New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-01-28
Our General Assembly -,

Cincinnati Go-cre writes racy letter,
from which we extract the following:
The Legislature. just convened here.
meots in Mechanics Institute. Ii will be
remembered that the Capitol at Baton
Rouge was SO nearly DESTROYED during the
war ;.s 10 be untenablc since. You have, OF
course. had report Of the somewhat excl
ting organization, so l shall only speak OF
tho general character of this remarkable
body and add some items personnel.
To be sure we know i'll the North that the
negro is cntranchised, that there is nothing
to hinder his holding Office; and. indeed
that lie is, somewhere away OF, sharing the
most important official places in our land.
But, with me, this knowledge has been
wholly III the abstract, not Il realization so
looking in upon a Legislative body one-half
negroes was Il sensation. Or the one mum
bred and four members in the Louisiana
House, forty-two are colorcd. OF the OIL
cors Of that body, the Chief Clerk. the As
| sistant Sergeant-atArm the POSTMASTER.
| the DoOrkeeper, and two or three minor
| officers, are cOlored. There has been all the
while something r"pusnant to me i'll the
idea Of intcrnlinGling negroes with us III the
Otficiary of our government. Heaven knows
sympathze with a class so long aud so
grievously oppressed.
And as they are among US without yolun-
tary act OF theirs, can not be removed. and
need protection and advancement. to be
secured only by giving them the ballot. and
with it opening to them the avenue to Office,
WHO can reasonably ohjec: to this state OF
affairs! But this conclusion, logical and
Just though it be, does not remove ali inbred
prejudice with which first beheld the duslsE
SolOns here. Know then. that it's III bare
justice only that | say, they acquit them
selves well both as officers and members.
William Vigers, the Chief Clerk Of the
House. is the right man for the place. He
is of fine physique. full stature. broad chest
and large, well shaped head. pleasing ad-
dress, and ia possessed OF true dignity.
Listening to his deep. rich voice and clear
rnunciatiOn, and noting the intelligence
and discrimination aud culture indicated in
face and gesture even as he reads, one is
tempted (!) to forget that he Is not of 40
fair skin as we. and admire his manhood.
MI Eigcrs was elected by acclamation. and
has served in his present Office since 1868.
He is quite lcarncd-speakins four differ
cnt languages-and is well informed on the
current topics. The forty-two colorcd
members III the House are certainly not be
low the average i'll capability, candor and
intelligence.
In tie white portion of the House there
Is little calling for mention. Speaker Carr
acouIis himself Of the onerous duties of hi-
Once WIFI rare apHltN. Aiio u''ti>lous dlC
prompt impartial. emphatic. Most of the
members are Southern born-not carpet
hagcels," as is so often asserted at the
North Many of the faces appear younger
than is common in legislative bodies Hon.
Thomas G. Davidson. an ex-inembcr of Con
gross. is the oldest man in the Assembly,
aud administers the oath A sOn of Eliza
beth Cady Stanton represents BOsSler parish.
and is among the youngest members of the
House. The vacancy of Joseph L'Oiiicicl,
who was killed in the Baton Rouge riot. is
not filed yet The House stands: Republic
ans. seventy five: Democrats, twenty nine
The Senate is ably presided over by
Lieutenant Governor q. j. Dunn. who is Il
clear case Of BLACK Republican," Dclib-
crate and sc.f-possesscd. he seem, to COM
nand the respect of the whole Senate
Senators Barber. lngraham and Pinclback
tall ooloredl took part il the discussion of Il
bill during our stay. They are all quite ;s
ready and able i'll speech as the average OF
our Northern State Senators, the latter
being a very efficient stump speaker. He ia
among the candidates for United States Sem
ator. OF the thirty-sx Senators. six are
colored men, The party division stands:
Republicans twcntv-nine. Democrat. seven.
In both branches of the Legislature the
seats o. colorcd members are not. as | had
supposed. III groups 10y themselves. but are
distributed over HOUSES and Senate. | could
discover no disposition OF the part of white
members 10 slul or in any way show dis
respect toward their fellows of darker com
plexon Altogether. the body are a. ha;
iloniou. a, usual. No bills of more .lian
mere local Interest are on the taps ., vat
T.ic question of i new State Cal,:to. will
pvobibly he decided during .he s,--:on.
VI. /. ..