New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-01-16

he has the authority to prevent citizens as
sembling peaceably to discuss matters but
he has the power, and is about TO exercise
it, to stop these illegal sessions of body
styling itself the House of Representatives
OF the State Of Louisiana.
Mr.. Hunsaker asked if the Governor had
the power to offer reward.
Mr.. Harris replied certainly, and was GO
ing to do it at twelve o'clock to-day.
Mr.. Lynch remarked that the Governor
had received communication from General
Emory stating that his troops were ready to
aid him in keeping the peace.
THE SITUATION.
Mr.. Campbell-I think there is an imme-
date duty that this Senate without quo
rum can perform. The Northern papers are
filled with partial and imperfect accounts of
the situation. Those accounts, even, that
are friendly are imperfect, and in other
cases the statements made are grossly exag-
gerated and inaccurate. l believe the Sen
ate could perform a great service to the
State government, and to the people at
large, by giving an authentic, concise state
ment as to the exact truth OF the present
revolution. Commencing with the organi-
cation of the two housewife the attempt
of the plain, acknowledged majority OF the
lower house against Mr.. Carter and his CO.
adjutors, we might state how, when this
fact was found out we next encountered the
astonishing proceeding Of the United States
marshals and authorities in arrestlng under
trumpet up charge sufficient members,
Just at the moment when well defined ma
jority was found to exist against Speaker
Carter. This is point which, to my think
ing, has not been sufficiently noticed. At
the very hour Of meeting OF the Legislature
a number of members Of both houses were
arrested on a trumped up charge, with the
completely of the chief United States OIL
Gals in this State, were taken down before
commissioner and detained just long
enough to leave the opponents of Mr.. Carter
in minority, which being taken advantage
of by the other side, they passed
resolution unseating certain members
and to seat Others. 80 as to throw the ma-
iority into their own hands for the time
being. We might then show that this plot,
carried out in this manner, necessltated
some action on the part of the Governor,
which was taken with the promptitude and
vigor characteristic Of his best days. He
Immediately summoned an extra session,
and the House, in extra session convened,
proceeded to elect their Speaker, as they
had desired to do the day before. Then
followed this revolutionary body over the
Gem saloon. l think these facts. concisely
stated, would be of service to US and the
country at large. | therefore move that a
committee of three be appointed to draw up
such a statement.
Mr. Gallup seconded the motion.
Mr.. Harris-It hardly seems to me con-
sistent with the dignity of this body to pass
a resolution of this kind. / am OF the opin-
ion that this is not proper subject TOR
legislative action. 1t belongs exclusively
to the executive of the State. This Senate
has met, and we have no quorum present.
We are paralyzed, except to enforce the at
tendance of absent Senators. A resolution
of this character can have no binding force
of law. We have nothing to do with this
rampant mob now surging through the
streets of the city, and using every effort to
assassinate good men. We are met in the
interests of the people of the State, to pass
wise and Just laws in their behalf. When
we succeed in obtaining quorum. let us
place such laws on the statute book as
will put stop to this sort of thing for
the future. l believe it would be undigni
fed for us now to take any such action as
that proposed by the Senator from Orleans
(Mr. Campbell). l believe the executive OF
the State is strong enough OF himself to do
all that is needed. If ne is not, the govern
ment of the United States will interpOse its
strong arm. Do you mean to tell me it is
possible for tie President to sit quietly III
his office in Washington, and see the gov
eminent of this State 60 under, OverthrOwn
by mob! The constitution guarantees
every State republican form OF govern
ment. and General Grant is not the man to
see mob overthrow the government of
Louisiana. j am willing to leave the situa-
ton in the hands of the chief executive OF
the State, aided, as am certain he will be
should the emergency arise, by the strong
arm of the government of the United States.
l move to lay the motion OF the Senator
from Orleans Mr.. Campbell) on the table.
Mr.. Campbell asked the gentleman 10
withdraw his motion. He proposed, in
stead of appointing committee, to make
the statement himself.
Mr.. Harris, for this purpose, withdrew
his motion.
MIR. Campbell-I desire to state, in answer
to what has been urged in opposition to the
motion, that, in my opinion, it would be not
only dignified, but highly proper, sitting as
we do here in support Of the regular gov
eminent against body claiming to be the
House of Representatives-slttlng as we do
in opposition to parsonage claiming to be
the Speaker of that House-sitting as We
do III the midst of revolution, or attempt
at revolution, which is serious at least in its
results to the people of this State, and
serious enough in its results to us, though
that is a small matter-I repeat, that under
these circumstances, it is. i'll my Judgment,
not only just, but highly proper and highly
expedient, that we, as Senators, should pre-
sent to the people of this State and to the
government and people Of the United
States, in an official and authentic form, our
statement of our conception OF the situa-
ton 1t is this: So far as the difference
between the members of the Republican
party of this State is concerned, it has
been, up to the meeting OF the Legislature,
simply a strife between the office holders
under General Grant and the personal
friends of the present State government
for supremacy in the cOunsels of the party.
With that controversy Republicans gener-
ally had little to do. l think may say
jority of Republicans viewed with stern
disapprobation the quarrel between those
whom they were accustomed to consider the
leaders Of the Republican party, and they
earnestly desired that these difficulties
should be healed; that men, if necessary,
should stand aside, and that the party
should bring forward in the front rank
other men who could lead it to its accus-
toned victory. Prior to the first of Janua-
~ the Democratic party, as composed Of
the citizens of the State not identified with
the Republican party, to which belong,
had taken little or no interest in this strng
gle. excepting, perhaps, knst of men
Who toresaw, during the summer, III the eX
pected disruption OF the Republican party.
a chance for Democratic success. When
the two houses met. the strife was trans
ferred from the political councils of conven-
lions and clubs to the hall of the House of
Representatives. Mr.. Speaker Carter rep
resented the federal office holders, the Gus
tomhouse men. and their followers. A large
and respectable number of the Republicans
of the House differed from Speaker Carter.
and for three days-Mondav. Tuesday and
Wednesday-the contest was waged with
great severity, and at the adjournment of
the House on Wednesday night. on a mo-
ton of one of the members to declare the
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