Semi-weekly Louisianian. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1871-1872, 1872-01-18
SPEECH OF
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
PINCHBACK,
SENATE. MONDAY, JANUARY Is. 1877
IN THE

The Senate having under consid-
Grafton a resolution requesting the
aid of military authority for the
preservation of peace and order:
Lieutenant Governor Pinchoack,
from his seat on the floor, said: ]
think the power of the Senate is
clearly fixed in the constitution oil
the State. Article thirty-three says
that not less than majority of the
members shall form a quorum, but
a smaller number may adjourn from
day to day, and shall have full
power to compel the attendance Of
absent members. I think this
motion is perfectly in order, and il
I were in the chair 1 should enter.
tain it as business properly before
the Senate. Thus far we have EN-.
ployed all the power we know of to
compel the attendance of these alb
sent members. Less than a quorum
have authorized me as President Of
the Senate to telegraph Secretary
Boutwell, to ask that the wilder
ness" be ordered back in order to
land these recusant Senators, which
1 did, and to which telegram I re-
ceived an answer informing me that
an order had been sent for the re-
turn of the revenue cutter at once.
1t landed some where in the woods
they took across the swamps-God
only knows how they got through
but one Of my sergeants-at-arms
tells me they turned up covered
with mud and with blankets on
their arms, showing they had taken
a journey through devious ways, all
of which proceeding seems to be
recognized not only by the members
but by the government itself as re-
gular and constitutional. But now,
it appears, to secure their attendance
we will have to go much further.
We shall have to petition the gov
eminent not simply for the return
of the evidences" but for the re-
moval of the federal officers whose
sympathies are with and whose &C
tons are instigating this mob that
is seeking to break up the regular
ly constituted government of the
State. For my part, I can not see
how anyone can stop to ask whether
this proposition is right. We all
know that for the last year and a
half there has been on foot a deeply
laid scheme to impeach the Gov
ernor. We all know that the men
who had taken hold of this have
asserted that such a measure was
necessary for the protection of the
Republican party. But while they
asserted that they desired to keep |
The Republican party intact, there
was behind their movement a de-
sire of certain gentlemen 10 get
control of the State, and by that
control not only to keep the Repub-
ican party intact, but to keep them
selves in power, and thereby to run
he machinery in their own interests.
What has been assigned as the
.ause for all this? Has it been that
he laws of the State have not been
executed thoroughly? Has it been
hat any citizen has been deprived
If his rights? Or has it been, as
las been broadly asserted here, that
! rumor had gone forth that the
Governor of this State was opposed
o General Grants denomination
md reelection? I say that this is
pertinent inquiry. 1t is a ques-
ion that will interest every State in
his Union. 1t is a question that
will appeal to the good sense of the
American people, whether or not a
egally constituted government is to
'e overthrown merely because its
thief executive is supposed not to
,e friendly to the President of the
United States? Why, sir, am 1,
Why are you, Senators, why are all
he officers who constitute part of
his government, the'government of
,ur State, to be put at the mercy of
IN organized mob; a mob composed
If the enemies not alone of civil