The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1872-01-27

peace around the State House was placed there
1Or the single and legitimate purpose OF preserv-
ing the precincts and approaches to the Capital
from mob during the existing excitement,
That this has been done by the Governor of
the State in the discharge of his sworn duty.
That it was done at the instance of resofu-
tion and a written request, signed by fiftyseyen
members of the House of Representatives.
That the action of the Governor is approved
by all the Senators now meeting at the Capital,
and we believe it to have beer aud to still be a
wise and necessary precaution to protect the
deliberations of these bodies and to preserve the
peace of the city.
At no time has the free egress and ingrcss of
any member of either house been prevented by
this force We entirely disagree from your as
sertion that this simple precaution to prevent
the precincts of the State House from being the
scene of riot, and to protect the dellberatlon OF
Senators and members from disturbance, is
either "usurpation" or an 'unwarranted and
revolutionary interference on the part of the
Governor" The voluntary presence of two OF
your members in their seats in the Senate lSen-
ators Thomas and Todd during the presence of
these peace forces, and the prominent and ac-
tive participation of Senator Thomas in our leg
1sation, is refutation of your charge that it is
compromise Of the dignity of Senators, or a
surrender of the rights of their constituencies to
come to your seats in the Senate: for we feel
assured that neither of these distinguished Sen
ators would have acted in this manner, even for
o moment, had they believed that they thereby
compromised however slightly, their own dig
nifty or the rights of their constituencies.
In reply to your second proposition, that you
lean not, without a compromise of your dignity
as State Senators, take your seats until the
armed forces in and around the State Capitol
have been removed" We state that the question
of Senatorial dignity is of doubtful taste on
your part when we recall the fact that for the
past two weeks you have voluntarily absented
yourselves from your posts of duty, and to
avoid compulsory attendance took refuge in q
United States revenue cutter, until forced to
leave her by orders from the Secretary Of the
Treasury, when you fed under cover of night to
another State to evade the jurisdiction of the
body of which you are members.
We desire also to recall the fact that this rev.
olu tiOnary act of yours was taken at a time
when perfect peace reigned in the Senate Cham
Der, and the approaches thereto were free to
you and all citizens and furthermore, that
your action in remaining away from your seats
was the first step toward inuagurating the rev.
olutiUn and threatened violence which have rem
dered the presence Of armed men around the
Capitol necessary.
We decline at this time to enter into any dis
cussion as to the legitimacy st Lieutenant Gov
ernOr Pinchback's seat President of the Sen
ate. He is acting as Lieutenant Governor, and
is so recognized by us, as the result of the ac
tion of q full Senate, in which you all participa
ted.
In conclusion, we respectfully and cordially
assure you that no member Of the Senate will
be interfered with in any manner by the peace
force under the Governor; and we request you
to resume your seats and assist us in completing
the measures Of reform which the people desire,
and in relieving this city and State from appre
hension of revolution and anarchy, and the
great loss to every interest resulting therefrom.
Respectfully, L. B. s. PINCHBACK,
Lieut. GOV. and President of the Senate.
A. B. HARRIS, fifteenth senatorial district
0. +. HUNSACKER, seventh senatorial dis
trict.
THOMAS H. holland, fourteenth senatorial
district.
L. B. JENKS, twelfth senatorial district.
III. L. SWORDS, eighth senatorial district.
JOHN r. GALLUP, fourteenth senatorial
THoMAs c. ANDERSON, tenth senatorial
JOHN LYNCH, seventeenth senatorial dis
trict.
W. L. McMILLEN, seventeenth senatorial
district
E. BUTLER, fifth senatorial district.
A. E. BARBER, first senatorial district
GEO. Y. KELSO, twenty-third senatorial dis
trict.
NJ. H. TwITCHELL, twenty-second senate
rial district.
GEO. w. RAGAN, thirteenth senatorial dis
HUGH ]. CAMPBELL, second senatorial dis
ALBERT R. WHITNEY, sixteenth senatorial
district.
To which, the sixteen Senators replied:
To the Honorable the Members of the Senate 1.-THE
Mechanics Institute
We respectfully return your communication
instead of responding to our communication to
you it indulges in impertinent criticisms and
personal reflections.
New Orleans, January IL, 1872