The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-01-27
New Orleans Views OF the Iso'.isiana
Question.
From the New Orleans Times, 2Sd.l
MY nrSc TuE lCR

HOLDING THE AGR.
There are few persons in this comnuuity
outside of the active Conservative politicians
who understand the theory of the present
Democratic policy. Their claim IS That In
the pending contest for supremacy they
tsholi the age" and will therefore be enti.
tied to the last "say." The argument
which they present is that the Republicans
have not now norhavc they at any time had
a legal Quorum. For the information OF tue
reader we give a summarized statement OF
their arguments and conclusions:
The Constitution requires that the Legis-
lsture shall be composed Of at least one
member from each parish, apportioning the
representation among the parishes according
to their population, which would give total
membership of Ill.
4 legal quorum cannot be less than ma
iority of the whole number Of members.
: The whole number of members returned
elected By the Returning Board was 1O6,
divided evenly between the two parties-that
is "a Republicans and So Democrats.
Neither party could effect legal organi.
z,tion without the presence aud aid Of at
least three members belonging to the oppo-
site party.
All of the Democrats have made and SUBJ
scribed affdayits that they were not present,
and did not participate in the organization OF
the House Of Representatives; therefore that
organization was not legal, and all OF It's
acts and doings are and will be null and VOID.
HOW THE RADICALS PUT TIE ARGUMENT.
The Republicans begin also with the Con-
Stitution, which says: mot less than ma:
jority Of the members Of each House OF the
General Assembly shall form quorum to
transact business" None, they contend, are
members except those returned elected, and
therefore minority of those returned would,
under the Constitution, constitute a legal
quorum. Their further propositions are:
When the clerk called the roll lO2 men,
bcrs answered to their names, and to that
initial point they relate all The proceedings;
and their record is made up in that way.
showing the presence of aIr the members.
The interlude of the Witt coup d'Etdt
they call nuliity, forming no part of the
record "a mere interruption Of the proceed.
ings originally commenced by Vigers); and
that when the interruption was put down
Vipers commenced where he had left of, the
Democrats being still on the floor, although
protesting and in the act Of yacating their
! seats.
| This proves their case to their satisfaction,
theoretically. butit does not yet appear that
| it is founded on rock, and for that reason
they are in doubt which is best for them to
do-to remain and do nothing or to adjourn
and do nothing.
APPoINTMEATS-EO QUORUM.
The Radical House of Representatives
again found itself without a quorum yestcr-
day. Ffty.three answered the call of the
roll, but Lane, Of Baton Rouge, was still un-
relentins in his anger about the taX-collec-
torship of his parish. After an ill.humored
and quorumless session, the House adjourned
and the members went into caucus on the
general situation. What took place there
of course is unknown, except to those
who participated in it; but the general fact
Of bad blood in the Radical camp could not
be disguised. The real secret seems to be
that they are at loggerheads, both among
themselves and with Kellogg, in regard to
the appointment of taX-collectors. The eX-
act nature and points of this controversy we
have been unable to ascertain, but the belief
exists that few ambitious members think
they can capture the Executive chamber by
breaking the House quorum, and by threat
ening to adjourn sine die on the 9Th preximo.
No credence is given to this adjournment
story, which was so industriously circulated
yesterday.