The Opelousas patriot. [volume] (Opelousas, Parish of St. Landry, La.) 1855-1863, 1856-02-16
The Star Chamber.

The proceedings in the Senate Chamber on
the 25th inst, regarding the election Of Sena-
tors from the city, recalled forcibly to our mind
that Infamous inquisitorial Court termed the
Star Chamber. The minority, of the special
committee raised in the Senate, to examine
into the claims of Messrs. st. Paul, Hyams and
Withers, were denied the right of taking any
testimony whatever to sustain Messrs. Burke,
Michel and Burthe in their seats in the Senate.
The minority of that committee were thus to-
tally disarmed. The majority then proceeded
to examine into testimony taken wholly en-
pdrte, and upon that, grounded o volumlnous
report. We shall not question but that the
report was in conformity with the evidence
they had before them. How could it be other
wise? 1t was uncontradicted, and Messrs.
Burke and his co-Senators from NewOrleans
were cut off by a shameful act of the Senate,
from introducing evidence that would, not only
rebut, but totally destroy it. But that reckless
and law-trampling body, either fearing or
having a knowledge Of this fact, and dreading
that the operation of such testimony would
disable them from whipping in the conscientious
among them, with a boldness almost urnparal-
leled, threw up barricades between the law and
their " predetermined action, and at once
commenced the revolution. For disguise it as
they may attempt, it is nothing more nor less
than a revolution-a revolution that must
prove destructive to all constitutional and le-
gal restraints, and plant in their stead the ar
bitrary will of the Legislature.
Although Legislative bodies are constituted
to frame laws, yet they are not themselves
above all law. They are assembled to frame,
amend and repeal but as long as a law sub
sists they are MS much under its restraints as to
prohibitions and mandates as the humblest CT
tlZen in the State. Nc one in his senses would
for u m contend, that the Legislature can
disregard all or any law. In order that this
argument should be understood more fully, il
Is proper for us to remark that it must be re-
membered that We are not now discussing the
merits OF the main question, whether MIR. St,
raul and his confreres are, or are not entitled
to their seats but The object is to pass in re-
view the reason and grounds assigned for
refusing to allow the contestees to produce
testimony IN their behalf. Now the contestants
may or may not be entitled to their seats, but
tins question we are not presently considering.
me Senate have refused to consider the merits
OF that~question, and at one vault have reached
their predetermined purpose.
The Senate pretend that they are acting I'M
der the law Of fSl4. Now what are the pro-
visions Of that act? After stating that the
person intending to contest, shall within thirty
days OF the election. give a written notice of
such fact-and further, give ten DAYS notice Of
The time and place of taking dispositions, etc,
It further proceeds and prescribes by whom
these dispositions may be taken, and to whom
transmitted, etc., and then follows-(we quote
from the Louisiana Digest y
Art. 979, The person or persons contestipr an
election shall present n petition signed by at least ten
qualified electors of the district, within three daus
after The next meeting of the Legislature. or within
ten days OF the time when such depositions were
taken, allowing also one day every twenty miles dis.
lance IRON the place of holding such elections ia the
seat oil government, praying the House 10 examine
lhe ttcts ana decide thereon, and the Judgment rem.
uefeu thereon shall either confirm or yacate the
seat '"s"'o AIT
Now it strikes us that under this clear nro-
vision OF the act of 1914, the Legislature could
not proceed beyond confirming OF v~acatinp the
seat. The last session of lie Legislature evil
IDENTIFY thought so when they sent Messrs. Faplk
and Hall back to their constituent electors TO
decide the question, Perhaps this very case has
made the Democratic party a little wary about
sending Representatives back 10 the people,
for IN This case they received a signal rlebnke,
MIR. FAUX was again returned by an over
whelmipg majority. a..
4hc'Sessate in the case Of Burke and others