The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1865-11-29

yeasons therefore.
Mr. Nicholas objected, and explained
his views as to who was properly presiding
officer Of the Senate. lie quoted q law,
which declares that when mans term of
Office expires, it Is yet his duty to contin-
ne discharging the duties Of that Office I'M
til regularly relieved By his successor; and
under this, was of opinion that a great his
take had been made the previous day in
recurring Mr.. Gastinel to vacate the Chair.
he would therefore move Reconsideration
of the action had in that matter.
Mr.. Munday replied that this matter was
not before the Senate; the Gastinel matter
had been finally disposed of; besides, Mr..
Gastinel had expressed his unwillingness
to preside; that his withdrawal was the
wish Of the Senate, was evident in The
unanimity with which the members elected
his successor; and if Mr.. Gastinel had been
wronged, there was a proper time and me-
thod of appearing before that body to see
himself righted. ts ~
Mfr. Manday renewed his motion to adj
minister the oath OF afficeto Mr.. Burthe as
President of the Senate. Carried.
The oath was then administered to the
President by a senior member Of the Sen.
ate.
Mr. Foute moved that, in accordance
with the usage of legislative bodies, the
President be authorized to invite clergymen
Of the denominations to attend the Senate
and open the daily sessions with prayer.
Carried.
Mr.. Foute moved that the rules Of the
Senate Of 1860 be temporarily adopted as
the rules of this body. Carried.
Mr.. Mohan moved that the President
appoint a special committee of three, to
draw up, from the rules Of 1860, a list Of
rules for the government Of this body.
Carried.
Mr. Kennar moved that the House be
informed Of the organization OF the Senate,
and that a joint committee Of both Houses
be appointed to wait upon Gov. Wells and
inform him Of their readiness to receive
communications from him. Carried.
Mr.. Kenncr offered the following, but
did not desire immediate action upon it:
Resolved, The House concurring, that a
Joint committee Of FIVE on the part Of the
Senate and ON the part Of the
House be appointed, whose duty it shall be
70 prepare and report to this Legislature,
for It's consideration and action, such laws
and changes in existing laws Of this State
as said committee may deem eypeaient and
proper for the protection and security OF
the persons aud property of the freedmen
of this State, including theirsocial relations
towards each other, that of husband and
wife, parent and child, and what laws are
necessary to make their laber available to
she agricultural interest of the State, and
to protect the State from the support of
the minors, warrants, and paapers, and re-
port by bill or otherwise; and that to this
committee be referred all bills, memorials,
resolutions and documents bearing Or the
Subjects embraced in the above resolution;
and that with view of producing harmony
OF action between the Federal and State
Authorities, said committee be instructed
t., confer with the Assistant Commissioner
Of the Bureau Of Refugees, Freedmen and
Abandoned Lands for the State Of Lonisi-
ana; and that should recess occur in the
session of the Legislature, said committee
sh III have authority to sit during the recess,
aad employ such clerks as they may deem
necessary.
The resolution was laid over.
Mr.. Foute offered the following prema-
bic and resolutions, which lie over:
Whereas, 1t has been debated whether
The election Of this Legislature by the PEG
PIE OF Louisiana did not imply q voluntary
approval and ratification on their part Of
tie Constitution Of 1861 and all Legislative
'loiigs under it, now, therefore,
BE it resolved by the Senate and House
Of Representatives ofthe State Of Louisi-
ana in General Assembly congened, That
the result OF the. late election is the most
6 nphatic protest against that Constitution
mad those proceedings that could be inter-
ell by the people Of this State, in the only
peaceable and legal manner open to them,
since, by the platform upon which most Of
Tie members Of this Assembly and all the
general State officers have just been elected
with unprecedented nnanimity, the Consti-
tuition Of 1864 was declared TO be the q Gre
alton OF fraud, violence, and corruption, and
n5t in any sense the expression Of the win
Of the people Of Louisiana; and the faith
of all candidates elected on that platform
stand pledged g to call q convention of the
people of the State at the earliest practices
bl, period for the purpose Of adopting q
Constitution expressive Of the popular will.
BE it further Resolved, ETC., That, in
obedience to the voice of the people, as
pronounced in the late election, a Conyen-
ton be called to frame Constitution for
Louisiana, conforming to The new condi-
tons imposed npon her by the results Of
the war, and that Gov. J. Madison Wells
BE- respectfully requested to,issue forthwith
his proclamation for an election of men,
bsrs of the said Convention, to take place
on the Monday in December next ;
that the qualifications of voters at the said
election be the same as those prescribed in
the Governors proclamation for the elec-
tion Of this Assembly; that the number o.
delegates be the same as compose this As
3ssmhly the several Senatorial Districts tf
eject, the same number ofdelegates as they
now elect Senators to the General Assem-
blv, and the several Parishes and Represent
tative Districts to elect the same number
Of delegates as they now elect Represents
tives to the General Assembly and the
said Convention shall meet in New Orleans
on the - day of -- the election I'd