New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-12-19
Slt,r Orleans $epublifan.
OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE UNITED STATES
OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF NEW ORLEANS
Pres,dential Election in Louisiana.

Presidential Election in Louisiana.
From the Congressional Globe We cop.
the suhioned report of the action of thu
House Of Representatives ON the Twelfth
instant:
Mr.. Bingham, from the judiciary com
mittee, reported back, with the recon-
mendatiOn that it do pass, the bill (HOus'
resolution No. 3aI) to prescribe the time fol
holding the election for choosing electors
for President and Vice President in Lou
isiana for the year 1872.
The bill was read. 1t proposes that the
electors for President and Vice President
shall be chosen by the State of Louisiana
on the first Monday in November, in the
wear 1872. provided that said State may by
law provide for the filling Of any vacancy
or vacancies which may occur in its college
of electors, when such college meets to
give its electoral vote.
The question was on ordering the bill to
he engrOssed and read a third time.
Mr.. Bingham: desire to say, IN explana-
ton of this bill, that there exists now a
general law requiring the choice of electors
to be made upon the same day throughout
the United States. BY reason of the condi-
ton of things in Louisiana. it will be i'm
possible that the choice should be made
there OIL tuc ud,S pkCcOAiUEA W NAiStAuS Iu
without the expense of an additional cleo
ton. l propose that we shall change the
act of 1916 for the benefit of Louisiana
alone, as to the day of choosing electors in
that State. desire to. say .further-what
doubtless is within the knowledge of the
HOuse-that THIS form of legislation, per
hitting the States to appoint electors on
different days, is found in the legislation Of
the first Congress, in the act of 1892. l see
HI>ny
latiOn proposed, and see necessity for it
in the state of things which now exists in
Louisiana under its constitution and laws.
l now yield to the gentleman from Louisi
ana (Mr. Sheld0n) who introduced tile bill.
Mr.. Sheldon: The constitution of the
State Of Louisiana requires that the State
election shall be held ON the first Monday
OF November. BY the terms Of that cor
stitutiOn it can not be amended, except by
an amendment voted upon at the general
election. That general election can not
take place until enc day before the next
Presidential election: consequently we can
not amend our constitution: and we only
ask this in order to save the people of Lou
isiana trouble and expense in holding the
two days election, when the whole matter
may 5e dons in one day.
MI. Kerr desire TO know how in pre-
vious years this election has been held in
the State of Louisiana!
Mr. Sheldon: We had no State election
in November, 1868. Our constitution was
adopted in April, 1865 and it provides that
our next general election should be held
in November, 1870. and every two years
thereafter.
Mr.. Kerr: Was there not an election held
in 1868 for electors for President and Vice
Mr.. Sheldon: Yes, sir; but we had no State
election except for members of Congress,
and. by an express law of the Legislature,
that election was held on the day that We
chose electors. Now the law is different,
and we can not amend it before the next
general election, which comes the day pre-
viOus to the Presidential election.
Mr.. Kerr: do not see. then. but that the
same authority exists now to hold this kind
of election in the State Of Louisiana that
existed in 1868, and see no occasion for the
enactment of this bill. 1t is an anomalous
thing, and believe that measure of this
Kind is novelty iri the history of the coun-
~, and ought not to be hastily enacted. l
lOubt very much the propriety, in a consti-
utional point Of view. of its enactment
It all.
Mr.. Bingham: l will be greatly obliged |
f the gentleman will point to anything in
he constitution which raises colorado |
constitutional objection to this bill. The |
was careful to examine into this |
natter, and l refer the gentleman now for
precedent. so far as the constitutional
question is concerned, TO the act of 1922. 1t
furnishes complete precedent for the pro-
,osed legislation.
Mr.. Kerr: l confess l have not had time
o look at the constitution. The way in
which this measure is sprung upon the
louise affords no gent leman upon this floor
N opportunity to satisfy his own Judgment
IS to the propricty of its enactment. l do
lOt question the prOpriety Of the intention
f the committee, nor the fact that it has
atisfed its own mind as to the pro-
riety of the enactment of this BILL but l
ave only suggested that it has not salts
ed my mind, and that have had no oppor-
unity to look at the bill or examine the
uestion. l think the measure is one in
diving sufficiently important question to
ntitle the House at least to an opportunity
n little more careful consideration of the
ubject.
Mr.. Bingham: l am entirely confident of
be propriety of this legislation in the first
lace, and its constitutionality in the next
lace; but I beg leave now, in order that
entlemen may satisfy their doubts on this
lbjeet, to ask that the bill be made spe-
al order for the third Wednesday in Jan
AIRY, after the morning hour have great
lis subject, and if I had doubts, such as
e expresses himself, would not wish to
0te upon the bill until had had an op-
Drtunity to make an examination of the
Inject. am fully persuaded myself that
ithOut such legislation as this there can
2 no choice for electors of President and
ice President of the United States in the
ate of Louisiana without a special cleo
on: 1t is in the power of the Congress Of
re United States to provide for the choice
electors at the general State election; it
not in the power Of the people of the
ate to correct their law for a general cleo
on in time to meet the case by reason of
re limitation in their State constitution
ION their own legislative powers. j
now ask consent OF the House that the
II be made the special order for the first
ednesday in January next, after the morn
& hour.
Mr.. Snapp: | rise to point of order. I
Ould like to know what is going on over
,nder. Laughter.
The Speaker That is not point of order
is not the duty of the chair to inform
embers what is going on. Members should !
certain that for themselves
The bill was then made the special order '
= the third Wednesday of January next, {
ter the morning hour. ]
opposition to Light the River ut Night. l
The st. Louis Democrat says:
The question of procuring government aid t
E.rl Il II,