New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-01-07
THE LEGISLATURE.


ton has been done in either branch OF the
Legislature This condition OF things has
been brought about by the Customhouse
clique acting in concert with fragments
of all parties opposed to Governor War
moth because he will not yield to their
selfish demands. The Senate has had to
adjourn from day to day, doing nothing
more than instructing its Sergeant-atArms
to hunt for absent members. Let the re-
sponsibility Of obstructlng legislation rest
where it belongs-On the men who, to ac-
complish a political purpose of their own,
absent themselves from the halls Of leSis-
lation when duty requires them to be
there. These men will undoubtedly want
to be paid for this very time, for all the
days they have absented themselves and
prevented the work OF legislation from
going ahead. And it is certainly not right
to expect pay for services not rendered.
If Senators and members of the House
of Representatives who have been wan-
tonly wasting the time Of the Legislature,
would only consider that i'll doing 50 they
are actually taking money from the public
treasury without giving any consideration
in return for it. and causing others to do
the same thing, We think their sense Of
public Justice, if they have any, will bring
them al once to a sense Of duty.
In the House, yesterday, titty-two mem
bers answered to roll call at twelve o'clock.
After the names OF members had been
read, in the minutes OF the previous day,
Mr.. Davidson moved 10 have Mr. Lynch
name struck from the minutes, as he was
not present as announced. This was done.
Speaker Brewster then directed the Clerk
to read the names OF the gentlemen he had
appointed on the committee on elections.
Messrs Abel, Sartain. Bentley, Morris,
Marvin, Ong and Barrow compose that
committee
The principal feature Of yesterdays pro-
ceedings in the House was Mr.. Davidson 5
report as chairman Of the committee to III
yestigate the wholesale arrest Of the Rep
re5entatives of the State, made by the
United States marshal at the instance of
members Of the Legislature for q political
purpose. Mr.. DayidsOn's report regards
the conduct OF such members sufficiently
offensive to authorize their expulsion from
the House, but he was opposed to doing
this without giving them q hearing. An
affidavit has been made against these par
ties, charging them with perjury. The re-
port recommends that they be arrested and
brought before the House for hearing
The report was read, and, by request Of
Mr.. Davidson, laid on the table subject to
call. Mr. Davidson said he preferred this
course. not because he WAS not prepared
to act on the matter at once, hut bycuJl,e
he did not wish t. he misunderstood by
the people. He was lot acting with any
faction, ana did not 81 i to be understood
to be anything other than Demo-
clat but he would sustain the
right wherever be found it, and he
believed the Governor OF this State right
in his fight against Carter and the men
who We're endeavoring to break down the
State government. Mr. Davidson said
he had unlimited confidence in the virtue
and intelligence Of The people, and he i
satisfied that when they come to know
what the miserable faction headed by Car
ter are trying to do, they viii approve Of
his Dayidson'o) course IN opposing them.
He stands before the people as old David
son, an honest Democrat, and he felt as
5ured that his constituents would stand by
him. He would stand by the Governor as
long As he stood by the rights Of the DcO-
pie, and he did not heed the den;inciations
Of political opponents for doing 50. Mr..
Davidson concluded his remarks by saying
he believed the men who had caused the
wholesale arrest OF the members OF this
House for political purpose deserved eX-
pulsion, but he preferred giving them a
hearing before doing this, and he there
fore asked that his report be laid on the
the table subject to call, which the House
agreed to,
Mr.. Murray spoke at some length in
dorsing the remarks of Mr.. Davidson
Dr.. Worrall thea obtained The floor
He said he thought this a favorable time
for explaining his motives in asking that
members be heard before being expelled
He did not believe that two wrongs made
a right. He had for time, acted with
the gentlemen who are now opposing the
majority. He did tli5 III the interest Of
the reform movement In voting for re-
form, they were not acting in the interest
Of any faction -Customhouse CT other
wise. But the moment he saw Mr.. Carte
and his followers endeavoring to introduce
revolutionary measures, he was determined
to defect them, and voted with the party
that stood by law and order. When
lie returns from the halls of legisla-
ton, he wants his constituents to
feel he has done his duty. He will
oppose the unlawful acts Of ambitious
men, but he is opposed to cXpelIing MEM
bfIs without a hearing, and contrary to
Ill parliamentary usage ana law H. was
glad to acknowledge that he saw evidence
Of q better spirit among the members Of
the House. The proceedings Of the last
few days have been marked with dignity
I