New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-02-09

A.S USoOus AhO WOlO OuuSIui Al eAS
law is purely technical, and the Governor
has as much right to order an election In
these cases as in the case of Senator Harris.
Mr.. McMillen-I would like to ask the
Senator tMr. Blackman) whether. since the
beginning OF the present session OF the
General Assembly, he has not expressed
the opinion that the gentlemen who were
entitled to the seats formerly occupied by
Messrs. Pierce and Fish were living, and
that he was in favor of admitting them.
Mr.. Observation-Disclosures l answer the
not affect the question under discussion nor
bring the dead men back to life.
Mr.. McMillen-If those gentlemen are
entitled to their seats, no vacancies exist
and all we have to do is to admit them.
Mr.. Blackman-The best way l can an
swer the question is to relate an anecdote
have heard. There was an old man who
was subpenaed as witness i'll a case. Be
tore the trial he did great deal Of talking,
but when placed upon the stand for exami-
nation he testified just the reverse to what
he had said SO frequently before. He was
asked to explain the discrepancy in his
statements. and ne answered: Talking is
talking, but swearing to it Is quite differ
ent thing" | take the same view that he
did. Now, Mr.. President. the Senate has
recognized these vacancies by dropping the
names of Senators Fish and Pierce from the
rolls, and this resolution simply asks that
the Governor be officially notified OF that
recognition. contend that it is our duty,
as representatives of the people, sworn to
abide by the constitution and the laws, to
see that the executive does not deprive the
people of their just representation by taking
advantage of a mere bubble.
Mr.. McMillen-I asked the question l did
in the interest of those gentlemen whom
the Senator (Mr. Blackman) said were ell
titled to their seats.
Mr.. Blackman-Win the Senator (dr
McMillen) vote to seat them
Mr. McMillen-I will not. Would you do
so!
Mr. Blackman--I do not say l would.
Mr.. Barber-This resolution has been be-
fore the Senate for some time, and various
motions have been made as to its DISPOSE
ton. In the remarks shall make upon it
do not wish to be understood as impugn-
ing the Motives of any Senator on the floor.
1t strikes me forclbly that the reason this
resolution has been so warmly and earnest
~ advocated by certain Senators, is that
they desire, through its agency, to keep in
agitation the political questions which have
disturbed the quiet OF our community for
the last twenty-five or thirty days The
Senators most affected by this resolution
are Mr.. Herwig and myself, as one OF the
deceased Senators came from our senatorial
district | have no disposition to do any
thing that would deprive my constituents
of their proper representation in the Senate.
base my opposition to the resolution upon
the opinion that, in the present excited
state Of public feeling, men would be re-
turned who are not the real choice OF the
people Of those districts. charge that the
object of Senators in pressing this resOlu-
;e hot a1aof tuyn VI bn
will affiliate with them, and thereby change
the complexion Of the Senate, in order TO
carry out their revolutionary intentions. If
the gentleman Mr.. Raw will so amend the
as to provide for the official nOti-
tication of the Governor, without requesting
him to order an election, l will support it.
l am of the opinion that the taxpayers and
good citizens of the First and Fourth Dis
tricts think it unwise and impOlitic, during
the present agitated state OF public feeling,
to have an election held. / repeat that if
an election is held in those districts within
twenty days, the proper representatives
of the people will not be returned as
elected. l am not opposed to the gentle
man Mr. Ray) having fair opportunity to
elect men of his political faith. On the
contrary, | advocate the protection of the
people in the exercise of their rights at the
ballot box; but / am convinced that an
election held now would not result in the
rendition of fair verdict by the people.
In conclusion, move to amend the resOlu-
ton by striking out all in reference to the
of an election.
Mr.. RAY have been highly entertained
with the speech of the honorable gentleman
from Orleans (Mr. Barber). He has in
'let the cat out of the bag"
Nj. McMillen-The cat was never in the
bag.
Mr. Ray-The Senator Mr.. BARBER has
disclosed the true reason for the opposition
manifested to this resolution-that the
people, if an election should be held, would
return as elected men who are opposed to
his political views.
Mr.. Barber-I said ! believed that if an
election were held at the present time in
those districts, the gentlemen returned
would not be the choice of the majority
Of the voters.
Mr.. Ray-That is a confession did not
expect to hear from any Senator represent
ing those districts. 1t is confession on
the part of the gentleman (Mr. Barber)
that he does not represent his constituency,
for he saws that were an election held now it
" ould result in the choice of men opposed
to him politically. Does he mean to say
that the people he represents are incapable
Of choosing for themselves Is it possible
lie duNOCdltS tuc lUdL huOWs
better who would properly represent his
constituents than they do themselves
Mr.. Barber repeat, that should an cleo
ton be held at the present time free and
fair expression Of the will of the people
could not be obtained, as many voters
would keep away from the polls in conse-
quence of the spirit of mobocratic violence
which has been inaugurated by the faction
10 which the gentleman (Mr. Ray) be
longs.
Mr.. Ray-Do you not think the Gov.
ernor. with his Metropolitan Police, could
secure fair election in your district!
Mr.. Barber-It is very doubtful.
Mr.. Ray-The whole theory Of the OppOsl-
ton, as l said before, has been frankly dis
closed by the gentleman tMr. Barber). He
is Of the opinion that if this election is held
it will result in the choice Of gentlemen by
passed. As the Senate now stands we lack
one majority to adopt them, and if these
vacancies were filled by reformers we would
have the requisite majority. do not desire
the passage of this resolution in order that
the Senate may be reorganized: l am per
fectly willing to allow that question to re-
main as it is.
Mr.. McMillen-Does the Senator (Mr.
Ray) state that there is a majority on the
floor of the Senate opposed to the enact
ment of the reformatory measures which
the people demand!
Mr.. RAY think there is, and / think
the action of the Senate thus far proves it.
Mr. McMillen-I believe the action OF the
Senate since we have had quorum will not
sustain that assertion.
Mr. Ray-SubseGuent events will show
whether | am right or wrong in my con-
lecture. speak feelingly on this subject,
because l am deeply Interested in these
measures of reform, and think the oppo-
sition to this resolution is a scheme to de-
feat them. In reference to the amendment