New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-01-03
DEBATES IN THE SENATE.
TUEsDAI. January >. 1872.

Roll called; fifteen Senators present: 10
quorum.
Mr.. Hunsaker-Mr President. the extra
ordinary appearance OF the Senate AZ the
present time seems TO warrant some inquiry
on our part aS to the cause. While | am
aware thar what | might say viii not be
addressed % a tuil Senate OF the State Of
Louisiana. vet ] desire that the people of
the country may know something as to the
cause oI these vacant seats III urGtr that
they NAV place the responsibility v-neIc K
properly belongs. had hoped that the de
maud 50 Loudly and clam0rously made
bv certain Senators during the summer
months fer reform and for the passage of
laws 10 relieve the taxpayers OF the State
OF some ut their oneroUs burdens was made
| il good faith: but when | see that
the ycrv Senators who We're loudest in
their advocacy OF reform are com
bned together for the purpose OF break
ing up quorum OF tie Senate
by absenting themselves from tAeir places.
thereby preventing necessary legislation.
| must naturally conclude thar caey were
insincere III their professions. Il these ab-
sent gentlemen We're npt III -he city, there
would he some excuse IuT their non
appearance: but il is we'll known that some
OF them live in the vicinity ot this very
building. | say that the action u these
Senators : most extraordinary. WhcH We
expenses Of the Senate are gong on The
same as ii they were present: and | want
the responsibility 10 fall upon their sLoul
ders. where il belongs. This seems 10 bc
an attempt at Il revolution in the rolitical
affairs OF oar State: it is a combination in
tended 10 strike at the veIy life II the party
i'll power. | regret to see that certain
Senators for whom | have always had the
greatest respect. are associated with others
for the purpose of destroying the Republican
party OF Louisiana. and | want their Re-
publican constituents to hold them respOtl-
sble for it. Another extraordinary fact
coEnec,ed with this matter : that a rumor
prevails on the street 4 have heard il from
good. l. may almost say official authority
that the navy of the United States has
been brought into this SCENE Tor tie p,Ir-
pose OF breaking up the Republican party
here What an astonishing fact 10 90 be
fore the people Of the cOuntrv-tLat vessels
belonging to the United States navy are
employed i'll making pleasure excursions.
Now, Mr.. President. | know that the an
scnce of these gentlemen is nor caused by
their being away from the ely, because
some of them were seen yesterday in front
ut the State House after the adjournment OF
the Senate. l. was currently reported on
the street before We assembled that there
would lie 10 quorum. AIN Of me opinion.
Sir. that the extraordinary position assumed
by these gentlemen would warrant the
minority present in announcing TO the Gov
eln0r Of the State that certain vacancies
exist II the Senate. and calling si'ol him 10
order an election 10 fill them. ! have never
known nor heard before ot such q tling Is
this | intended. when | rose. 70 offer & res
oiut!Gu providing for the appointment IL a
committee Of thee Senators 10 investigate
this matter and. If necessary, 70 1Cport II
the Governor that there are vacancies in
the Senate which shoHld be Elted 10y cltc-
tons. tUt | am not sure tina: Il mn rity has
a riget - do anything of that kind l
would ask the President whether such a
II solution can be entertained.
he Chair was of the opinion That MI
norty could not lcgitimatcly transact any
business other than to compel lie attend
auce OF absent members
Mr. Ragan-i would like 20 have the fact
noted that We have received Intelligence
from creditable sources that certain absent
Senators have gone down the liver on
United States revenue cutter | make this
statement in order that the public may
know it through the medium OF the press.
Mr. McMillen-I would suggest, Mr..
President, that the Governor, as command
erin. Chief Of the army and navy Of the
State, be requested to send the navy of
Louisiana after this revenue cutter. Laugh
ter | beg 10 correct the gentleman from
st. james Mr. HunSaker) III his proposition:
ii is the treasury of the United States that
is engaged in this matter-Iot the navy:
the former Il certainly the most potent of
the two
Mr.. McMllcn-I move, Mr. President,
that the Sergeant-at-Arms and the two as
Sistauts appointed yesterday. be instructed
to arrest the absent Senators wherever they
may be found and hold them in custody
until the next session of the Senate. | con
ceive that TO be strictly within the province
of our powers under the constitution of the
StOte. Article thirtv-three OF the cOnStittl-
ton reads: Not less than a iorItv OF the
members OF each house OF the General As
sembiy shall form quorum 70 transact
business: but a smaller number may ait-
jcurn from day to day, and snail haze .fHH
po,rer to compel the attendance II oJSeia
nteH,GerS.'
Now, Mr.. President, if these gentlemen
who were absent yesterday and are absent
to-day are confined by United States
officials within the United States Custom
house. or are taken without the jurisdiction
Of this Senate by United States officers on
a revenue cutter. that kind OF thing can
not always 90 on. These absentees will,
some day or other, return and am almost
certain that they will be back in time to
ask the STATE to pay them their mileage
and per diem for the important services
that they have performed yesterday aud to-
day. before the sixty days shall have
passed during which we are allowed TO
remain in session. |, therefore. again
move that the Sergeant alarms and his
two assistants be instructed 70 seize, hold
possession of and bring into the Senate
Chamber all Senators who are absent from
their seats today, as made apparent by the