The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-07-01
STATE LEGISLATURE.
Senate.

TUESDAY, June 80, 1868.
The Senate was called to order yesterday a few
minutes after meridian, Mr.. Dunn in the chair, A
soldler made his appearance a moment after with
letter Ssr Mr.. Dunn. Before TIE presiding Off
Ger thought proper TO open it, a clergyman de.
llvered prayer. The roll was then called. The
roll embraced nineteen names only. Those rem
resenting the names called all answered pres
ent" as soon as this was over, Mr. Sambola
rose and remarked that his name had not been
called, but that he wished il TO be known that he
was present. Mr.. Dunn requested him not to in
terfere with the proceedings; there were other
gentlemen IN similar predicament present and
they had not made any interruption. Mr.. Dunn
then ordered the minutes to be read They were
adopted.
Mr.. Smith submitted report from the commit.
tee on elections and returns, to.wit:
Charman OF com. on elections report
that by report OF registrators Hugh j. Camp.
bell received 1897 votes and Ant. Sambola 1894
and that Hugh J. Campbell is duly elected fr ON
the Second District and that he be permitted his
seat and Sambola allowed TO contest It and that
the case does not recognize the authority of Gen.
B. 10 change the return of said Rs that were
duly sppd acodg to acts of Congress known as
reconstruction acts."
Before the reading Of the report, Mr.. Black.
man one OF the senators excluded, asked few
minutes attention. Mr.. Dunn refused Mr. Black.
man entrsated. Dunn was inexorable. Mr.. Black
man pleaded, but DGnn's fiat was like the enact
ments in the civil code of the Medes and Persans-
be was to play bis part and he was on the stage
clothed in the tinsel livery usual to such perform
ances. Mr. Dunn ruled that it was the custom of
all deliberatiye bodies for such members as were
not yet qualified to first receive the consent of the
majority of those who were qualified before ad-
dressing the assembly.
Mr.. Jewell, Of Orleans. objected to any further
proceedings with the utmost yehemence. He
had good authority for stating that the presi.
oent had dispatch from Gen. Grant vital to the
existence of the Senate as a body in the lepisIa.
ture. be called on the president to read it, and
said until that was done, no further proceedings
ought to be had.
Mr.. Sambola seconded Mr.. Jewell in his position.
and general discussion arose. which for time
threatened violence, but Mr. Dunn throughout,
presented his SuGUiter an DlOdO and his fortey IL,
re- for he neither lost his temper the thread to
the labyrinth which the radical disOrganzers have
made him the Theseus that is to explore it.
Mr. O'Hara (rsdical moved that those sena-
tors who we're not qualified should withdraw
Mr.. Sambola again attempted to speak but was
warned to keep silent. He asserted that he was
not there to be put down that he owed a dutv
10 his constituents who had legally and trinm.
phantly elected him, and that no man present
should deprive him of the right of speaking on
that floor.
Mr.; Ray, (radicaD from Ouachita, then moved
that Mr.. Backman, (Democrat) from Bossier, be
allowed to explain himself. Lost.
Mr.. Lynch, from Carroll, moved that the Senate
having two classes of credentials before them
one from the military headquarters, the other
convention, he moved the adoption of the re.
port of the committee.
Mr.. Sambola demanded the privilege of being
heard. Mr.. Dunn was deaf to all apostrophes
Rays motion was again put to hear Mr.. Black
man, the yeas and nays called and the motion de.
feated by the nineteen loil u and qualified. This
proceeding was again protested against with the
utmost earnestness by Messrs. Jewell, Samboa
and others. Mr.. Dunn would not allow any Of
them TO speak. He remarked in one of his nu
meTOua OhIurOatiOnQ hat ha lad 10
course by bis conscience aud his knowledge Of
right alone; that he was (he didn't use the Hora-
tian phrasel teres dtqle rotltndts aud was not TO
be inundated by caucuses or by individuals that
had threatened him with personal violence for his
decisions and bis course as president of the Sen. |
ate. Mr.. SambOla, being a lawyer, continued
Mr; Dunn must know the legal recourse to which |
be had access.
Mr.. Lynch moved to reconsider Mr. Rays |
motion.
Mr.. Dunn here interfered and ordered the com. |
already mentioned, from headquarters.
read to the Senate.
This communication covered telegram from |
zen. Grant annsuncing that he had no further
orders TO give, but that he thought the only oath
70 De administered is the oath Of the Louisiana
constitution. There being dead pause at this,
hlF. Dunn suggested that the communication be
'eIerred TO o committee.
Mr. Ray argued the question. He wanted 10
4now whether the Senate was to be guided by
zen. Grants opinion or by that Of the presiding
'nlcer and lieutenant governor.
Mr.. Dunn, in response, declared that he would
iecide nothing whilst the Senate was simply quo
uIn. The senators must decide for themselves,
md he should leave II TO their expression.
Mr.. Ray believed il was better the Senate should
lct directly as body on the communication from
headquarters, instead Of referring to a committee
3ut the chair appointed committee, composed
u Wittgenstein. Harris, Pollard, Monette and =.
Mr. O'Hara moved that the Senate 20 into per.
nsnent organization by electing a secretary.
jsrred: O'Hsra nominated Lieut. Merritt. No
pposltlon. Then came assistant secretary. Can |
dates: 2. z. Blanchard, Eugene 5taes, ,-N Nolan.
Blanchard got 8 votes, Staes 4, Nolan s. The
president probably voted for the first named, as
e officially declared him the recipient Of 10 |
otes, and duly elected.
huford was elected sergeant-atarms.
Inere was lull in the pressure for Office az
his moment as far as regarded the body Of the |
'enate; but Mr.. Dunn was besieged by a crowd
I boys OF all colors, big and little, among whom |
Ess six-foot youth Of eighteen or twenty years,
landing foil six feet in bis unheeled plantation
rogsns and weighing at least $50. This inter.
sung young claimant for the presidency pre-.
ented his card for a place as "page.o The |
eutenant gubernstorisl dignity was completely
pset with the preposteroRs idea of such corn