New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-09-03
TEMPORARY ABSENCE OF THE GOV
ERNOR.

We reproduce an editorial article from
the Bee of Friday, discussing the question
of the temporary absence of Governor War
moth from the State. The conclusion is ar
rived at that the absence of the Governor
when heIgoes to watering place to sleep, or
even to tarry for day or two at place
which is only three hours ride from New
Orleans, with daily communication by rail-
or steamer, is not such absence as was con-
templated when provision was made that
the Lieutenant Governor shall assume the
functions of the chief executive OF the State.
The illustration of the relative distance
and time occupied between New Orleans
and Shreveport, and the distance and time
between New Orleans and Pass Christian
is extremely appropriate. No sensible man
can imagine it was ever contemplated that
the Governor should notify the Lieutenant
Governor of his proposed absence from the
State when he rides out of the city to enjoy
the sea breezes Of a night or days advan-
tage Of seashOre resort, alter the manner
of many of our business men, bank presi-
dents and others who avail themselves of
the accommodations tor speedy travel to
occupy seashore residence during the
sultry months Of summer. They have
home at the seashore while prosecuting
their daily business in the city, and so may
the Governor of the State This is the
article from the Bee:
A somewhat acrimonious correspondence
between Governor WarmOth and Lieutenant
Governor Dunn has been made public.
The Lieutenant Governor advises the Gov
ernor that he had, during the absence of the
latter from the State, pardoned one Harry
Hews, confined in the Penitentiary for one
year. under sentence of the First District
| Court of Orleans parish.
The Governor, in reply, administers
severe rebuke to Mr.. Dunn for what he
terms unnecessary interference with the
| Governors duties" The Governor questions
| the power of the Lieutenant Governor to
regard him as absent from the State simply
| because he may be beyond its limits few
miles for the purpose of recreation. The
| Governor contends that being within few
| hours ride of the city, and in constant com
| munication with the clerks in his office, he
| is constructively present within the State.
| Mr.. Warmoth tells Mr.. Dunn that common
modesty and self-respect should have de-
| tered him from meddling with the Gov
ernor's business and intruding upon his adj
ministratipn; that the Secretary of State
| would be instructed to refuse recognition OF
acts done by the acting Governor unless
official notice of the intended absence OF
| the Governor from the State had previously
| been given by him, and that the convict
| Hews would be rearrested."
To this communication Mr.. Dunn rejOins
| in language more sharp than respectful. He
| tells the Governor that his rebuke IS simply
a piece of gratuitous impertinence:" that he
does not recognize the. authority of the
| Governor to interpret the laws for him or
| instruct him in its duty that the Governor
| should always have notified him Dunn of
his intended absence from the State, and
! that if he should rearrest Hews, 1.-THE man
| pardoned, he would subject himself to
rebuke from the sovereign people OF Loulsl-
| ana"
In conclusion. Mr.. Dunn announces to the
| Governor that he declines accepting his
Excellency as an exemplar In either mod
| esty propriety or official duty"
! Here is open war between these distin-
| guished functionares. After such language
| there is no room for accommodation.
| Neither can yield to the other. We take no
| interest in the controversy, except in so far
| as the people are concerned. The L1euten-
ant Governor is unquestionably. in the
wrong. He has been badly advised, and
the best thing he can do is to refrain in
future from intermeddling with the business
| of the executive. The mere fact that Gov
ernor Warmoth may be for few hours Or
days at Pass Christian, place which is
only three hours ride from New Orleans,
with daily railroad and steamboat commu-
nication, does not justify any one in regard
ing the Governor as absent from the State
in contemplation of law, although actually
beyond its limits.
Suppose the Governor were at Shreve-
port, or some other place in Louisiana, two
or three days travel from New Orleans. Is
it to be said that he is, in contemplation OF
law, present within the State! Undoubt-
eddy. And the mere fact of his being for
a few hours or days ON the lake shore, GER
tainly can not make his situation worse
He may be in another State, to be sure, but
the railroad trains and boats twice a day
enable him to reach the city at an hours
| notice.