New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1861-02-01
LOUISIANA STATE CONVENTION.

LOUISIANA STATE CONVENTION.
THURSDAY, Jan. 81, 1S6l.-The Convention NE
at quarter to IL O'Clock: the usual large crowd o
spectators, including ladies, filling the lobby ant
galleries.
Prayer was offered by the Rev. Mr.. Mccoy, o
the Episcopal Church.
The roll was called, and 101 members answered
Mr.. Walker, of Orleans, moved the reading 0
the minutes of Tuesdays proceedings, the reading
having been dispensed with on Wednesday, ant
spoke upon the necessity of watching the minutes
closely. The minutes of Tuesday not being OF
hand, they were not read 1t was explained tina
the minutes of Tuesdays secret proceedings coult
be read only in secret session. The minutes o.
Wednesdays proceedings were then read ant
approved
Adoption of the Rules.
Mr.. Provosty of Pointe Coup&e, presented the
Rules of Order for the Convention, as prepared by
the committee appointed for that purpose, ant
moved their adoption. Rule 20 being amended sc
as to allow only the President to introduce persons
within the bar, the rules were adopted.
Assistant Secretary.
Mr.. Rozier, of Orleans offered resolution au.
thorizing the Secretary of the Convention W ap.
point an Assistant Secretary.
Mr.. Elan, of DeSoto, moved the appointment Of
committee to inquire whether an Assistant Sec.
rotary was needed. Carried and Messrs. Elan
Rozier and Richardson appointed.
Postmaster. for the Convention.
Mr.. Girari, of Lafayette, offered resolution
that the President appoint g Postmaster for this
Convention. Adopted.
AtReporter for the Convention.
Mr.. johnson, of Iberville, offered a resolution
that reporter be employed to report the debates
Of this Convention, and gave his reasons therefor.
The ayes and noes were taken, and the resolution
laid on the table.
An Important Inquiry.
Mr.. Semmes, of Orleans, offered resolution to
instruct the Committee on Naval and Military At
fairs to inquire into and report upon the expedi-
ency of Louisiana sending troops to Pensacola for
the defense Of that harbor N
Mr.. Perkins, of Caddo, objecte to the resolu-
ton, as being calculated to create an unnecessary
alarm.
The resolution was adopted.
Mr.. Taylor, Of the Military Committee, moved
that the Military Board be instructed to report pro-
gress. Carried. E
Amendment to tEae Constitution.
Mr. Barbin, of Avoyelles, offered an ordinance
to amend that portion of the Constitution Of Lou
isiana respecting State officers, and moved its re-
ference. 1t was referred to the Committee on the
Constitution.
LitIlosraphfnsc OF the Ordinance.
MIR. Semmes, of Orleans, offered a resolution to
have the Ordinance of Secession of this Conven-
ton GEOGRAPHICALLY printed, as signed by the
members. This was referred to the Committee on
Finance.
The African Slave Tradc---Deinte upon
Instructing the Delegates.
Mr.. Norton, of Orleans, offered resolutions that
the Delegates to the Southern Convention at Mont
gomery be instructed to resist in that Convention
any attempt to reopen the African slave trade
and to enter their protest against any constitution
there proposed which might leave any opening for
the revival of the said slave trade.
Mr.. Miles, of Orleans, moved to lay the resolu-
tons on the table, and gave his reasons therefor.
The yeas and nays were called The resolutions
were tabled by 50 yeas to % nays.
Mr.. Walker, of Orleans. offered a resolution that
this Convention, in rejecting the foregoing resou-
tions, does not mean that the rejection shall be
considered as its sentiment on the African slave
trade but merely its disnclination to instruct dele
gates, on that or any other question. Mr.. Walker
explained his reasons. The tabng of Mr.. Nor
5on's resolutions, without any further expression
If the sense of the Convention, would be seized
lpon and msconstrued at the North, and would
place Louisiana in wrong light before the couu-
ny.
Mr.. Elan, of DeSoto, made a speech, in which
le argued that every State going into Southern
Jonfederacy should reserve right to regulate
slavery for herself.
Mr.. Thomasson, of Claiborne, rose to offer q sub
titute, but before the page got to the Secretary
Eith it, Mr.. Lawrence, of Plaquemines, moved the
previous question. The proceedings here became
regular, and so confused as to prevent our max.
ng any lucid report of them.
Mr.. Thomasson's substitute was voted upon,
without being read, that we heard) and laid on
he table.
Mr.. Hodge, of Caddo, moved a reconsideration
# the vote just taken. and taxed members with |
disposition to hurry things of their own through |
he Convention and to choke off others. Mr. Thorn |
sson had not bothered the Convention any, that |
e knew, and was entitled to showing, the same |
s any other member.
The President asked Mr.. Hodge how he had |
oted. Mr.. Hodge refused to reply, because the |
eas and nays had not been taken. He wanted |
hings done regularly or not at all. After some |
explanatory remarks from the President, Mr.
lodge stated that he had not voted at all. This
reated good deal of laughter.
Mr.. Lawrence rose to make an explanation
ouehing his motion to put the previous question,
which motion had choked off Mr. Thomasson's sub |
titute. |
The vote was, on motion, reeonsidered; and the |
President then stated that the question before the
ouse now was, shall the previous question be
nut?
Mr.. Thomasson rose to speak, but was ruled out
# order and sat down.
Mr.. Lawrence then withdrew lis motion for the |
revious question, and
Mr.. Thomasson was permitted to proceed He
insisted that whether Delegates were instructed or
ot, they should certainly know the will of the
eople in going to the Southern Convention.
Messrs. Kidd, Of jackson, Texada, of Rapides,
nd others, made short speeches, full of conflicting
Jews; and, at last,
Mr.. Thomassons substitute was ordered to be
cad. 1t turned out to be- not q substitute for Mr..
Walkers resolution, as had been generally be-
eyed, but substitute for Mr.. Norton's original
which had been laid on the table. It
imply expressed, in different and more condensed
hape, the spirit of Mr. Norton's resolutions, in
-ructins the Delegates to oppose the African slave
'ade in the Montgomery Convention.
Following this was an irregular debate, in which
} many members jumped up, and almost at once,
nat it was impossible to take any correct account
them.