The Feliciana Democrat. (Clinton, La.) 1855-186?, 1859-03-12
Gbe felitiana democrat.
THE RESIGNATION OF LIEUT.. GOV. MoUToN.


the speech delivered by Lieut. Governor Mouton, in
which he notified tho, body Of his resignation.
When ! wrote yesterday had not an idea
that scene was to come off, to day in the
Senate which would strike the mind and cause
the regret of every citizen Of this State In
the morning on the motion Of Mr. Griffin. of
Avoyeles, Hon c II Mouton hciug in the
chair, the appointment of the Senate members
Of the Committee of conference called ior by
House, to settle the apportionment bill, WAS
taken from the President and the Committee
elected hv the Senate Such u step was Justly
regarded by Mr. Mouton, and the minority Of
the Senate opposing II, as want ofconid"nce
in that officers impar'ialitv an opinion which
was not concealed. 1t is true Mr. Griffin dis
claimed any diSrcspcct to Mr.. Monton, but
senators and spectators could not forget that
bnt few days previously, on question Of
the same nature, when Mr. Griffin was N the
chair, he had without opposition appointed
like Committee, and it came with i'll grace
from the majority, who on that occasion did
not oppose such appointment, and with still
/ less grace from the Ayoyelles Senator, who
had exercised the same privilege, to record
their votes on the journal in favor Of the motion
to take from the Lieutenant Governor the ap-
had taken the appointing power from the
Speaker on a previous OCCASION and which
act, bv the by, met earnest condemnation OF
the Grfin-tcs? But the two cases were
not parallel. Mr. Pugh appointed majority
Of the House Committee, of conference, from
among those opposed to the overwhelming ma
iori,y Of the House, on the point in dispute,
thereby diSrcgnrlng all parliamentary nSareS;
,,:I ,l,, Il . nr,l,
exercised right Of elccting the Committee
The Senate ddnot rive Gov. Monton, chance
to appon: it proiudg"d him by its course, and
on the plea (illfonuded. as ! have shown that
tie House had so acted, proceeded to follow
an example they themselves admitted to be bad.
In view of these facts Mr. Mouton took o.
Icasion in the afternoon session OF yesterday,
to rise in his seat and tender his resignation
of the place of Lieutenant Governor, to which
he had been elevated by the votes Of his fel.
low Democrats Of Louisiana, and which the
unconrteouS conduct of an unscrnpuouS major
ity in the Senutc following t. the wake Of as.
sumcd leaders of the Democratic party, forced
him to resign The scene was impressive in
the highest degree TIE brilliant gas that
llumincd the Senate Chamber, witnessed III
9 every part of the crowded room faces pale
tones of the retiring officer, rang through the
hall with startling energy ana diStinctness the
dropping of pin would have been an inter
ruption Towards the close of his address,
wien for the first time, the word resign,
. fell from his lips, Mr. ST Paul rose and cried
: ont in furious voice, !" refuse to receive the
$ rcsgnationw But nothing disturbed the calm.
:. ness of Mr. Montom He had come there 10
|, "a
's self regard that a man could feel, and moi
all the regrets of his warm friends, and they
were not few, cond unmau him, He called
= Mr. st Paul oorder. and firmly and unshriak
in.ly finished his remarks.
! As he finished he left the chair and withdre"
= from the hall Then followed a scene Of con
fusion, in strange contrast with the dign 'lp
N onpt and order, that usually distjnguiShe
N Senatorial bodies Above theno'S" Of t'lkefs
H. !" were heard the stcntorian tones Of Gen. KIDD
i the able Senator from jackson, calling npof
p the Hon. b l.. Dcfreesc to take the chair, i
which motion he was overrnled, and > uaio
Griffin. the President pro fem, and introduce
: of the resolution that had lost the ga'nt Mon
ton to the State Of Louisiana, took the vacar.
:: seat
~ Then began scene of explanations Mr.
iHNOf OF ~ lH;lTps stiIi lc Iht NblH' ~ tl''t
cr the Committee because he thought the Pres
si dent not sufficiently acquainted with the detail
!, of this long struggle on thcnpportionmcnt bill
: hy reason Of his absence, to cradle him |
: appoint such a committee as the settlement :
tic dispute requi ed Mr. Shadburuc toget'
" er with McsSrs. Defrcese, Delony, and Chew
all Of whom had voted against the motion !
= the morning, spoke of the late President III til
highest terms, and expressed their regret n
iro losing him, at the same time that they wef
Of forced to approve the course he hnd takei
Hyams, who had voted for the obnoxious res'
lufiou, Griffin its author and Goo'", Tucker
oro Pierce, aye, even Simmcs, the Imm9cnat'
:" came out on The subject, the latter attemptln
. ia base his conduct on the excuse that IL
Senate had been expressly invited by the Hon
Hh, .ho fo elect a committee, until some one cale
~ ON the clerk to read the message from Il
= House, which showed that SHINES was slipper
IT. on that point.
- To wind up this description, resolution
were introduced by Hyams diSclnimng a
= intention on the part of the Senate to wonr
mo Mr.. MoutouS feelings, by their course in t