New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-12-18
DRAWING TO A CLOSE.

approaches final conclusion. The status
of Governor Kellogg, the State ottlcer'
elected with him and the Legislature is NJ
longer involved. Our representatives have
been seated in the House, and every poin
has been satisfactorily settled except the
formal recognition of the right of oul
Senator to his seat. And it appears to b
conceded that this will be determined as Q
privileged question without reference te
any political complications. Mr.. Morton's
able argument in the Senate on Tuesday
shows that considerable progress has been
made since last year. He is enabled to
lay down, in opening the case this session,
some very satisfactory propositions which
he regards as aXioms:
l. He denied the right Of the Senate,
acting singly in matter affecting its con-
stituent members, to say that Kellogg is
not Governor of Louisiana. The House
and the President have both recognized
his authority.
2. 1t can not be pretended on the floor
of the Senate that McMillen could derive
from the bogus Legislature any right to a
seat in the Senate.
g. The present Legislature Of this State
has been sustained by the State courts,
whose decision upon any question grow
ing out of the laws of the State is final
and without appeal.
4. The president has already decided
who is the Governor Of Louisiana, and
the House has agreed with him.
To these propositions is added the en-
phatic declaration: "The State of LOUISE
ana is wronged every day that Dir. Pinch
back is kept from his seat.
All these statements are founded upon in
disputable facts. They can not be con-
troverted, nor can any Senator who regards
his official oath Of more binding force
than his bond to serve the interests of
party refuse to vote to seat our Senator.
A delay, which amounts to palpable
violation Of the constitution of the United
States, has already been occasioned by
the opposition of the Democracy. That
instrument provides that no State shall
be deprived of its equal representation in
the Senate, and yet Louisiana has been
thus deprived without adequate reason fo-
more than year. If Senators may refuse
to seat new member whose case has
been pending for ten months for no bet
ter reason than that they want to make
speech on the subject, then they may for
ever refuse to come to vote because
distant aunt has the toothache. The op-
position in the Senate has been guilty of
triding with grave subject. They have
almost assumed the right to dictate to
State whom it shall! elect, and we are pre-
pared to expect they will soon set up
claim to supply any error or oversight Of
State Legislature by selection outright.
This is carrying the privilege conferred
upon them by the constitution to dan
gerous tension. 1t is not so extraordinary
that the out and out Democracy should
engage in fEbustering, though we are
surprised to see Senators Carpenter,
Ferry, Alcorn, and other Republican SEN
ators joining with them. The facts in
with this twelve months
struggle are well known to men Of reten-
tive memories, and the time will come
when they will be brought forward to
discomft those who have stood in the
way Of the right, and interposed unneces-
sary obstacles.
And now that Louisiana Republicans
have triumphed against all tactic oppo-
sition, now that the executive, legislative
md judicial officers of the State have re-
,eived the recognition Of the President |
md the House, and majority of the Sen
tie ready to follow on the same side, the |
defeated friends of Fusion and fraud |
hould modestly retire and no longer |
wage vain contest against what they
must see is inevitable The country |
hould be spared the threatened infiiction
# twenty more speeches in the Senate
pon a question that everybody under
lands perfectly. Other matters demand
be attention Of Congress. Important
'ork is pending, in which the assistance
our Senator elect will be useful. Every
Their point raised in the Louisiana case
as been irrevocably settled except admit
ng our Senator. Now let the Senate put
n the finishing touch by coming to a
nal vote on that without further delay.