New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-01-06

first place we have not the power to do SO;
and III the next place If we had the power
1--we would take it ourselves. But what we
do propose to do is to stand by the u mo
cratic party. be it II. C. WarlnOth with his
faction or Oscar J. Dunn with his faction
that proposes to control the Legislature of
this State. We have the best interests OF
people Of all parties at heart. That is the
position that the Democrats occupy in this
| Senate chamber. AS to the allegation OF
the gentleman that we have turned over,
we have not done SO. We occupy the same
position that We have occupied for three
years. We have been trying to obtain for
the people what belongs to them and to
| work for the best interests of the State.
Now. Mr.. President what is the PROPOSE
ton before the Senate The proposition is
| simply TO elect committee to make rules
| for the government OF the Senate. Ger
tainly have no complaint to render against
the presiding officer Of the Senate, because,
| tor the last two years. he has acted with
! impartialty and with fairness toward the
! minority; but when it comes to the PROPOSE
| ton whether we. IN our sovereign capacity
| as Senators. shall have the right to elect 3:
committee. or whether the Lieutenant Gov
ernor shall appoint that committee, l must
| vote to retain my right aS 4 Senator. When
| we vote for "A resolution of this kind, can it
be said we are votin. against the gentleman
and his party! We are doing simply what
is done in the United States Senate. or in
any other Senate, and when we do that We
| 90 not propose to compromise ourselves.
either with one faction or with the other.
| The gentleman is Old enough to TAKE. care of
himself. and if he is willing to become the
| slave of III. {. Warmo.n. we have no power
| to prevent him from dom. so: and have no
doubt that if the gentleman himself had the
| power o: Narmo;h, We would be his slaves.
| too.
| Mr.. Raglan: The condition OF my lungs
! VIII not allow to me speak but IA short time.
! Immediately upon /. communication to me
! that was elected Ioa seat ia this body.
| | took into consideration thu. peculiar cir.
cNmstances that controlled lny election: and
thcreupon, announced through tn" medium
| OF the press TO my constituents. both of
the Democratic and Republican parties. .ha.
| intended during the four years tenn:
Of this body. to do all that l could 30 re.
! licve the wants OF the whole people OF
! the State. Pursuan. 10 that declaration.
| have taken MY stand on this question.
which seems now to h. an important and
! significant one. ! do not intend. however,
| 70 occupy place IL. this body for the pur-
| pose OF vindicatin. or opposin: the roli..
| Iva. character q. the Governor or ~: the
Lieutenant Governor. but /" pass upon
questions according 20 the best ~ :ny
!
! 1t is simply question 0f transfer from tie.
! presiding officer OF this body 70 the mem.
: bers OF the Senate Of Il: power I" choose.
f., % committee tor :Ec purpose. OF >eIeG:
, ing rules for the governments: U;'
{; the Senate. Tha: il .ilc question tina: Is
HOW before as. While j. is my misfortune
I" ditfcT from many al my poiiticai friends
! on th;.: subject. ] am constrained t" 10 80
! because thinl. my views are. in accordance
| VII 1n NM Of iuht
! party principle W.. the consideration TIA.
+, should hold ne. ] shout! not vote 80 l III
tend to Vote on this question. If | knew
! tina: L.: ;akin: this power from ''is
| President ct tic Senate l Should.
! pu. j: into IL. hand. "f Il DeE"-
| crate majority. should certainly
vote a.aiIls: it. III. ! consider it only !.
another part Of thu. sam. character. That
is. :rels Republican ,,rssiGin. officer To
Republican Senate. Then, - far as Che
question Of partisan feeling il concerned,
, they" j. 10 iN.i:S: &c IA :!c vote that >ll..
give.
Now. I urge :,l.aH she Senate. t',a: :. !.
higi! zine :hat this body WAS perfectly ~,
cAnzed. and that j: can i,r"cc..;; I" -.
legitimate business TIA: will COM. be;"r" i.
Tire days %: :ii. session hay. al.
ready passed. ak. No eve has
bcr, turned '.war: 'l,. ;lnportan: !csis'..
ton which VIII demand the attention 81:
this body durn. III. present session. say
{" Senators who propose (" tlibUstcv upon
this question. tha: :il. : have :, serious an;
= Solemn accountability !" Civ. ;he!1 con!
.ti:Uenl. that sen. them here. ! sav :,
sI.!i Senators. go home - YOUR e",...i:l.
cntS and tell Yheu. ,.:.; you occup; the ;.l.
Of TIL. Senat. IL tie. discussion OF the n.:::!-
Ter III which committee shall be i,ln3.I =.
make rules for III. government; of Eou- body.
when the State ID now Sufclin. :ru:!.
the Effects of the war that has lately rage.
"ve. X. ard t-"m ;iIe effects "i i:t.l
legislation that has almost ruined the State
treasury | ii!-is: 'h..: tbs question >ha...
be settled. and settled 1T once: for the -"
j. east. as there is i! majority in this Scna,"
tina. is determined that this body shall
have the power OK e!oo,n: officers H.: IL
sell.
NJ. Ray: Some remarks have fallen from
:lr Senator WHO has Jus. taken his seat
which fe.! bound to reply to. He !,as
remarked that !hos" who opposed III.
passage Of this resolution were unnece--
Sarily taking up the time of the Senate.
Now. when it was proposed on the first da,
Of the session to adopt Che same resolution
that is almost uniformly adopted by al
legislative bodies. that the Senate
should adopt the rules that GOV.
erned it the last session. che very same gen.
tlemcn that favor the resolution brough:
up now refused to vote for it; and now
they have the temevity to charge us with
delaying the proceedings of the Senate.
Now. sir. if that course proposed or the
first day had been followed. we would have
been ready from that very day TO z" mo
any business that cam" before lis. 1t is NOT
our fault. but theirs. that that business las
been long delayed. ! hurl back with
contempt such a charge on any man tina:
makes ii here. As being untrue. and uuc y.
accordance with the facts.
Now, as TO the merits OF this question. .
said something on the same subject on III"
first day Of the session. and propose 10
Ieiterate. in substance. what | said then
Or the first day Of the session said tina. /
believed that from The organization of our
State government down to the present tim.
the power of appointing the standing con-.
mttees of the Senate has! always been let.
10 the President OF the Senate. l was coz
rected by the Senator from Orleans. who
smoke of some case of the kind that had
taken place in the year 1913.
Possibly there may have been an cxcep-
ton made at that time, but | have not
looked into it to see how far it goes. nor is
ii necessary that l should do So | also
stated that previous to the year 1916 there
had been no Lieutenant Governor Of this
State elected, and that the Senate had
elected their own presiding officer. From
1915 up to the present time, during which
period we have had a Lieutenant Governor,
there has never been u departure from the
general rule. On the contrary, when a
gentleman of very high standing |
by the name OF afouton was presiding over
the Senate, in his capacity as Lieutenant'I
Governor, and a motion was made to take
tho annniD. inr noyyar of o0p pon,nittna nu+