Year: 1878

SPEECH OF HON. EDWARD d. WHITE


OF ORLEANS.


I'm the Senate OF Louisiana, Monday,


March rs, 1875,


The Senate having under consideration the
resolution Of Hon. Louis Texada, of Rapides,
providing for the raising of special commit
tee to report In succinct manner the reform
legislation enacted In 1877 and 1878, Mr.. White
said:


Nh. Ptestdent--I am sorry that gentlemen
on the other side of the house seem to object
to q discussion of the pending resolution. 1t
was doubtless offered by the Senator from
Rapides with the object of furnishing an oe-
casion, in the last hours Of the session, for
making some statement In connected man
ner Of the system Of legislation devised by
q majority Of this General Assembly, during
this and the former session, for the relief OF
the people Of the State. In avaiiing myself Of
the opportunity which the resolution makes
| am impressed with the delcacy Of the task,
for it is difficult to review with appreciation
the work accomplished without seemingly
indulging in self-praise, associated as ann
with the majority on this floor, to whom the
responsibility of power was intrusted at the
last general election. However, a sense OF
public duty and Of public veal should dorni-
nate and control all personal considerations,
and believing that much misapprehension
exists as to what has been done by this Gen
eral Assembly, and that d statement thereof.
somewhat In detail, will be conducive to pub
lie good, as tending at least to remove In
part, this misrepresentation, will endeavor to
present such statement, disclainning in the
outset any personal claim to commendation
other than that which may result from an
honest effort to perform my duty.


Sir, when turn back to the political condi
tion Of this State, prior to the last general
election, and then look upon her condition
now, my heart is lifted up not only in exulta-
ton but, trust also, In thankfulness to an
all-Wise Providence, who has mercifully
guided her through so many dangers and
difficulties to the condition of peace, order and
freedom which she now enjoys. Then her
people were enveloped In the darkness which
followed reconstruction. Despite the awful
sacrifices which the war had entailed, de-
spite the loss of her best blood upon so many
battlefields, despite the destruction OF her
social and material system, despite the ago
MES of reconstruction and the deprivation
Of liberty which followed, her people, with
unsurpassed devotion to public duty, had
again and again waged successful
struggle for local self-government only
to find their victory frustrated and the
fruits thereof turn to ashes in their
hands by the instrumentality of laws
created for sitting and perverting their will.
| N fT1IU 7Dns rrfEh s1s
earnestness OF purpose indicative Of the awful
consequences to result from defeat. Sir, that
struggle was successful. But when we, the
representatives Of the people, met to carry
out their desires, the same obstacles which
had previously prevented the establishment
of a representative government confronted
u.s. The State-House occupied by usurping
government, and with the Federal govern
ment, II not aiding, at least seemingly coun-
tenancing it, rendered the hope of it's over
throw faint indeed. ! know, sir, that the brave
hearts OF the people of the State were ready
to respond to any call made upon them, but
know the suffering which would have been
entailed had turmoil ensued. Conscious OF
this, sir, and trusting to the devotion of our
own and the patriotism of the American
people, we organized our government and
put it in practical operation. Through many
weary weeks Of vicissitude, Of anxiety, and OF
doubt, we passed from condition of uncer-
tainty to one of certainty. Without one sac
rifice of principle without anarchy, the usur-
patton was overthrown and "a government of
the people, for the people, and by the people,
was established, never, trust, to pass away
again. When I consider the struggle which
led to this happy consummation when Look
upon the faces of my colleagues upon this
floor and recall the first anxious meeting, the
frequent after-conference, the difference of
opinion existing, the forbearance by which
unanimity was attained; and above all, Mr..
President, when bring back the wise coun-
sci, the promptness in acting when action was
required, and the equal frmness in not acting
when inaction was best, shown by the true
gentleman whom the people had called to the
chief direction Of their affairs, and who, with
more than Roman courage and simplicity,
now discharges the duties Of his high Office,
am impressed with the conviction that not all
chance led to this successful issue. Sir. you
doubtless bring back the image OF this strug-
gle to your mind. for you were an actor In it's
alternations of hope and dependency. You
lent the aid Of your experience, your quick
ness OF apprehension, and your devotion to
the public service to it's termination. How
ever, it was not my purpose to make refer
ence to the trouble Of the past, but rather to
endeavor to render some account of
the stewardship with which the government,
resulting from the restoration to local liberty,
was intrusted; and in so doing, II I speak In
the name Of the majority on this floor, de-
sire to disclaim any intention of wounding
the feelings of any gentleman who may differ
in political opinion from myself and col
leagues. 1 desire to include every gentleman
acting with the minority who may have lent
his aid to the accomplishment Of any good
which has been reached.


Mr.. President, when coming into power,
this government succeeded to a deplorable
heritage. Everything was disarrangeed and
in confusion. Everything was to be reformed.
A reform difficult to obtain, because of constf-