New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-01-11
DEBATES OF THE SENATE.
MONDAY, January 9. Is. I.

MONDAY. January 9. 1871.
On the motion TO adopt rule nine. in the
, report of the Committee on Rules, Nr
ninchback remarked that if the Senate
adopted that rule. any member of tke Sen.
ate could shut OF debate III any time by
merely rising when some other gentleman
had the floor. and calling for the previous
question. Ifthat rule was adopted it would
cut off any debate whatever.
Mr.. Campbell said that the adoption OF
che rule would merely prevent any Senator
10 the minority from speaking against time.
and would put it in the power OF the ma
':ority to cut of all debate when desirable.
Mr.. Futch: am in favor of the adoption
of that rule. or | am in favor Of striking il
cut. l should be actuated by motives OF
charity alone if voted to strike it out. 1t
AZ we'll known 10 every member OF this
House that | am not i'll the habit of maxim =
long speeches. but STILL have great charity
for those who have that unfortunate fail
ere, For til at reason move that that par
tiaular rule he stricken out.
Mr.. Lewis During the three years have
tcen in this house, ! have noticed that even
when it was a foregOnc conclusion that II
gill must Eventually pass. its opponents
Ct, not with the hope of finally defeating it.,
aut from the desire they have to annoy the
supporters of the bill and to delay its pas
sage We have only sixty days to Sit, ir
which to transact the business OF the State,
and at the end Of every session that have
attended have noticed at that time there
would be a crowd OF bills 10 be passed and
sLat Senator's would allow them 10 pass
almost without knowing what they We're,
because they knew the time was 50
short In this way q great dea, of
legislation has been passed. AT the
end of every session, if Il Senator has Il par
Ocular bill he wishes to call up he suffers
others to pass without investigating them
or knowing what they are, from the very
fact that he has bill of his own to call up.
and he knows that if he tilibusters he viii
not be able to cali it up. For this reason.
and for this reason alone, l believe il is 1t
wise principle that where a disposition to
tlibuster is manifested, there should be
some rule to cut Il of, ard thereby dispose
Of the bill.
Mr.. Lynch have listened very arren-
sively to the argument presented to lay the
motion to strike out on the table. The very
reasons the gentleman presents rs making
t necessary to adopt such a rule "a this.
cOnvinces me that this paragraph should
be stricken from the rule. Minoritics have
rights as well as majorities. In the Senate
of the United States, the previous question
in this Senate. The Senate Of the State Of
Louisiana should be composed Of gentlemen
of such delibcration, of such judgment, and
of such knowledge of what is proper and
right. that Il call for the previous question
ought not to be necessary. therefore hope
that no such rule as this will be adopted.
Mr.. Campbell remarked. that he would
state merely as a matter of information to
the Senate. that this rule was copied from
Il. ,,f f1n tn of
and that he had suggested it to the commit
tee. He said he was not particular ono way
or the other, but he thought it Was 4 wise
rule and should be adopted.
Mr. COupland sent up to the Secretary
and had read an extract from ietferSon'S
Manual, in which that author had declared
such a rule :is this against parliamentary
Csages.
The words were then stricken our, and
the rule adopted as amended.
In moving for reconsideration o. tie
vote by which rule number eight was
adopted
Mr.. Smith said 1t strikes me thai this is
d very frivolous rule. 1t is supposed We
are not going to conduct ourselves i'll an IN
becoming manner during the transaction OF
the business OF the Senate, and il is sup
Gosed that if we do so the presiding officer
shall correct us. This would probably be
very wise TUIc IL INC >tIlllc hdS tolll)N''i
OF lot Of school boys.
Mr.. Lewis: Whether we are school boys
or not. it is very evident that during the
time some Senators are speaking. or when
the journal or minutes are being read. some
members of this body are reading news
papers or speaking to one another. 1t Is
very hard on the vanity of some members
that people can not be forced to keep silent
and listen to all the dry things they say:
but still think it good rule.
Mr.. Futch: That rule should rot he
adopted! am forced to sit here and am
bound to get tired sometimes, but do not
think there is any use in adopting q rule
that is not going to be obeyed.
The President remarked that if the rule
was adopted it would certainly be obeycd.
Mr. Ray said that he hoped the rule would
not be stricken ont, as he thought it con
tanned q principle which ought TO he OBJ
principle which is almost uni
versa]ly observed in the Senate of the
United States In that body, when a bill is
being read, or when II speech Is being made,
and Senators want to have ANY CONVERSE
ton. they get up and 90 ont to talk. lie
said that this rule was copied from the rules
of the United States Senate retbaim. 1t
was necessary to have this rule 20 that the
President should have some authorization
when calling Senators to order for making
noise while the reading OF bills was gong
OIL.
MI Sypher hoped that this rule would not
be stricken out. as good rules or good laws
never hurt anybody. Mr.. Sypher here read
a section from the rules OF the ihltcu
States Senate.
Mr.. Twitchell ] can not believe that
The existence or non-cxistence OF tins RUE
s worth the time we are taking up III lis
discussion. therefore move that the mo
i'm TO reconsider be- laid on the table.
The Senate laid the motion on the table.
On the discussion asi 70 whether or nor
rslc number tlirty-one should be adopted,
Mr. Pnchback said; | iD not think we
ought TO give the Governor any power