The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1866-02-21
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ahh,Jed with tho election OF ell Their mum
s;nal and country Or parish officers, aeeor-
,l;nc to their constitutions, and laws, Wlllle
,hey were kept from so doing by the fiat Of
s s man, and against the wish Of theni!i,
tarv authorities and Of the heads of the
Government at Washington. He spoke
With great calmness and ippassionness, as
u his went, but with clearlless and force
asmoastsased bic utter uatenabillty OF 1tne
Governors positions. 1-e., -un,
loot nith somewhat more OF warmth and
jJosl;no. He demonstrated how unjust We're
the Governors allegations as to. popular
siamor and legislative urgency" how every
sffart had been made to satisfy every rea-
sonablesdoubt the Governor might have en-
tertained how unfair and untrue were bis
;mpatations upon the fairness and freedom
If the exercise Of the elective franchise in
New Orleans. Fa
As for what the Governor had said in al,
nsioii to elections longpast and OF reputed
yiolences and; intimidation against voters
at that time, be (Mr. jonas would only say
that they were not done, fiat al, by the
party to which he (AIr Jenas belonged
hut by one of which the Governor himself
was a conspicuous member On behalf Of
his Constituency and OF oil the 20O,OpO 4 IN
haTitants of New Orleans, thus calumnia-
ted, he repealed with scorn and indignation
the calumny thus imputed to them. lie
who had so lately received the nearly unan.
imous vote of that people, acted most nm
grateful part when herefused to allow them
the privilege of choosing their own officers
Mr.. Austin said he did not desire to dis
cuss the pretensions of the veto message
1 he would simply say that the animus which
dictated it was desire to grasp at all pow
er, and to keep it all hazards.
I'd Mr.. Mcconnell asked if the veto mes
sage had no friends? None seemed to de-
fend it; if there were none disposed to do
60, he would move the previous question;
Mr. Williamson said he desired to ask
yonle questions respecting this communica-
tion, and to elicit answers, if practicable to
obtain them. He then commenced to dis,
sect it with minutenesss and to show how
untenable. and vain were the, objections
made to q municipal election, or to the bill
ITSELF When he came to so much OF it as
complaints of preponderating vote inthe
city, he said he saw heresthe ohlyisentiment
which relieved the message, in his mind
from total disapproval, for it led to hope
that the Governor would not veto "a Con
yention bill, as the Constitution of 1864
was the instrument which gave that prepon,
derance. He spoke with great eaInestnssss
against the imputations thrown upon the
city Of New Orleans and its citizens, and
sad that all thatin this message which en-
titled tito opr,respect, was that III was
signed by the Governor Of louisiana Had
it been signed by an individual, simply by
]. Madison Wells, it,would deserve only
our scorn and, contempt. II ~
Mr.. Stille said he should vote to sustain
the veto, but would do so simply on the
ground that it Violated 'Artiele lT9 1of the
Constitution of 1864, because inihis epin-
ion ii amended the city charter but it-did
not re-enact and publish at length the sec
ton amended. III. X ,,.s6aa.t .gag.
sThe vote was then taken on theIquestion,
iGIShall the bill pass, notwithstanding the
objections Of the GOVERNOR s4i,,t -
,.l.'Phe yeas and nays being called, stood as
fellows: yeas SO hays 8. I III " 81 :.
: MFR. Waggaman. when his name was call
ed, said he thought this most unpropitious
time for us to throw. down the gauntlet. to
tho governing powers. He was afraid we
were acting too preclpitately in view Of
ths threatning aspect at Washington.
MIR. Walker at first voted aye, but subse-
quently changed his vote to nay, s.
THE vote having been announced, the
Speaker declared the billlan act, notwith-
standing the objections Of the Governor.
Mfr. Tucker then moved o reconsidera-
tiun, (which Mr. Elan seconded, land MIR.
Elan then moved to lay this motion on the
table, which prevailed. " ''@a|'I.if'
The House then adjourned, ~