The Opelousas courier., 1872-01-13
The Two Houses.
iFrom the N. 0. Bee, of the 9Th I

|
Since yesterday forenoon there has
been in session in this city, strange tc
say, two bodies calling themselves the
Representatives of the people of Louisi,
ana and part of the legislative branch
of the State Government. One of these
bodies sits in a hall at No. IL Royal
street, under the craftsmanship of Col.
Carter, Speaker of the House of Repre-
sentatives, and the other in the Mechan-
ics' Institute under the craftsmanship OF
Mr.. Brewster. The question arises
which is the legal House of Representa-
tives? To determine this we must &c
back to Thursdays proceedings of the
House. Now it is certain that on Thurs
day when adjournment was declared,
Col. Carter was the recognized Spepker
of. the House. Why is it that a few
hours thereafter portion of the body
attempted to meet in extra session and
to elect new Speaker? No public or
sufficient notice was given of this extra
session and the House stood adjourned
until yesterday at noon. There can be
but one answer to this query. Gov.
Warmoth finding he could notin regu-
Ter manner expel from the chair, the
Speaker, Col. Carter, determined to ac-
complish it in an irregular and revolu-
tionary manner. We do not believe a
single precedent can be found for frag-
ment ola legislative body assembling in
extra session pending an adjournment
and proceeding to transact business in
the absence of their colleagues. And we
have no difficulty in arriving at the con-
clusiOn that the session was unlawful.
and the action then taken in electing Mr..
Brewster, Speaker, null and void. This
brings down to Friday morning, when
the House divided itself or was divided
into two parts. We cannot say that Col
Carter and his friends were to blame in
declining to go to the Mechanics Insti-
tute and force an entrance, if necessary,
to the Hall of the House. 1t is certain
they would have been denied admit
tance, and besides this the Mechanics
Institute was filled with hired police
men, both private and of the regular
force, and a number of the most noto-
rious thugs and assassins of the city, all
armed to the teeth, ready to use their
weapons upon whoever might become
obnoxious to them. And the streets on
either side of the State House were like
wise barricaded as if for siege, no one
being allowed to pass without counter
sign. Now who can say that Col Car
ter and his friends should have encoun-
tered snch body of armed men? When
did it become obligatory in legislative
body to hold their sessions by the per-
mission of armed men surrounding their
Hall ? How is it possible that legisla-
tive body could deliberate without re-
straint, while snbject to the intimida-
tion of such force as Gov. Warmoth
assembled in and around the State House
yesterday? We think Col, Garter, in
declining to force his way into the State
House, through the Governors cohorts,
pursued the most prudent course. Be-
ing shut out from their regular place of
meeting, it became necessary toassemble
elsewhere, and hence the gathering at
No. IL Royal street, and the legality of
the body. We are not to be deceived
by the high-sounding words employed
by Governor Warmoth in his proclama-
tion of Thursday night, protesting so
deep an attachment to popular govern
ment." What his notions of popular
government are, we have had an OPP
portunity of becoming acquainted with
yesterday. by the display of thugs and
bHllies and assassins, which he made in
and around the State House.
What is to be the result of this con-
f1ict between Governor Warmoth and
Mr.. Speaker Carter, we hesitate to pre-
dict; but one thing is certain, and that
is, if General Grant be sincere, the VIC
tory mus6be with Col. Carter We hope
that the latter will succeed in drawing
to his side q sufficient number of Repre-
sentatives to constitute quorum of the
House, so that they can proceed to i'm
peach the Governor, and thus put an end
to his dictatorship and to the anarchy
which now operates in Louisiana. The
Government of the United States would
be amply justified in interfering with
the administration of Gov. Warmoth
and in putting an immediate end to it.
The Federal Government is bound by
the Constitution to guarantee to each
State q republican form of Government
and to protect it when called npon by
the Legislature from domestic violence.
No one can pretend that Louisiana has q
republican form of Government after the
events of the last few days. It isa per-
sonal government, the government of
Gov. Warmoth, who is restrained by no
law when it stands in the way of his
purposes.
Don't forget the auction sales to-day and to-
morrow.