New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-01-28
DEBATES IN THE HOUSE.
FRIDAY, January 90, 1872

FRIDAY, January 90, 1872.
After the usual routine of business, Mr..
Kenuer, of Orleans, asked permission to
speak upon privileged question, which
being granted, ne said
Mr.. Speaker, have tried for two days to
get an opportunity to speak upon privi-
lodged question, and now that opportunity
is given to me, intend to give expression
to my sentiments. My motive in speaking
upon this privileged question is to place
myself in right light before my constitu-
ents. | have been attacked upon the
street. and not only upon the street, but in
the public journals OF this city, calling me
traitor, and saying that l have been
guilty of taking brides. This / deny, and
saw it is an unqualified falsehood, and l
DEFY anyone inside or outside this bar to
make such charges against me. Whoever
does. will prove that he is guilty of lying.
have been accused of taking brides from
the executive of this State; that | had been
offered $4,000 to absent myself to break up
a quorum. This is another falsehoOd. The
executive of the State or Mr.. George w.
Carter would not dare to offer me bride,
and no one will dare to say that have
ever received bride in my political career
in this State. Sir, today claim to he an
honest man, and challenge any man in this
city, or in the General Assembly of this
State, to prove that have ever been guilty
of taking bride. They can not do it. and
feel proud of my position to-day. Now,
wish to speak upon the cOnstltutlGnalty
of expeIling the members who were on the
other side, and the reason why Mr. David
| son, the war horse Of the Democracy, the
| king of Livingston, recOnsdered his mo-
| ton to admit us to our seats.
That morning we came in here to take
our seats on this floor. We sat down, but
| was told by the Sergeant-at Arms that we
must 90 outside of the railing into the
lobby until the members of this House
| could vote me in-until the motion OF Mr..
Davidson could be reconsidered. Now, sir,
what had that resolution to do with us!
| The moment that resolution was recon-
sidered to admit Mr.. Laurent, that resOlu-
| tiOn was dead. | have the authority on
this questionable book that we are bound
to respect-the text book of parliamentary
usages-the book that e ives the gentleman
who made tina: resolution his seat and
which also g YES me mine. l Will read
what it says ON page 1913 of Barclays digest
on Limitation of "a reconsideration. After
a motion of reconsider alton has been once
made. the resolution of Mr.. Davidson ad
| hitting Mr.. Laurent, the resolution had
been reconsidered Therefore, every mem
Der that had been expelled by Mr.. David
sons motion was reinstated upon this floor.
The gentleman knows this as well as /; but
l will also read on page 1856.
Now, sir. claim upon this point, when
a motion to reconsider has been once put
and decided. it is not in order to repeat the
motion"
This is down in black and white, and this
is the only authority that governs par
liamentary usage.
Now, if this is true, and every one of the
members OF this House acknowledge this as
the authority by which the House /:
governed. when did the gentleman get the
authority that made us. or me, 90 out int
that lobby until they could vote me in +!
Now. sir. | reiterate my statement, thai
when the gentleman from Livingstone
motion was reconsidered so as to allow MIR
Laurent to resume his seat upon this floor
that resolution was dead thing, and i
conld not debar me from my seat upon thu
floor.
Now. sir. claim to be Republican.
have a better right to be called Il Repub
, lean than any white man. From the da,
of nv birth have always been Repub
lcan. and have better title to the nam
Republican than any gentleman of tn
white race. And yet number of thes
gentlemen claim to be better Republican
than |. say they are not, and throw
} back to their teeth. Parties that claim t
| be Republicans, and then vote to exPel he
publicans, are not fit to be called Reput
licans, and those that say they are tel a
unqualified falsehood. These men VINO Cal
themselves Republicans voted out Repnt
q licans who were entitled to seats on TN