New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-12-31
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

= regular session under the present Constitu
u Zion, and is limited by law to sixty days
The building and its APPENDICES at tn
corner of Royal and Cont streets, formerl.
It occupied by the Bank of Louisiana, ha
been leased temporarily by the committee
: appointed to secure suitable quarters 70
the Legislative and Executive branches o
4 the State Government, and the necessary
changes made for the accommodation o
the same. The Governor has already
; moved to the building assigned him there
and there is no reason to doubt the assem-
bling of the General Assembly, on the day
appointed by the Constitution, in the build
ing selected and prepared for that pur
pose, and the Mechanics Institute-historit
with the blood of loyal men-will be re
turned to the Mechanics Society. The ex
traordinary session held last summer hat
many difficulties to contend against tina
the coming session will not have to en-
counter. The first difficulty that presen' g
itself was a deep-rooted prejudice on the
part Of some of our people, that was in
clined to see no good in a condition OF
things brought about by the Reconstruc-
ton laws of Radical Congress. This is
gradually being surmounted, and it is
hoped that all our people will finally see
the necessity for accepting, in good faith,
the condition of things brought about by
the events of the last seven years. In the
next place, many of the Legislators were
inexperienced in the work of Legislation, and
the experience gained by the last session will
greatly avail them in the coming one. The
ill feeling so visible on the part of those
opposed to the new State government may
have caused some spirit of resentment to
manifest itself in the progress of legislation,
but then upon the whole it is believed the
work Of the last session will compare
favorably, everything taken into considera-
ton, with the work of any previous legisla-
ture in this State. Some things were done.
most likely, that should not have been
done, and others that should have been
done were not done. And it is likely also
that there might have been the usual
amount of selfshness even among Repub-
liean members that is usually found in
bodies of this kind. All of this is poor
human nature, and the present General
Assembly OF Louisiana does not stand
alone in this respect. The Democratic
legislatures OF this State have been noto-
riOusly corrupt and if we are to believe
current rumor, many of our sister States
are far in advance Of our Legislature in
conduct of this kind. This is no reason,
though, why Louisiana legislation should
be sullied in this way, and We hope to see
the members, Democrats as well as Repub-
licans, vieing with each other in the |
coming session in acts that will rebound TO |
their credit aRd the public good. General
Grants election as President inspires all
with hope, and must encourage the
of the Legislature to go to
work in earnest, as there can be no
longer doubt but that we will
have peace, and it becomes their duty to
supply the State with the legislation ne
,essary for its welfare.
The Republican members will be held
for all legislation, and it there
ore behooves them to act unitedly in fur
herance of the public good. Efforts will
made, through Democratic influence, to
create divisions between the Republican
and between some of the latter
md the Executive, just as the Democrats
Ire now trying to effect split between
ome Republican members of Congress
md our President elect. During the SEES
ion there will be published many edito-
ials, like the one in the Bulletin of this
morning, from which we extract the fol-
owing:
Our only hope for reform is in the por-
able split of the Radical party. Many of /,
he members, who imagine themselves to be ]
I great Importance to the party, are COM T
tanning OF Ill treatment at the hands of the
aaders, and now threaten an opposition. I
'hese shining lights have not been allowed C
D participate in the spoils, and they ex-
ress their determination to be caioled no
)Dger. rI Il
His Excellency has disappointed NUM-
er OF applicants for office, and the negro
lcmbers of the Legislature speak openly of
npeaching him tor malfeasance in office
nd violation of party faith. v
In the midst of all these conflicting inter.
its, 1t may be that much of the time of the
,sslon will be occupied Ill adjusting the II
lihcu!tles existing in the ranks of the faith
Il. II so we may be spared the inhiction
any very serious evils in the way of par s;
san legislation and onerous taxation. So q
ay it be.
Paragraphs Ike thase, intended to weaken ="
If party, should be viewed in their proper y
yht. Republicans must and will be har- "
onious. They must do their work man IL
lily and boldly. They must not waste
ne in angry discussions with Democrats. je
There should be no more wrangling {"
long members on account OF politi- as
differences, or on the minor mat OF
of division of the spoils in the tr
ape of offices. Retrenchment and re- th
m must be the order of the day. If pl
N who hold doubtful claims as legisla- of
s will not yield to the condition of things TO
'cefully, and help through honest legis- til
ion, they should be made to step aside P,
'pce, that the will of the people be not ab
s'rNeted. Men that have been eonspic- fo
us loA their enmity to reconstruction all
QUO noSbe allowed to influence mem m,
rs OF the Re,nhlican narty in ra..o,5 - mi