addressed the Convention
In support OF the minority report. His re-
marks we're as follows:
Mr.. Pesident-I enter upon the discussion of
this question with feelings perhaps peculiar,
and Under circumstances that surround no
other gentleman upon this floor. The ut1es-
ton under discussion Is one relating chiefly to
acts Of administration that occurred during the
GlEl9 i DEGEluGH tt6 IO4GIHUI UpbI LIllS Sbhb6,
and so far as they are legal or illegal, lawful
or unlawful, honest or fraudulent, | am re-
sponsible in SO far as occupied the position
Of chief executive OF the State. Therefore,
Mr.. President. I enter upon the discussion OF
this question. having on interest In It's decis-
has, an interest that Is peculiar to m yself, be-
cause as one OF the chief actors In the great
drama now under criticism, my name, my
repute and my future depends.
M A.4 Dre fruV1N 4rS tA dtn4r
sixteen years ago. came as Union sol
dier, endeavorlng to uphold her starry flag
and to bring back the discovered State. did
my duty as understood o soldiers duty to
be. When the war was over, entraneed with
the beauty of this, country, the loveliness OF
It's climate, the urbanity and kindness Of her
people, I laid aside my uniform and my
sword and made my home among you. The
returning soldiers met me with kindness and
eordiality, and, sir, we were friends, the best
Of friends, until the question OF reeonstruc-
ton larqse, when those with views 80 pro-
nounced, SO wide, could not be friends the
very condition Of things was such, the ideas
OF those who were in favor Of enfranchising
the colored race under the reconstruction acts,
was SO at variance with those entertained by
the returned Confederate soldier, that there
was no middle ground upon which we could
unite.
Under this condition OF things was 1t
which have I lasted for years sG sr the passons
which were aroused during that long and
dark period are low beginning to COOL We
are now emerging Into brighter days; the
new civilization is fixed and cannot be oblit-
Grated, 30 that we can begin together the
great work Of the future.
Mr.. President, let me say thatin my iudg-
ment this is not the place to discuss this
question; II 1t Is 9 question at oil it Is legal
question, q question that should be submitted
to the tribunals of the country, to which all
legal questions are submitted. / refer to the
courts Of the country. Sir, we are untitled by
the very condition Of things to determine
this question now under consideration. Why?
We are here representing our e,oenstituents, We
and feelings 81 the people. Therefore say We
are untitled to determine this question. It is
question purely OF law and should be passed
Why, Sir, petitions have been circulated
throughout the city OF New Orleans, signed
by many Of her citizens, asking this Conven-
ton to pursue certain course. Sir, the effect
OF newspaper articles and the influence Of
schemes and manipulatfons Of speculators
have their influence upon the minds OF MEM
bers OF this body. All these various influences
have an effect upon the minds of the men,
bers Of this Convention. Therefore, 7 say,
the place to determine this question, which Is
purely question of law. 1say this with no
disrespect to the Convention, nor to any MEM
Der upon this floor, but from my knowledge
Of the sentiments OF many members Of this
Convention.
have been told by members here that they
did not dare to vote to pay this debt In full;
that the question had entered so much into
politics, that It had been the club with which
the Democratic party had beaten to death the
by their leaders to believe that all the bonds
issued since the war were fraudulent. I have
been told By q gentleman upon this floor,
that although he admitted change
had come over his mind since he had come
here, that should he vote to pay the debt when
he went home to his constituents they would
accuse him Of having sold out to the bond
holders, that he would be tarred and feathered
and ridden on rail. Sir, this is the reason
ences, with these mere personal interests and
personal fears, that this Convention ought not
to pass upon this question; that we ought to
submit It to the tribunals to which such
questions properly belong, only providing In
carrying out the DEGREES ii our courts. But,
sir, we are obliged to discuss the question, |
and as we are obliged to do that, let me begin
oy saying to the members OF this Convention |
nat j nothing Is gained by misstatements Of
acts IN the discussion. We have been |
!old that the people have paid out over
s8, 10000 for taxes In the last ten years
or levee purposes, therefore we should
not pay the bonds outstanding and
which were given for levee purposes.
Inn informed by the member who made that
statement that he was mistaken as to the
Igures; he finds his figures not to be correct.
The facts are, Mr.. President, that only 81
,58, $40 SO have been expended on the levees In
,he last ten and a quarter years, 90, ,661 ,251 "a
being the proceeds OF the sale of bonds under
aet 1se: ho; 115 OF 1867 and act No. 90
II 1S7O... the payment Of which we
Ire now discussing. Four millions nine hun
1red and sixty-six thousand forty eight dol
ars and fifty cents is the total Of the taxes
collected for levee purposes In the last ten
md quarter years.
Again, we are told that the act giving
9, 900, 900 to the New Orleans, Mobile and
Texas Railroad Company was passed; that
1pon Its passage 75O bonds were issued upon
he first division OF that road, after 1t was
completed. or course, the bonds were issued
sfter the division was completed, for
he law SO directed, but I affirm,
md It Is matter Of fact, that the
'oad was not completed to Donaldsonville
,nffI ana xyoor affnr tha act Yvaa raaand hv fha