New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-01-17
DEBATES OF THE SENATE.
MONDAY, January is, 1871

! MONDAY, January is, 1871.
! NJ. Nun-aker having introduced rcsolu
ton inviting certain members of the press
| of the Northwest to seats on the floor of the
| Senate
Mr.. Biackman remarked tina. he oil,
lectcd to the passage OF this resolution as
being without precedent. He had never
| heard OF i legislative body inviting a party
| of persons who were on pleasure excur.
! sion 20 seats on the floor. He admitted
! that it was the custom of legislative bodies
| to extend that courtesy to men of standing.
| or men that occupied the same position in
| other States that they did in their own. or
men occupying higher positions: but he had
never heard of anything OF this kind before
| Ii il minister plenipotentiary from the
Celestial Empire should come to this city.
he would be in favor Of extending that
privilege to him; but not to party of
pleasure evcursionists. He thought this
was not in accordance with legislative rules
by which rules this body should he GOV
crncd.
The resolution was adopted.
Mr. Wilcox. having offered resolution
providing for the appointment Of a COM
'nittee OF three to investigate the indebted
ness of the Methodist Episcopal Church
South TO the State of Louisiana. for the pur-
chase price OF the property and buildings
known a, the Louisiana College. in the town
of Jackson, said: l have been asked by
delegation OF gentlemen from my own par
lNh. East Feliciana, to present this resolu-
ton; and, in accordance with that request,
/ now present it. and ask that it he passed.
Mr.. Todd remarked that the creation of
this special committee would entail unneccs-
sarT expense. He thought this matter
should be referred to the Committee on
Parks and Public Buildings
MI Wilcox: will state for the infor,ua-
ton at the Senate, that the building in
question docs not properly belong to the
State OF Louisiana. but that the State has
claim upon it amounting to some forty
thousand dollars. This claim has been left
III Iague and unsettled condition for a
number OF years. and it is time the State
was iooAin: after her interests in the matter
The State not only has claim upon the
building. but upon the grounds upon which
II Is built The property is in neglected
state and IS daily depreciatine in value. 1t
should be hNed up and repaired. or else the
State should take possession OF it and OBJ
tain the amount Of her claim against it.
This is a special matter purely. and does
not come properly under the supervision of
the standing committee on Parks aud Pub
lie buildings.
Mr.. BlackInaH shall certainly object
10 the adoption OF this resolution From
the little know of this matter, am con-
NiittN t'i''t !uc oidlc VI Louisiana mas no
claim whatever upon this property. If. as the
gentleman says. the State has a claim on ii
amounting to some forty thousand dollars.
would like for him to show me the law in
dicating the way or manner in which it il SO
indebted. l object to the resolution be
cause it looks directly to the taking of the
college away trom the control and manage
ment Of that religious denomination which |
has erected and fostered it. 1t is a college |
which has educated a good many of the !
young mer of this State, and am informed |
that IS in progress, and if let alone, will be |
maintained altogether by that society / !
have hcen informed by one of the trustees !
OF the college that the State has no claim or
right whatever to it. What has the |
legislature of the State to do with |
it. anyhow What right have we to
Interfere with the management of a
Building of a public nature, but belonging
% certain religious denomination Ii the
'ollegc il in state OF dilapidation, or if the
grounds need improvement, it is not our
ault. 1t may fall so far as We are con-
erned. unless the trustees Of the college
hcuid call npon rs for an appropriation to