New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1858-03-16
cAprroL1AN CORRESPONDENCE.


BATON ROUGE, March Ia, 1858.
Eds. Creseent-Nothing was done yesterday. The
wheels Of legislation are for the present eectually
sctoched-by the African Apprentice bill in the
Senate, and the New Orleans Election bill in the
House.
At the evening session Of Friday, as you have
probably learned by telegraph the Apprentice bill
passed on its second reading 10 the Senate, by
the casting vote Of Lieut.. Gov Mouton. The vote Of
the members stood IL to II. When the clerk an
nounced this result Gov. Mouton said, distinctly and
emphateally that he was fully aware of the respon-
sibty he should assume by the act he was about to
do ; but as he was Of the opinion that the time had
arrived when the South should think act and provide
for herself he should vote Eyes" There was burst
Of APPLAUSE from hundreds of auditors in the lobby,
partly from admiration Of the ehvalric of the
presiding officer, and partly doubtless, from the
cess OF She measure on that reading.
1t was an object of the supporters Of the bill to
put it on its final passage atthe earliest practicable
moment, This could not be done yesterday but by
taking it up ont Of its regular order and to do this
required twothirds vote Of the Senate-an impos-
sble thing. But under rule established some days
since at the evening sessions, the members are al
lowed, In alphabetical order, to call up bills out Of
their regular order. 1t was, them an object of the
opponents Of the measure to prevent quorum by
non-attendanee, Some few of them, however, APP
peared in their seats--something more than quo
rum (seventeen) in all. One or two unimportant
bills were taken up and passed, when the Secretary
reached the name of Mr.. Ladlaw, who at once
called up the African Apprentice bill. The title
read Mr. Pearce Senator from Bienvlle, moved an
adjournment, and Immediately disappeared, not re-
MI tn nta Inn 0nlV iyta
answered to their names, all opposed to adjournment
No further action, of course, could be had on that
measure or any other A motion was made and ear.
ried TO compel the attendance Of absent members
under the act of 1856 on this subject The warrants
were being made out, when the motion was recon-
sidered and withdrawn. In answer to an inquiry of
Senator the President stated that the African APP
prentice bill was before the Senate. and lcod remain
betorf 10 until disposed Of The clear implication Of
the language was, that no other business would be
transacted until final vote is taken upon the bill ;
and this position of the President it is the evident
determination Of the advocates of the bill to support
to an extremity.
The question Isl very, much complicated, and rem
dered qaadrnpy interesting by the fact now gener-
ally understood that advices have reached here from
Washington City adverse to the measure. Wheels
within wheels
In the House there has been scarcely less of diff
Guilty 10 regard to the Election BILL The proposition
of Mr. Dreux for the total repealof the New Orleans
Election law having been defeated by tie vote, he
and those acting with him determined to prevent
the adoption Of Mr.. Gays substitute, which repeats
the existing law only in part and to carry out this
determination they will make use Of every available
means. When motions and parliamentary maneu
verings the1oor fail they resort to asudden absen
teeism and in sufficient numbers to bring the whole
thing to dead halt.
Yesterday the House took a recess for some time,
to enable the Democratic members to go into
on the subject and the Senate followed suit to eua-
bic the Democratic members of that body to meet
those of the House in secret session. novel proce
dure, to say the least OF it.
When they came out of caucus there was found to
be no quorum in the House, and no alternative was
left but an adjournment until Monday. H.