New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-12-29
thousand ofice-holders. The Republican
party has, doubtless, a nobler destiny in
store for it than this.
A VESTED TITLE,
But is this law?
Aye, marry is't-crowner's quest law.

Aye, marry is't-crowner's quest law.
The Times has put itself on record abou,
a little inquest which the House of Rep
resentatives proposes to hold upon
Speaker Carter, much after the fashion
of the grave-digger in Hamlet" 1t has
been engaged in the business of lecturine
about law SO long to parties who did not
understand the matter sufficiently we'll to
contradict it, just as the grave-digger had
delivered opinions to stragglers about his
cemetery who knew even less than he did,
that 1t rushes forth at midday with legal
propositions that are thicker than a Mis-.
slsslppl fog, and darker than the obscurity
which prevailed in Egypt. Here is its
last Judgment pronounced in the case of
The People VS.. G. W. Carter, Speaker,
etc.
Yet the garroting, hanging and quarter
ing OF the unhappy ex-conteLerate colonel
OF cavalry would be quite as legal and con-
stltutional as the proposed attempt to expel
him from the Office of Speaker of the House
OF Representatives by a simple vote and
aJ'Ah VA thC iACulUtIS. LItttctl IOr Tnt
whole term Of the Legislature, the Sneaker
becomes an officer OF the State, who can
only be removed on charges and by i'm
peachnlent and conviction after a trial be-
fore the Senate. George W. Carter has a
vested title and interest in the Speakers
Chair. of which he Can only be Invested by
due process of law.
Ii Speaker Carter relies upon this as
sumption to save him, he might as we'll
order his funeral trappings, for not only
is the law different from what it is here
stated to be, but he himself is committed
to a different conclusion. He holds his
position by N act of intrusion, according
to the opinion of the Times, for Repre-
sentative Carr is the legitimate Speaker
if the House can only change its presid-
ing officer by virtue of a bill of impeach-
ment. He is on the record as sustaining |
the right Of the House to remove the
Speaker by a simple majority vote, be-
cause he asserted that doctrine in the
last Legislature, and profted by its sue
cesstul maintenance. Not only is he
to the principle by act and
acceptance, but he has publicly declared
his intention to withdraw from his present
office just SO oon as it is determined to
his satisfaction that he is no longer the
of a ma ority of its members. In
direction Mr.. Carter casts his
Tistful gaze, he can only see a p~recipice
which he must ultimately fall, unless
lie can secure a vote that will represent
he same power that put him in his
position.
The House is an Independent: body, en-
irely competent1o direct and judge of its
'wn organization. To suggest otherwise
S to suggest disorder, for the majority is
ways possessed Of the power to arrest
IS " proceedings until its will is OBJ
erved in the internal economy of the
The Speaker is the creature of
he House, and, therefore, subject to its
riders IN every particular. He is elected
s the clerk and sergeant-at-arms are, and
subject to the same control. There is
ut one mention of his office in the con-
and that is in article twenty
hree, which is rather pointed upon the
ART. %. The House of Representatives
hail elect its Speaker and otter officers.
Thai is the law of this inquest. Mr.. |
arter stands upon the same list as a +
age, porter or doorkeeper, liable to the f
fortune, subject to the same pitfalls. '
Ie is merely on a par with the 'other Of ,
and surely no man. not even the
undit Of the Times, will contend that
a drunken porter can be removed S
will first have to be solemnly i'm
]
The darkness gathers above Mr.. Speaker =,
AFTER, and he is hunting for relief in !,
cry quarter where light is to be had.
ut the shadow refuses to move, and he 4
light just as well prepare to draw the 3
apery OF his couch about him, for the !
will wait upon him even before c
e festivities Of the great holidays are t
er. His vested rights are a de~lusion, u
$ days are spent, and the ''other officers s
the House Of Representatives are u
specializing who the newcomer Will Il
that will preside upon that stool which b
Carriers fall made vacant in their u
DIST. n