New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-01-18
PROTECTION OF THE CAPITOL
DIGNITY OF THE SENATE
REPLY TO BEWILDERED SENATORS

NEW ORLEANS, La, January II, lS'2.
To Senators W. F. Blackman, john Ray $. n.
Thomas and others
GENTLEMEN-YOur communication of yes
terday, addressed to the undersigned mem
bers of the Senate, was duly communicated
to us by Senator jerks. In reply, we have
to say that the force of police and militia
now preserving the peace around the State
House was placed there for the single and
legitimate purpose of preserving the pre-
cincts and approaches to the Capitol from
mob during the existing excitement.
That this has been done by the Governor
of the State in the discharge Of his sworn
duty.
That it was done at the instance of reso-
luton and a written request, signed by
tifty-seven members of the House OF Rep
resentatives.
That the action of the Governor is ap-
proved by all the Senators now meeting at
the Capitol, and we believe it to have been
and to still be a wise and necessary pre-
caution to protect the deliberations of
these bodies and to preserve the peace OF
the city.
At no time has the free egress and ingress
of any member of either house been pre-
vented by this force. We entirely disagree
from your assertion that this simple precau-
ton to prevent the precincts of the State
House from being the scenes of riot, and to
protect the deliberations of Senators and
members from disturbance, is either
" usurpation - or an unwarranted and
revolutionary interference on the part
ence of two of your number in
their seats in the Senate (Senators Thomas
and Todd during the presence these peace
forces, and the prominent and active partlc-
ipatiOn of Senator Thomas in our legislation,
is refutation of your charge that it is
compromise of the dignity of Senators. or
a surrender of the rights of their cOnstitu-
encies to come to your seats III the Senate:
for we feel assured that neither of these
distinguished Senators would have acted in
this manner, even for moment, had they
believed that they thereby compromised,
however slightly, their own dignity or the
rights of their constituencies.
In reply to your second proposition. that
YOU ..can not. without a compromise of
your dignity as State Senators, take your
seats until the armed forces in and around
the State Capitol have been removed" we
state that the question of Senatorial dignity
is of doubtful taste on your part when we
rocall the fact that for the past two weeks
you have voluntarily absented yourselves
from YOUR posts of duty, and to avoid com
pulsory attendance took refuge in a United
States revenue cutter, until forced to leave
her bv orders from the Secretary of the
Treasury, when you fed under cover OF
night to another State to evade the lurlsdlc-
ton of the body of which you are mem
bers.
We desire also to recall the fact that this
revolutionary action OF yours was taken at
a time when perfect peace eigned in the
Senate Chamber and the approaches
thereto were free to yOu and all citizens;
and furthermore, that your action in re-
naming away from your seats was the hrst
step toward inaugurating the revolution
and threatened violence which have rem
dered the presence OF armed men around
the Capitol necessary.
We decline at this time to enter into any
discussion as to the legitimacy of Lieutenant
Governor Pinchbacks seat as President of
the Senate. He is acting as Lieutenant
Governor, and is so recognized by us. as the
result of the action of a full Senate. in
which you all participated.
In conclusion. we respectfully ana cor
daily assure you that no member OF the
Senate will be intertered with IN any man
ner by the peace force under the Governor
and we request YOU to resume your seats
and assist us in completing the measures OF
reform which the people desire. and III re-
lieving this city and State from apprehen-
sion of revolution and anarchy. and the
great loss to every interest resulting there
from. Respectfully.
i. B. 5. Plnchback, Lieutenant Governor
| and President of the Senate.
A. b. Harris. fifteenth senatorial district
o. +. Hunsaker, seventh senatorial dis
| trict.
Thomas H. holland. fourteenth senatorial
! district.
l.. B. .Jenks. twelfth senatorial district
H. L. Swords, eighth senatorial district
John X. Gallup, fourteenth senatorial
| district.
Thomas c. Anderson, tenth senatorial
district.
John Lynch, seventeenth senatorial dis
| trict.
w. L. McMillen. seventeenth senatorial
| district.
| f. Butler. fifth senatorial district.
A. E. Barber first senatorial district.
George Y. kelso, twenty-th!rd sonatorla
district.
NJ II. TwitcheT. twenty-second senatorial
district.
George W. Ragan. thirteenth senatorial
district.
Hugh J. Campbell, second senatorial dis
trct.
Albert R. Whitney, sixteenth senatorial
| district.