New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-11-18
THE DEEoCRATIC STATE CONVRN.
TON.

Alter our report closed yesterday, the
Democratic State Convention adopted rules
for the organization and government of
the Safe Committee.
The following resolutions presented by
ex-senator E. L. Jewell, the great paciG-
Gator, were read at his request:
ResOlCed, That the President of this Con-
vention be authorized and requested to ap-
point committee to be composed of the
legal profession, to whom shall be referred
the legal question involving the term of
existence OF the Legislature last elected in
this State.
RESOLVED, That the report of this com
ml.tee shall be made to the State Central
Committee, who shall be authorized to take
such steps as may be deemed necessary in
order to carry out the recommendations of
the Special Committee.
Res0lUed, That in the event this commit
tee decide adverse to the further existence
of the Legislature, the Democratic mem
bers thereof are requested by this State
Convention to abstain from any further
participation 10 the proceedings Of the
next session, in the event Of any attempt to
organize the same.
u
the action of the convention on the resolu-
tons:
Mr.. Jewell spoke warmly on the resolu-
tious, and was followed by Mr.. Mouton in
similar strain, who moved for their adop-
ion
Mr.. a. W. Walker was in favor of refer
slce Of the resolt tons, together with others
which he offered, touching on the same
matter, without asking that they be read.
Colonel Fuqua spoke iu support of Mr..
Jewelps first two resolutions, in their es-
sent.al features, but opposed the third of
the series.
Mr.. Jewell said he was satisfied that the
term of Office of the members of the Legis-
lature expired at the end OF the one hun
dred and twenty days they were in session,
and that legally an election should have
been held for other members on the third
day Of the current month.
Mr.. ". F. Blackman, in speaking on the
resolutions, said that as m mber of the
State Senate he would willingly shake the
dirt from his feet and leave that polluted
assemblage, If properly instructed, but he
considered he present State government
fixture till legally overthrown by the con-
stituti0nal means of the ballot-box. He
would have retired from the Senate long
ago mad he been satisfied that it would have
been for the interest of the State and the
Democratic party, and argued that he aud
his fellow members could not have retired,
however anxious to upset the legislation of
the last session, without jeopardizing the
interests of the people. 1t was not a ques-
tion for the Convention but for the courts
to decide.
And If, said Mr.. Blackman, you appeal
to the courts TO decide upon the constitu-
tlonality of the acts of this Legislature, or
ganized uuder the same Constitution which
organized the courts, the courts must an
swer that their organization is not legal,
and they are not, therefore, competent to
determine questions of constitutionality.
Mr.. L. Howard McCaleb, of Orleans, ar
gued that the acts of the Legislature were
usurpatiOEs of the rights of the people,
even under the Constitution, and the pres
enca of Democratic members, in a minority
10 the Legislature, could have done no good,
and could donothing except to lend a sort of
quasi consent OF the party they repre-
sented.
Mr.. James B. Eustis said he had always
been of the opinion that the Legislature
bad no legal or constitutional existence.
He agreed, however, as a matter of expe-
diency, with the views expressed by Mr..
Blackman relative to the proprety Of the
Democratic members having retained their
seats looking to an increase of their strength
by the expiration of the short terms of
members of the majority.
Mr.. Jewell said that so far as he was
concerned, he had no disposition to re-
main in the Senate; that if he had,
he should not have denounced car
pet-haggers as he did, and that if
he was kicked out, it was be-
cause he had himself kicked out rather
thln neglect 10 use every opportunity and
means TO denounce their corruptions and
usurpations OF the rights of the people.
The first two resolutions were finally
adopted and the third lost.
Mr.. Fabre offered a resolution that when
this convention adjourns it does so subject
to Teassemblage on the call Of the Presi-
dent. Referred.
Resolutions of thanks to the Deutsche
Company for the use of their hall were
adopted, and the Convention adjourned
sina dia