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

of the Senate is clearly fixed in the con
stitution of the State. Article thirty-three
says that not less than majority of the
members shall form quorum, but a
smaller number may adjourn from day to
day, and shall have full power to compel
the attendance of absent members l think
this motion is perfectly in order, and if
were in the chair l should entertain it as
business properly before the Senate. Thus
far we have employed all the power we
know of to compel the attendance of these
absent members. Less than a quorum have
authorized me as President OF the Senate
to telegraph Secretary Boutwell, to ask that
the Wilderness be ordered back in order to
land these recusant Senators, which l did,
and to which telegram l received an answer
informing me that an order had been sent
for the return of the revenue cutter at once.
1t landed some where i'll the woods: they
took across the swamps-God only knows
how they got throughput one of my
sergeantsat-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
proceedings seems to be recognized not
only by the members but by the govern
ment itself as regular and constitutional.
But now, it APPEARS, to secure their at
tendance we will have to go much further.
We shall have to petition the govern
ment not simply for the return
Of the Wilderness, but for the
removal of the federal officers whose SYM
pathies are with and whose actions are in
stigating this mob that is seeking to break
up the regularly constituted government of
the State. For my part, | can not see how
anyone can stop to ask whether this prOpo-
sition is right We. all know that for the
last year and half there has been on foot
Il 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 Re
publican party intact. there was behind
their movement desire OF certain gentle
men to get control of the State, and by that
control not only to keep the Republican
party intact, but to keep themselves in
power, and thereby to run The machinery in
their own interests. What has been assigned
as the cause for all this Has it been that
the laws Of the State have not been eX-
ecuted thoroughly! Has it been that any
citizen has been deprived of his rights Or
has it been, as has been broadly asserted
here. that rumor had gone forth that the
Governor of this State was opposed to
General Grants denomination and re-elec-
y
1t is a question that will interest every
State in this Union. 1t is question that
will appeal to the good sense of the Amer
lean people, whether or not legally cOnsti-
tuted government is to be OverthrOwn mere
ly because its Chief executive is supposed
not to be friendly to the President of the
United States! Why, sir, am l, why are
YOU. Senators, why are all the officers who
constitute part of this government, the gov
eminent Of our State, to be put at the
mercy of an organized mob; mob COM
posed of the enemies not alone of civil gov
eminent here, but opposed to civil govern
ment anywhere: opposed to the government
OF the United States-enemles who fought
for four years to destroy that government
| say, are we to be put at the mercy of this
class. simply because it is supposed that ii.
c. WarmOth, Governor of Louisiana, is OPP
posed to the denomination of General Grant
for the Presidency! If this be the fact,
what is to become of Illinois Don't we
know that during the great coniiagratiOn in
Chicago one of the officers of the army de-
clared martial law and took possession of
the city, and that Governor Palmer disap-
proved Of this action and appealed to the
President to instruct his officer not to inter
feIe,
If the position of Governor Warmoth
toward General Grant be sufficient cause for
the overthrow of the State government
here may not the government OF Illinois be
OyerthrOwn because Governor Palmer may
not be in favor of the denomination of Cen
eral Grant! | say this question is grave
one. 1t is a question which no longer be-
longs to the Republicans nor to the Demo-
Gratis of Louisiana. 1t is question that be-
longs to the people of this country, irrespec-
tive of party. race or color. 1t is a question
whether government amounts to anything
or not That is the question that Is before
us to-day. And how unjust, how cruel, is
the action of the federal authorities if it is
as we understand it today. The gentlemen
whose lives are now put in jeopardy from
the mob in Louisiana are some of the best
friends General Grant had Of the seven
teen Senators sitting here to-day at least
ten of them know positively were uncom-
promising Grant men. Not least among
them may be classed my self. / know Sen
ator Harris, Senator Hunsaker, Senator
Barber. Senator Butler, Senator kelso and
Senator Raglan were for Grant, and perhaps
| might pass through the whole seventeen.
Senator Campbell is another. And are we
to be put at the mercy of an armed mob
simply because Of difference of opinion be-
tween the President of the United States
and the Governor of the State! Are the
friends of the President to be struck down
by cold blooded assassins simply because of
this supposed difference of opinion between
the President andth Governor! Where is
American liberty if this is to be! l have
used the term supposed difference of opin-
ion" between the Governor and the Presi-
dent, for at no time in our political history
have | ever heard the Governor OF tins
State say he was opposed to the renOmina
ton of General Grant. l know they have
not been on the most pleasant terms-at
least l have heard so, for / do not even
know that. This, however, l do know,
that neither Governor Warmoth. nor any
other man can carry Louisiana against the
President of the United States unless some
grave fault of the Presidents is brought
prominently before the people. But if the
Presidents friends are to be stricken down
in the way that is now threatened it will
not he long before you will look in vain for
a supporter Of General Giant in this State.
And going beyond that, | can say, without
egotism perhaps, that if the President of
the United States lends his powerful aid for
the purpose of striking down the colOred
Lieutenant Governor of this State every
black man upon this soil will enter protest
against it, so strong and emphatic that he
can not help but see the mistake that he has
made.
Why, sir since my election l have
received congratulatory letters from every
prominent man of color in the United States
who has advocated the cause of Republican
ism and stood by his party, and know,
from the tenor of these letters, that this at
tempt to strike Inc down will meet with a
protest so emphatic that all who run NAV
read it. Then. in the name of the President
OF the United States himself who believe
has been deceived with regard to our af-
fairs. insist upon the passage of this reso-
luton. desire to give him an opportunity
to clear himself of the charges that are
made against him. | desire to continue in
his support l desire to let my voice
be heard in every portion of this
State, and in many portions Of other