New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-01-16
DEBATES IN THE SENATE.
WEDNESDAY, January 10, 1872.

THE MISSING SENATOR'S.
After the calling Of the roll the President
called the attention of the Senate to a report
of one Of the special assistant sergeantsat-
arms descriptive of the arrival of the absent
Senator'S, mud-bedraggled and blanket
bearing. at Bay St. Louis, where he left
them. In view of these facts the President
suggested that it it might be wisdom, and
certainly would be economy, to dispense
with some of the extra sergeants- alarms,
the missing Senator's being all of them
out of the State and out OF the jurisdiction
of the Senate. In connection with this
same subject, the President mentioned that
he had sent a communication to the At
torney General, asking if the sergeants-at-
arms had the right TO enter and search
private buildings where they had good
reason to believe absent Senators were
concealed In reply he had received a COM
munication which he supposed was intended
for an answer, but was not signed by any
one, and had evidently been drawn up by
some clerk, to the effect that by article four
power.
On motion Of Mr.. Harris it was
Resolred, That all the sergeants-at-arms,
with the exception Of ten, be dismissed.
On motion of Mr.. Lynch the President
was requested to return to the Attorney
Generals Office the unsigned cOmmunica-
ton received therefrOm.
THE MURDER OF WALTER R. wHEYLAND.
Mr.. Hunsaker-I desire to ask the Chair
whether 1t will be expedient or necessary to
request the Governor of the State to offer a
reward sufficient to secure the arrest OF a
murderer of Walter r. Wheyland. ! have
but one desire, and that is to see the law of
this country enforced. l am getting sick
and tired of this revolution. l want the
strong arm of the law invoked against the
perpetrators of crime. 1t was my pleasure
and good fortune to know the deceased for
a number of years, and a nObler man or
more generOus-hearted man never breathed.
i have lived in this State of Louisiana since
l was five years of age, with an intermis
sion Of few years, and never during that
period have I seen a greater spirit OF men,
dacity than exists at this day. l saw the
spirit of rebellion when it first burst forth
in 1861, when it was attempted to over
throw the state and the general govern
ment. l was here when the effort was
made to destroy human liberty. fought it
then, and now that l see the same spirit
again raising its head in the State of Loui-
siana, desire to fight it again. | shall al
WAYS be found on the side of law and right
in every attempt to overthrow an organized
government. l tell you the assassination
of this man last night on Canal street
speaks volumes. II tells me no mans life is
safe in this city who advocates law and or
der. l, for one, representing an honest,
hard-wOrking constituency, ask of the exc
ecutive of this great State to march down
his forces and break up this mob. BY the
eternal God, this has gone too far want
the Governor of the State to assert his
power. ! want to see him march his forces
down to this illegal and riotous assembly
and dispense it, and if the rioters insist on
staying, to fire upon them. | don't want to
see honest representatives OF the people
stricken down on the streets without retri
button. | am willing to meet this issue.
This State is my home. Those who were
near and dear to me lie buried in the soil of
Louisiana, and | do not want to see the
home of my childhood disgraced in this
manner. / want to inform the Governor,
as a representative OF the people, that this
rebellion must cease. | want him to en-
plOy the strong arm of the military to put
down those who are destroying the best in
terests of the State and laying law and or
der PROSTATE at their feet. Is it possible
that the great State of Louisiana bows its
head to riotOus mob ; Must the fact go
out to the world that Louisiana is no longer
strong enough to maintain the dignity of
her State government! l believe such is
not the case. l have talked with
the best citizens OF Louisiana, and
every man | have had the pleasure
of speaking to about the political situation
has assured me he would support the exec.
utive of this State in putting down this
mob. l want it known l am willing to
take my chances in opposition to a mob
that will stand here and denounce the I'M
warranted actions of which they have been
guilty, and that if l must pay the same
penalty as this young man, who has gone
to his God, l am willing it should be so.
But want the executive of this State to
exert his power want the persons guilty
of this outrage to be tried, and l want to
see them hanged, because they are guilty of
murder. | claim to know something of the
laws of evidence, and what constitutes
murder; and | never knew a clearer and
more deliberate murder than this. A man,
while held by two men, is shot down from
behind by third. Yet understand some
Of the perpetrators Of this crime have not
been arrested: that the main instigator
shelters himself behind the claim Of pos
sessing some legal authority. Why it is
well known that sheriff of this State hav
ing the writ of Judge in his hands has not
the right to shoot prisoner unless he
makes violent resistance; yet it is in evil
dence that this man made no resistance, but
was assassinated in cold blood at the in
being given him to defend himself. l want
the strong arm of the government invoked.
SO help me God, if the government does
not move to avenge the mOnstrOus deed
shall go tor a government that will. l want
this Senate to request the Governor of the
State to send down armed troops. to send
down the police to disperse this mob at all
hazards / am tiled of thir thing. 1t has
gone too far. The issue must be made. We
oft ha mt cd anfh nr@
State or we are nothing. If we are the con-
stituted authorities, l want our authority
indicated. have faith in his Excellency
Governor Warmoth. l believe he will do
what is right. | want the Senate to assure
him they will sustain him in carrying ont
the law, and let the responsibility fall upon
the evil-doers. The simple crime of this
murdered man was this: He, in adherence
to law, dared to maintain the legal authori-
ties of the State, and came to the legally
constituted House OF Representatives to do
v hat was best for the interests of his con-
stituents Because he dared to do this he
was shot down under the very nose of the
executive Of the State. tell you the time
has come when something must be done to
arrest the lawless spirit that pervades this
community. / have heard it asserted that
other gentlemen composing the legal Senate
and House Of Representatives have been
marked down 10 ldil os inc ds>dS-
sins bullet. / have been told by
a gentleman who claims to be well posted,
that am to be one of the victims. If so,
Let it come; but will stand by those who
are in favor Of law and order at all hazard.
/ desire that the Senate of the State of Lou
isiana shall at least give some expression OF
opinion on this subject. 1t is serious
thing. 1t is serious. indeed, when the peo-
pies representatives are murdered in the
Streets of New Orleans in this manner; and
if did not denounce it | would not be true
TO the constituency that sent me here. l, for
one. am willing to take my chances, and
confront this mob | do not fear mob. l
Ennn we can nut ii down. il We only assert