New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-07-01
NEW ORLEANS, WEDNESDAY MORNING JULY i 1868 S1-

1 repeat to you as heretofore that the mem.
| bers OF the Legislature of the State of Loui-
! siana are only required to take the oath
| prescribed by their own constitution, and
| are not required to take the oath prescribed
| In the reconstruction acts. Generals Meade
and Candy are acting on this view of the
| case.
/ ~. s. GRANT. Genersl.4
| And he instructs me TO inform you that
the oath prescribed in the new constitution
of the State, aud no other, will be required
| of the members of the House over which
| you are now presiding. shh H
Very respectfully
4 @ Your obedient servant.
(Signed,l JOHN B. JOHNSON,
Assistant Secretary of Civil Affairs.
The President suggested shat motion
would be In order to refer that document to
a committee, the committee to report to-
morrow. The documents from headquar-
tiers were indefinite. In this General Grant
is said to state that he has no orders to
give. 3.
Mr. Wittgenstein moved the appointment
by the Chair of a committee Of five for that
purpose. ...s-rs s
Motion was seconded.
Mfr. Ray said the simple question was
whether the Senate, as now organized,
should be governed by the opinion of Gem
eral Grant or that of the presiding officer Of
!. this Senate. .
The President-The Senate being now in
quorum, can give no decision. If the
Senate decides to appoints committee. it
wilIsbe appointed. have only made a
suggestion, and do not make any decision
in the case. f.7 ~
Mr. Ray-Perhaps was not properly un-
derstood by the President. On yesterday
the President decided 1t was necessary that
! members should take both the test oath
and the constitutional oath in order to be-
come members OF this body. Now, under,
stand, there is a telegram from General
Grant, in which he expresses the opinion
that tits unnecessary to take any oath ex.
cept tue one presoribedby the constitution.
7 II there is aHy QUESTION before the Senate
} | resting upon that telegram it's the simple
question whether SenRtors who have not
: been sworn Ia shouldsbe required to take
/ the oath required by the constitution only,
E | or whether the decision of the Chair on yes
! \ terday Is to be adhered to, and 1t seems TO
7 me that that question can bessettled as well
without the action Of committee as with
Q it; and that for the purpose OF facilitating
. business it would be better for the Senate
to act directly upon it. ] don't know that
distinctly understand the object Of the
. President IN saying he will be guided by the
/. decision of the Senate. / understand thai
A yesterday the Chair decided that both
oaths were necessary. The question now
9 arises whether one or botn oaths
/. should be required. There are number
4 of Senators here on the floor who. had moi
taken what is called the ironclad oath, and
who are either unable or unwilling to sakt
e it Why can not the question be decided
Al.
! In my judgment it is unnecessary and
therefore oppose the motion.
The question was then put and carried
: I Mr.. Ray voting nay.
Il The President appointed as committee tC
!. whom shonld be referred the communica
: : tions Of General Buchanan, ,Messrs, Wittgen
: stein, sMonette, Harris, Pollard, and Camp
bell.
= Mr.. O'Hara Il now move that we go int
: a permanent organization BY electing
Secretary.
! The motion was seconded and carried.
+ Mr.. o'Hara nominated Captain Merritt
: The nomination was seconded.
Nosother candidate being nominated
y the nominations were closed and the Ser
ate proceeded toan election by yeas an
nays, resulting in the unanimous election
of Captain Merritt.
n The President declared Captain MERIT
unanimously elected.
!. 1t was moved and seconded thai the Sen
!. ate proceed to the election of an Assistan
: Secretary, which being carried the follow
ing gentlemen were nominated for that pc
sition:
! Mr.. Blanchard, Mr.. staes, and Mr. NJ
I land.
y The roll was called, and resulted as TO
a Mr.. Blanchard. ....... ,............... i
Mr.. NolAnd ..s......s.., .a.s, -. !. -.
:, Mr.. 6taes s.s.s =. s,..s.s.ss
i The President declared Mr., Blanchar
4 elected Assistant Secretary.
It was moved and seconded that the Ser
= ate proceed to the election of sergeant-a
Z Arms, which was carried, and the followin
gentlemen we're nominated:
). N. Farrell, wm. aEulford o. II. HEM
= stead. f- 50 8sea3ef
y y The roll being called, MI. KfulSord +,
seived ten votes out Of nineteen,a and WI
Il, declared elected. sI9as lsbaa g g135i
8 Nc Nittgenstein moved sp election &
70 Assistant sergeant.at Arms, which motto
u was seconded. 5sslss. s. ssssv.
ID The President suggested that Commits
" on Rules might be made, 70 decide what {
e. acers the Senate might require.
81 Mr.. Ray moved the election Of Dot
Il keeper, in order to effect permanent .
i gauization, which motion was seconded |
T Mr.. Lynch, and being put to theEenate "
sa carried. aad .fsd
7T Mr.. 0'Hara nominated Mr.. Munroe.
!. ether nomination being made tbe<so
81 was taken, and resulted in the saaqinaol
m election of Mr.. Munroe.
t. Mr.. Wilcox moved q eiection Of
Its Assistant Deorkeepen men motion wa
We seconded. & 50
ge Mr. Lynch bseed that the motion won
e; he Withdrew, as the Benate had now
y permaue.S rganization.
et the action was withdrawn.
ne n. Lynch moved that the Senate noti
q sbe House that the Senate i nov ofga
& ized and ready for buainesa which motto
% was seconded.
= The Preaident said that before the motiC
i OF Alt. Lynch was put be would declare Il
a Senate duly organized and ready for bul
e ness
M The molten Of Mr.. Lyhch was then Ct
an hried ana s message dispatched to infoE
he tka fls.s5aa az thaf lser5a aaeit ornanizatii