Year: 1876

THE STATE HOUSE.


senate.


As it was understood that the election
bill would be taken up yesterday, tho mem
bers were nearly all in their seats and the
lobby was quite crowded.


The first business that came up was re-
port from the chairman of the Printing
Committee.


Mr.. Blackburn, as chairman of the Com
mittee on Printing, submitted the report.


Mr. Burch-From the wording of the re-
port Just read it does not come as report
of the chairman, the bill accompanying said
paper not having been considered in com
mittee, but it is rather paper coming from
the Senator from Claiborne, who, as chair
man of the committee, desires to be relieved
from further consideration of those print
ing bills. l think this paper is more like a
personal request than report.


Mr. Blackburn-I will explain in regard
to these bills; they are the same old rnb
bish we had last year, and which are w
brought back to the Senate in due 70 IN,
having been referred several Gays ago ny
motion of the member from East Is ton
Rouge. now most respectfully decline to
have anything more to do with the matter
1t is certainly within the power of the chair
man of any committee to make Just such a
report as l have made. have no further
use for these bills, and 80 report them back
to the Senate.


There was no action taken.


Mr.. Landry, for the Committee on Elec.
tions and Registration, reported unfavora-
bly, on House bill No. 4s, and reported q
substitute.


The committees report and recommends
ton were adopted. and the substitute, No.
lOs, was made the special order for two
o'clock.


Mr.. Goode gave notice that on future
day he would offer q bill to memorialize
Congress to levy increased taxes on the
product of imported slave labor.


Executive session was called, after which
the Senate took up the substitute for House
election bill No. 49, and the following con.
troversy is reported. Mr.. Twitchell called
it up, as it was the order of the day for two
o'clock.


Mr.. Twitchell moved that the bill be con-
sidered engrossed.


Mr.. Alexander eaid-Mr. President, l am
opposed to the passage Of this bill on the
ground that the Returning Board. as now
constituted, is not held for the purpose Of
benefting the Republican party or any
other party, but it is held in the interest OF
q ring power in the State in order that they
may feed upon the fat of the land. l, sir,
am a Republican, and am in favor OF a
peaceable, fair and quiet election; as
much SO as any Senator npon the
floor of this Senate; therefore, l am
in favor of striking out the portions of that
bill creating or providing for Returning
Board, as that would be the only way of
having peacable and quiet election. l
shall vote against the returning portion of
this BILL because l don't think it would
allay the difficulties in my section Of coun-
try. Gentlemen upon the other side of the
house have said something about a shotgun
policy. l will state, in reference to this
shotgun policy. spoken Of by gentlemen
upon the other side, that l am in favor of
bringing out the bayOnet in opposition to it.
That would be the more preferable way to
me o: meeting this question. shall, there
lore, vote against the passage of the bill.


Mr.. Ogden-Mr. President, l shall vote
sgainst the passage of this bill, and IN so
doing will briefly state my reason. The
right of suffrage is one of the dearest
rights of the American people, and the
abandonment Of that right by placing it in
the hands of five men is the abandonment
OF the great principle of American liberty.
and for one shall never vote tor such q
thing. l desire to see fair election; de-
sire to see the citizens of the State of Lou
isiana living together as they should live.
What l want, and what my constituents
want, is peace and harmony. l believe that
that the passage of this bill will be fire.
brand thrown in our midst; and l will say
to gentlemen upon the foor Of this Senate.
<hor I fOr I mil fol
them if they pass this bill, which means
nothing more nor less than war, why, then,
let it be war. shall vote no.


Mr.. George-I desire to explain my vote
in regard to this bill. shall vote against
the passage of this bill especially for the
reason that it is in violation of every prin-
ciple of repub'icanism; that it condemns to
death the dearest rights of every citizen of
the State of Louisiana, and l have not the
right to vote away the rights OF my people.
as is proposed to be done by the passage OF
this bill turn with disgust and loathing
from the contemplation Of the scandalOus
actions of the Returning Board of 1874 in
their management of the returns OF that
year. !, by my vote, do not intend to place
the rights that properly belong to every
American citizen in the hands OF members
composing returning board. shall
therefore vote no.


Mr.. Greene-I shall vote against this bill |
on the ground that we could, l believe, |
make better arrangements than those which |
propose to create returning board; for |
in the case OF the appointment Of return |
ing board we would be entirely in their |
power; shall vote no.


Mr.. Grover-In voting adversely to this |
BILL do it for two reason; the first is that |
certain provisions of that bill are offensive |
to me as member of this Senate; secondly, |
7 lol = NIL 49,
again into violence; therefore record my
vote no, because it is insulting not only to
ME, but to the constituency represent


Mr.. Her rwig-I shall vote for the passage
of this bill, although it is bill that may not
be accepted BY the House. When it re-
turns to the Ssnate may change my vote.


MIR. KelIy-Mr President, desire to ex-
plain my vote. / am opposed to the pas
sage Of this bill for the following reasons:
There is not Democrat or Conservative in
the State Of Louisiana that is not opposed
to the Returning Board. believe, too. sir,
that there is q very large number OF re-
spectacle Republicans in this State that
don't wish for any board 80 constituted. l,
sir, believe that the people of the State are
entitled to a full and free expression Of
their votes cast at any election of officers
in the State; and l believe, sir, that the
people of this State, both Republicans, Con.
servatives and Democrats, are deter mined
that there shall be no such board. While
am in favor of some sections in this bill, l
am opposed to its passage. l shall there
fore cast my vote in the negative.


Mr.. Robertsen-I stand upon the floor
of this Senate in peculiar position In re-
gard to the colored people. l was last year
elected in the tenth Senatorial district, and
hold my place here on majority of colored
votes. can not and will not vote for this
bill know ing IA do that the people of my
district are opposed to it, -,


MIR. Stamps-Gentlemen On the other side