New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-12-11

Executive Department
New Orleans December 10, 1872.
To the Honorable the Senate and House of Repre-
| sentatives of the State of Louisiana IN Genera
Assembly convened:
Called by the provisions OF the cOnsutu
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
municatc 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
a speedy trial Of the same be had, to the
end that public justice may be attained or
the innOctncy OF his cxCellency be e6tao-
lished.
/ would recommend that there should be
instituted a most thorough investigation
into the high handed frauds alleged to have
been perpetrated during the recent general
election. with which the public press is
teeIning, and Of which there would seem to
be such overwhelming proofs in the courts.
so that the authors OF these outrages upon
the great rights of the people, IT 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 0bloQuy with which 1t
| would otherwise be stained Therefore,
would recommend that a committee to in
V stigate 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 night Is
| given but in name, it is not the
right of the individual deprived Of his
vote which is stricken down, but it is
| a blow aimed at the liberties of all the peo-
| pie. If, as is alleged these frauds have
| taken such gigantic proportions and have
! been made to extend, like a sea, all over
| the State, it is your duty to have them and
| their authors thoroughly exposed, 80 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 inVasiOns 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, as | 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 tho
States, and did that legislation need any
vindicatiOn. think it would be found in
the election which has just taken place III
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 ses
sion is.'by the proclamation OF his excel
Tn
but if the good of the Stale 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 0ppressively 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
il tie interests of any class, but with a
view to protect the rights, and foster the
interests of the whole people of this State.
2. 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-
ceived 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, 1872, for |
Governor and Lieutenant Governor for the |
State of Louisiana; therefore, be it
ReSoircd, That the Senate proceed at the |
hour Of / 2. 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.
TLereupen Mr.. VOORHEES, offered the fol /
lowing as a substitute;
RcS0tted, 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 i'll January
next. and for that reason the Senate declines
TO meetthe House of Representatives in Joint
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 by the following vote, on call OF
the yeae and nayso ordered by Mr. Me-
Millen:
Yeas-Bar6er, Blunt, Butler f3urch, |
Brewster, Cage, P. F. Herwig f. f. Herwig,
Harper, Ingraham, jerks, Kelso holland, !
Pollard, Svpher, Stamps, Todd Ywitohelo !
Weber, Wharton, WOrrall-2l.
Nays-AndersOn, BOOTH 0aigfeo Huno !
saker, McMillen, VOORHEES,. .!
The Senate ordered the Secretary 90 in
forns the House Of Representatives of its
actioro 80 the effect that the Senate wa
now ready to meet the House in joinS ses !
sion ;os She purpose aforesaid
REFERENCE Oh 1HE SIEsSAGE OF GOTERS0R.
on motion Of Mr. Hngrahamo 1T was or
dere3 tina: the message of the GOVERNOR as
gecesved by The Senate this dayo be referred !
80 a syecfa! committee Of seveno 30 be ap-
pointed hereafter by the chairo
6he loar oS one o'clock Having arriSed,
tile shair directed that the Senate 40 then
proceed on body to the House d: Repre-
sanGas5Ses. in pursuance with Gho 0rGeY> of