Claiborne guardian. [volume] (Homer, La.) 1877-188?, 1880-05-12

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representative Of the people on returning
from the Legislature TO give synopsis OF
what he did, aud some reasons for his
actions, especially on subjects Of very
great importance to the people and to
myself Being peculiarly situated, and
not being a politician, I feel 1t at least due
TO the people OF Claiborne parish to rem
der an account Then may say that first
Of all things the interest Of tue State was
predominant With me No questions Of
governmental policy we're entertained but
practical, honest and trne legislation was
my aim. No man can please everybody,
aud lie who attempts IT only demonstrates
his own folly. Right is power, aud
in my conception of things, this great
principle Of the human mind should pre-
vail in legislation as we'll as In all the
other departments Of life; and he who
makes sacrifice Of truth must s:gnally
fail in every undertaking Of life, and
especially 80 as a legislator, therefore
what did ~ a representative Of the peo-
pie was with an eye single TO the better
advancement Of the peoples interest, AT
the same time acting conscientiously.
When the late Legislature convened,
after clecting one of the able-t men of the
State ~ Speaker. the first great work was
to put in operation the constitution which
! bad been ratified by the people, and which
/ was no ordinary undertaking; though
/ there are plenty of bobtLiled politicians
in this parish who could have no doubt
accomplished the work in less than half
/ the time the late Legislature was in SEES
sion, accepting their version. There are
! all casts of men found in body like that:
men who are constituted so differently as
/ that some say less than they know-oth-
crs decidedly more than they ever heard
of. The man who stands firm and fear
le-sly and speak. vhen il is necessary, is
/ the proper legislator. have always felt
; that a public man should he criticised If
/ necessary; therefore invite every citizen
/ To examine the proceedings Of the House,
and if | WAS found absent, then condemn
/ me; if cast a vote that was wrong. hold
| me responsible. freely say that have
nothing 10 regret in my course, and would
to-day deliberately pursue the same line
Of action. On two important measures |
differed with some OF the body; and on
one with very large majority; and no
doubt it il Justice 10 my friends that !
should state briefly my reasons for diiirr.
ing with the majority. (fermit me to
say, however, that am far from admit.
ting that the majority is always right
/ The measure 10 which refer is the City
( Charter bill, Now, by reference TO the
journal You will see that by taking up
this bill the license, revenue, and general
/ appropriation bills would have been en-.
tirely ignored; and who is it that cannot
see the Importance Of speedy action on
4 the license bill, to say nothing Of an extra
session, whirh would ,a,c br.n disastrous
( tn the people aud party to which belong
and what were the rrasOn> Of the coun.
! Try members fni desiring the SPEEDY pas
sage OF this hilli In my opinion Just
such as would have been offered by
/ -chool-boys and not representatives, Of a
/ great people. The only reason offered was
that II was matter pertaining Ia the
| city Of New Orleans, land let's put il on
! them regardless of It's FEATURES which
We're very objectionable. When We note
( the fact that the city of New Orleans pays
. E ,t. -
/ II not astonishing that men will forget
their duty TO the extent that they are
/ willing To pass bill under such circum.
stances; and had it not been for the
/ sagacity of the Governor il would have
/ hrcoine law. But for the reason that the
bill did not meet the demands of the pco-
! pie of New Orleans he vetoed the bill
/ The second measure that | refer TO is
! the general lutt-r, hill. whic.. was in my
/ opinion both unconstitutional and i'm
practicable. | therefore fought it. The
hill did not come up, though the vote
stood about ;birty-thrcc for il and Fifty.
two against IT, II any man in this parish
feels that did not reflect the will of the
people let him give his reasons, will
answer him.
Now, as 10 the Sunday law, | supported
the bill because think il the duty Of a
! law maker to protect, at least. the nights
of the people if not their morals
As to that feature Of the poll tax bin
which make, the employer Responsible ioI
the employees poll tax, opposed and
gave a. my reasons that il was contrary
to republican form of government &c
make o,ir man liable for nnnthrr's debts
aud further, it would he quite probable
that the party paying would not De adj,
to yet ia" amounts back.
fought al "xtravagant measures Of a
financial character especially. | drsir,' 1,
, say that nm mt an ISpiIauf for public
position for reasons dem suil ricnt MOI
have ever east vote for public favor