New Orleans Republican., 1868-09-17
WILLIAM VIGERS,
Chief Clerk House REPRESENTATIVES.

In the Senate, on Monday, September a.
1868, Mr.. Ray offered the following resolr
ton:
Resoloed, That the Secretary of the Senate
| shall cause to be kept and published weekly
journal of the proceedings of the Senate,
in accordance with the requirements of
article thirty.siX of the Constitution.
Mr.. Ray: My attention has been called to
this matter by an examination of the con
stitutlon. The other House publishes such
a weekly journal in compliance with an
article of the Constitution. 1t is true we
publish the journal daily, but whether that
will meet the requirements of the Constitu.
| ton or not may be questionable,
| Mr.. Campbell: would ask the gentleman
| how he proposes to have it published?
| Mr.. Ray: In separate pamphlet, at the
| end of each week.
| Mr.. Campbell The daily publication
seems to me to cover the whole ground. If
the Constitution requires it to be weekly
the slips OF each day can be collected at the
end Of each week.
Mr.. Ray: l will let the resolution lie
over. II it appears that by putting the
weekly journals together it will be a sufi.
cient compliance with the provisions OF the
Constitution l will not press the resolution.
The resolution lies over.
Mr.. Packard offered resolution for the
adoption of an additional standing rule of
the Senate to secure the attendance of ab
sent members and to preserve quorum.
Mr.. Packard: Mr.. President, article thirty
three of the Constitution reads as follows:
''Not less than majority of the members
of each House of the General Assembly shall
form quorum to transact business; but a
smaller number may adjourn from day to
day and shall have full power to compel the
attendance OF absent members
This gives the Senate power to compel the
attendance OF absent members, but we have
not delegated that power to the Chairman
by any rule as yet, and offer this resolution
TO authorize the President to compel the
attendance of absent members, either by the
Sergeant-at,Arms or his assistant, or other
person, and to authorize him to prevent the
egress of Senators when necessary to pre-.
serve quorum. There is nothing arbitrary
or unfair al O 1t it; 1t is simply,to authorize
the President to preserve quoruma
A motion to table the resolution was lost.
Mr.. Foute; Mr.. President, before the vote
is taken upon the resolution desire to say
few words. 1t seems to me that with u
Senate of only 33, aud with the recognized
powers of the President, together with the
oath taken by each Senator to perform his
duty under the Constitution is all that is
necessary. All that part which provides for
the Senate sending the Serpeant-at-arms for
the absent members is unnecessary. The
only portion of the resolution by which il
is sought to engraft a new rule upon the
rules of the Senate, that is new, is that
which provides for fine.
Mr.. Packard 1t provides that if he wilful-
ly disregaras the orders of the President, at
the discretion Of the Senate he may be
fined.
Mr.. Foute: Where does.this power come
from that will enable one part of the Senate
to fine member of the Senate? To allow
this to be done will tend to materially in
terfere with that independence of action on
the part of each individual Senator
which Is necessary to secure wise
aud prudent legislation, and will be to
throw around them restraints which are
not only improper and Illegal, but danger
Gus. / beg Senators to carefully consider
what may be the result before passing this
resolution.
Mr.. Braughn: Mr.. President, l have no
personal objection to the passage of this
resolution, but as a Senator Of the State Of
Louisiana ! hope the resolution will not
pass. The idea that Senators shall be
brought like common malefactors before
the bar of the House TO be fined is certainly
unheard Of The power now conferred upon
the PRESIDENT TO send for absent members Is
amply sufficient, and ar confident that
with that power ia the Presidents hands
there will always be quorum present un-
less good reasons exist for the absence of
members. Where member of the House
has sworn to faithfully and impartially dis
charge and perform all the duties incum- |
bent upon him, to the best Of his Judgment |
and ability, as we all have, he will certainly |
attend here, where duty calls, whenever Il |
is practicable for him to do Co. trust, sir, |
that the resolution will not be adopted.
The President: The Chair viii state that /
he has been IN the habit Of sending for /
members TO make up quorum, but I have /
done 50 for the purpose of getting quorum. i
not supposing that had the absouie right |
y do 50. know Of no law or rules tnat /
enable me to compel the attendance 81 eny
member. If By my order the ssrgeaut.af.t
Arms were sent for member and the mem
bershould refuse,to come, shonld not feel
that had any right to eemrel him ta do 50
refusal.
Mr.. Bacon; Mr.. Praaiaert. 7 presume that
the object Of Introducing tAss resolution Is