New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-01-26
Record of the Gem FiZZle.

In the Gem House of Representatives.
Tuesday morning, the end of the fzzlers is
thus stated by themselves. We reproduce
the report of the Times as matter OF
record. The speech of Mr.. BHL. Lynch eX
presses the correct idea, for the gentlemen
of the Gem order did "knock under
After some little business of minor import
had been transacted, Mr.. Gaddis arose and
said that there was a proposition to be
brought before the House, that the mem
bers should return to the State House and
take their seats He would like to hear the
opinions of the members on the subject.
Mr. Lott responded: There is good deal
of importance attached to this move, and it
is not only important but necessary. 1t is
generally understood by the members that
we can do nothng, especially as the United
States troops are against us Ostenslbly II
not in reality.
l do not see that there is anything left
AS but to go over and take our seats. l
think we can do more good by going over
there and "bearding the lion in his den,'
and fightingi it out on the floor OF the House
than we can by remaining here. We can
90 over there and aid in those measures of
reform, and help to put them through. l
now move that committee of five be ap-
pointed to wait on the other House and
present list of names of the members of
this House who are entitled to their seats,
and to state that they wish to return and
occupy them.
Mr.. MOncure-I was not present last night
when this movement was discussed. Ihave
this to say in reference to it. My belief in
the course we have pursued, and its just
and lawful character, are undated; yet L
have my doubts about its being most effect
i've in future, and think that we must re-
sort to some other, which may produce the
desired effect. My own conscience tells Inc
that l have acted right, and in consistency
with the law and the interests of my con
stituents. l say my own conscience tells me
that have acted right. think the course
we have pursued has resulted in good. We
have come to know the men with whom
we have had such close connection. We
have stood together; we have been purged
and purified in fire, and we have stood the
| test; we know the men i'll whom we can
place confidence; in whose honesty we can
trust. think that our meeting together has
resulted in good, but do not now see that
| there is anything left us but to go back to the
State House. We can no longer accomplish
anything outside. think, as Mr.. Lott has
said, that we ought to return and fight 1t
| out on the floor of the House, but | do not
| approve OF his motion to appoint com
mittee. do not think it would be advisa-
BILE: they would not be received. l think
we ought to go there in body and take our
seats. They may refuse to receive US, or
they make no objection: but whatever
| course they may pursue, | think we ought
| to CO. Now there are some members who
| have been expelled for other reasons than
absentino themselves from the House.
do not think they should go with us to-day
it will bring ON an issue that do not think
advisable to press. | think that we can
| better fight their battle when we have been
admitted and are on the floor of the House
l would advise that those members do not
| go with lis.
Mr.. Burch arose, and yielded the char to
| Mr.. Moncure, and spoke as follows:
He referred to those Senators who had
| been working with the House, and said
| those Senators remained from here until one
| of the Senators left them, and went over 10
the other side, and then they followed. We
are in the same position. There have been
| members who have left us and gone over
1t was for the Senate to decide which was
the legal House. We have waited for that
decision, and the majority have decided that
the House presided over by Mr.. Brewster is
| the legal House. and, therefore it is the
House of Representatives de lure if not de
facto. We have been winding slowly. but
| surely, and now we are too few to accom-
plish anything outside OF the House, and,
therefore, | think we ought to go back We
have points which it will not do to make
public; but our point now is, we go there,
and acquiesce in the recognition OF the SEN
ate. We do not abandon single principle.
We still consider ourselves the legal House,
but we do not see but one move at this
time, and that is to go there and take our
seats. He agreed with Mr.. MOncure as to
those members who had been expelled for
other reasons than absence, that they should
remain away, and allow those members who
took their seats to fight their battle.
| Iu conclusion, he said, these are my