New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-07-12
INAUGURATION OF GOVERNOR DUNN
SENATE.

The Senate was called to order by the
President at twelve o'clock. Present, TWEEN
ty-three members.
Prayer by Rev. George W. Honey.
The minutes of the previous day were
read and adopted.
No reports from standing committees.
The President appointed the following
members committee on auditing and su
pervising the expenses of the Senate; @. G..
Packard, A. B. FRANCOIS, j. d. Beares, I. V.
Coupland, K. N. Ogden.
Mr.. Ray moved that the Committee on
Judiciary and the Committee on Finance
be authorized to rent suitable rooms for
their purposes.
Adopted.
Mr. Lynch offered the following resolu-
ton:
WHEREAS, The General Assembly of the
State of Louisiana has duly ratified the
amendment of the Constitution of the
United States proposed by the Forty.ninth
Congress, and known as article fourteen, and
has thus complied with the conditions pro-
posed by the present Congress for the ad-
mission of the State into the Union; there
fore,
Resolued, That Oscar J. Dunn, Lieutenant
Governor elect, at present discharging the
duties of that office by military appoint.
ment, be now duly inducted into office in
virtue of his election by the people by his
taking the oath of office prescribed in the
constitution of the State.
Mr.. Ray moved the adoption of the reso-
luton.
Mr.. Jewell, of Orleans--I am informed
that General Buchanan has not been Off
cially notified of the adoption of the consti
tutional amendment, and that the Governor
| declines so give him Information upon
that point. | am also informed that
| Gen. Buchanan declines to recognize the
| adoption of this Constitutional amendment,
| until he is officially notified. 1t seems to
| mr. nppaesarv bnfOra W take stpns to traOR-
| fer the State from its military to its civil
| authorities, the Commanding General
should be notified of this fact, and that it
becomes the duty of the Commanding Gen
eral to make this transfer. The resolution
seems to ignore the existence Of military
| commander.
Pending the remarks of Mr.. Jewell the
| Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives,
| appeared with a message, announcing the
concurrence of the House in the joint resolu-
tion, that both Houses meet in Joint Session
| on Monday next, to participate in the in
auguration of the Governor.
Mr.. Jewell suggested that a committee be
appointed to wait upon Gen. Buchanan, and
inform him that we had adopted the Con-
| stitutional amendment, and at the same
time request him to issue an order trans
ferring the State from military command to
| the duly elected civil officers of the State.
| Mr.. Lynch-Mr President; The object
have in view in the introduction of this res
olution is very simple. A joint resolution
passed the Senate yesterday, making provi.
sion for joint session of the Senate and
House of Representatives, for the Inaugural
tion of the Governor, next Monday. At
that joint session, the Lieutenant Governor,
| if not inaugurated here, would not be per-
mitted to preside
without any reference to the Command
ing General my aim Is simply that you be
inducted into office as Lieutenant Governor
of the State, so that when we go into Joint
Session next Monday you may go properly
into office as Lieutenant Governor OF the
State.
Mr.. Bacon said the Inauguration of a
Lieutenant Governor was something he had
never heard Of
Mr.. Lynch explain ned that the Lieutenant
Governor elect was sworn into office by the
Chief Justice of the State; that was the
only object of his resolution.
Mr.. Bacon said it was not customary for
Lieutenant Governor to be sworn into Of
flee in the presence of the Senate, but to ap-
pear before the Chief Justice and take the
oath, which fact was indorsed upon his
commission; still he had no objection to
this Inauguration.
The President said he had been informed
that the Lieutenant Governor received no
commission.
Mr.. Ogden-Mr. President, rise simply
to say that can not understand the neces
sity of this discussion. IT seems to
me that since all the Senators
here were allowed to take the con-
stitutional oath, the same courtesy
might be extended to the Lieutenant Gov
ernor. lsi So far as the notification Of General
Buchanan Is concerned, it is matter en-
tirely within the province of the Governor
himself. If the Governor sees proper tC
notify him, why well and good; but re-
spectfully suggest that we have matters o.
so much Importance before this body that
1 4c 81 fba of fha "a 20 If5
cuas this question. You, sir, have taken
: the test oath, and suppose you can with
out difhcultY take the constitutional oath
hope the resolution will pass without any
, further trouble.
MIR. JEWELL hope the Senate will moi
suppose that desire to make any factions
opposition to the resolution of Senator
Lynch, but 1t seems to me that the Lieuten
ant Governors bound to retain his position
as military appointee until he is removed
or resigns, and an order issued from the
: power that appointed him relieving him
from that military appointment.
Mr.. Blackman-I hope the gentleman
from Orleans will not make any
+ further objection. He is lawyer
and knows that if the Lieutepant Governor
has been acting as military officer, and
his resignation or removal from that mill
tary appointment is necessary any bill
passed by this Senate will be null and void.
He can have an opportunity of testing the
matter before the courts.
The resolution was adopted.
Mr.. Ray suggested that Chief Justice Hy-
man being present, 1t would be proper foT
him to administer the oath. gr
The President called Mr.. Lynch to the
chair.
Mr.. Jewell remarked that there was no
Chief Justice at present, the Constitution
having been ratified and the constitutional
Rmendment adopted, the supreme bench
ipso tacto was vacant, sl " 4s 4
Mr.. Lynch assumed the chair, and Chief
Justice Hyman administered the oath OF
office to the Lieutenant Governor. -
The President pro tempore (Senator
Lynchl-Senators now have the pleasure
Dunn, the first Lieutenant Governor of the
State of Louisiana elected under the
provisions Of the constitutiOn of
1868. The prudence, csnd0r and ability
displayed by him in the discharge Of the
difficult and delicate duties imposed upon
him In this house during the last two weeks
have won the admiration of ALL and augurs
well for the future of the race he repro.
sents emerging from under the shadOR Of
a great wrong into the pure light of free.
dom and the privileges OF an universal fran
cbise. ~.
The President resumed the chair and said
Senators Of 'Louiaiana-The remarks Of SEN
ator Lynch have caused me to feel sensibly
the change that has been brought abcut-a