New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-07-08
TIE SENATORIAL FLEnTIoN.

Doubt appears to have arisen in the
minds ofseveral members of the Legislature
as to the exact provisions OF the law of Con
gress governing elections for United States
Senators. The act is very explicit and
if attentively read, We believe, can not be
further misconstrued. Section two of the
law approved July 25, 1866, emphatically
declares that whenever, upon the assem-
bling of State Legislature, vacancy
shall exist in the Senatorial representation,
the said Legislature shall proceed, on the
second Tuesday after the commencement and
organization of its session, to elect person
to ell such vacancy and it further clearly
provides, as the subjoined extract shows, a
method for conducting such election. We
quote;
Each House shall openly, by Uira
voce vote of each member present, name one
person for Senator in Congress from said
State, and the name of the person 50 voted
for, who shall have a majority of the whole
number of votes cast in each House shall
be entered on the journal of each House
by the Clerk or Secretary thereof; but if
either House shall fail to give majority to
any person on said day, that fact shall be
entered on the journal. AT twelve clock
meridian on he day follolsing that ON which
proceedings are required to take place, as
aforesaid, the members Of the two Houses
shall convene in joint assembly and the
journal Of each House shall then be read,
and if the same person shall have received
amajority Of all the votes in each House,
such person shall be declared duly elected
Senator to represent said State in the Con-
gress Of the United States but
if the same person shall NOT have
received a majority of the votes
in each House, Of if either House shall haze
Jailed to take proceedings as required By his
act, the joint assembly shall then proceed
to choose. by Uiva uocs vote Of each mem
Der present, person for the purpose afore-
said, and person having a majority of all
the votes Of the said joint assembly, a mar
jority Of all the members elected to both
Houses being present and voting, shall be
declared duly elected and ia ESQ no per-
son shall receive such majority On the first
day, the joint assembly shall meet at twelve
o'clock meridian Of each succeeding day
during the session Of the Legislature, and
take at least one vote until Senator shall
be elected
There seems TO be no opening for cavil
in regard to this regulation. The Senate
yesterday attempted to carry out lis pro-
visions, but the House entirely failed
g to take proceedings as required By
this act +" consequently q joint session must
BE- convened today and each succeeding
d1y until the vacant seats be filed, and at
least one vote be taken.
We believe . laFss majority Of The Re
publican members have fully and finally
made up their determination that this Is the
proper esnrae 10 pursue. II IL not probable
that sh4e VII be 3 single dlsaeaiiens
aneRg them when The remainder again
pesme iAis aot IN our opiaion not even
aaEilhuAls ring' can ha pefmltted until aftsr
ct least ona vote aAall have been taken
without directly vIolaliAg ne law. And
~ desire e especially direct Eho attention
o. lhs Speaker 70 ms point for Il win
1seons 81 aaly {. preside ever ihs joIns