New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-12-12
ceived from his ExceIlencY P. B. S. Pinch
back Governor:

STATE OF LOUISIANA
Executive Department, \
New Orleans December 10, l6IZD
To the Honorable the Senate and House Of Repre-;
sentatives Of the State Of Louisiana IN General
Assembly convened
Called by the provisions of the constitu-
ton 20 succeed to the duties of Governor of
the State. His excellency, after having
convened the General Assembly in extra
ordinary session, having declined to COM
municate to you the objects which led him
to convene you, | deem it my duty to re
commend such measures Of legislation as
in my opinion, the public good requires
/ would call your attention to the pending
impeachment against his excellency, and
would recommend that in due form OF law
speedy trial of the same be had, to the
end that public justice may be attained or
the innocency of his exceLency be estaO-
lished.
l would recommend that there should be
instituted most thorough investigation
into the high-handed frauds alleged to have
been perpetrated during the recent general
election, with which the public press is
teeming and of which there would seem to
be such overwhelming proofs in the courts,
80 that the authors OF these outrages upon
the great rights of the people, II they be
found to have been committed, may be
brought to condign punishment, and the
fair name and fame of the State may be
purged from the Obloquy with which it
would otherwise be stained. Therefore, |
would recommend that committee to in
vIstigate these alleged frauds and irregu'
larities be appointed with the fullest pow
ers and authorized if necessary, to sit in
vacation. The right Of suffrage is, at the
last, at the foundation of all other personal
rights in republic, and if this right is
given but in name, it is not the
right of the individual deprived of his
vote which is stricken down, but it is
| blow aimed at the liberties Of all the PEG
| pie. If, as is alleged, these frauds have
| taken such gigantic proportions and nave
| been made to extend, like a sea, all over
| the State. it is your duty to have them and
their authors thoroughly exposed so that
| an example may be made which will tend
| to deter for all time all who are disposed to
repeat such Offenses. The Congress OF the
| United States has done much to prevent
| and punish these inYasions of our most sa-
| cred right, but if we would remain secure
| in its enjoyment we must cooperate with
| Congress to the fullest extent of our ability
as legislators, and if further legislation is
| needed, aa [ think it is, this investigation
will furnish much aid by showing the
methods by which the peoples rights have
been assailed, and will thereby suggest the
most effective means of their further pro-
lection.
1t is painful to contemplate the necessities
which called into exercise the power OF
Congress over the subject of voting in the
States, and did that legislation need any
yindication, think it would be found in
the election which has just taken place In
our midst, at which it would seem that but
for the wisdom of Congress, and the firm
ness of the federal court, the right to vote
would have been little more than mock
cry.
AS the case at present stands your SEES
sion is, by the proclamation of his excel
lency, limited to the period OF ten days;
but if the good of the State shall seem to
demand your longer presence as General
Assembly, | will take the suitable measures
for the extension of your session.
The people have complained of oppres-
sive laws. | would recommend that all
laws which are justly obnoxious, or which
bear OppressivelY upon any portion OF the
people of this State, whether political or
economical be modified or repealed, and
that all your legislation be conducted not
in the interests of any class, but with
view to protect the rights, and foster the
interests of the whole people of this State.
P. B. S. PINCHBACK,
Lieutenant Governor, Acting Governor OF
Louisiana.
On motion of Mr.. Barber the message
was received and ordered. by the Senate to
be spread upon the journal of the Senate.
On motion of Mr.. Hunsaker the Senate
ordered that FIVE hundred copies Of the
aforesaid message be printed for the use of
the Senate.
MESSAGE FROM THE HOUSE.
The following communication was re-
ceiyed from the House Of Representatives.:
That the Senate be notified that the
House of Representatives will be ready
to receive the Senate at one o'clock this
day, in Joint session, for the purpose Of
counting and declaring the vote Of the State
in the recent election for Governor and
Lieutenant Governor, as the law provides.
On motion of Mr. Ingraham, the follow
ing resolution was offered and received:
WHEREAS, The Senate having been mott
fed by the House of Representatives Of
their readiness to meet in joint session to
count and declare the vote in the late gen
eral election held November 4, 1879, for
Governor and Lieutenant Governor for the
State Of Louisiana; therefore, be it
ReS0Ired That the Senate proceed at the
hour Of l ?. NJ. this day, to the chamber Of
the House of Representatives, then and
there in Joint session to count the votes
cast for Governor and Lieutenant Governor,
/ and proclaim the result, in accordance with
article forty. eight of the constitution of the
State.
ThereupCn Mr.. VOORHEES, offered the fol
lowing as substitute:
Resotred, That the House of Representa-
tives be informed that in the opinion OF the
Senate the vote for Governor and Lieutenant
Governor should be counted by the General
Assembly at its regular meeting III January
next, and for that reason the Senate declines
to IA nfp a. IN, inf
session, as proposed at one O'Clock to-day.
On motion of Mr.. Barber the substitute OF
Mr.. VOORHEES, was ordered finally to lie On
the table bS the following vote, on call Of
the yeas and nays, ordered by Mr.. Nc
Millen:
Yeas-Barber, Blunt, Butler Burch,
Brewster, Cage, P. +. Herwig, E. F. Herwig,
Harper, Ingraham, jerks, KelsO, holland,
Pollard, Sypher, Stamps, Todd, Twitchell,
Weber, Wharton, Worrall-21.
Nays-Anderson. Booth, Daigle, Hun
saker, MCMiilen, VOORHEES,
The resolution Of Mr.. Ingraham was then
adopted.
The Senate ordered the Secretary to in
form the House of Representatives of its
action, to the effect that the Senate wa
no" tohuy W he6G CAo A'poSS Al JoLbJ SOS
sion for the purpose aforesaid.
REFERENCE OF THE MESSAGE OF GOVERNOR.
On motion of Mr.. Ingraham, it was or
dered that the message Of the Governor, as
received by the Senate this day, be referred
to a special committee of seven, to be ap-
pointed hereafter by the chair.
The hour of one o'clock having arrived,