New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-02-07
THE MEMBERS ELECT.

| THE MEMBERS ELECT.
The members elected tothe Legislature
who have declined heretofore to take thei
seats because Of objections to the presen
organization of that body, have, We learn
decided to do so. We have not seen tn
text Of any agreement by which they have
come to this decision, nor can We sup
pose any such agreement could impose
upon such members any derogation o.
the powers and duties conferred on them
by their constituents. We therefore trea'
this accession to the Legislature as the
exercise of a deferred right. and do not
consider that it in any way affects their
! relations to the Legislature than if each
member had been prevented by illness or
absence from exercising the same right at
any previous period. We by no means
claim that this decision Of the members
implies any acknowledgment of the State
government or any obligation to reorgan-
ize the Legislature on the basis of any
bargain of official appointment.
We can not but note the extreme oppo-
sition manifested in certain quarters to
the resuming their seats by the members
elect. Perhaps in nothing has the as
sumed authority of the party leaders been
more conspicuous than in the threats with
which they assail the resuming represen.
tatives. We have seen many proposals of
compromise, but heretofore they have
been based upon the acknowledgment of
this or that high Conservative official
There is 70 compromise at all. but re-
sumption on the part Of the representa-
tives of duties to their constituents. 1t
must be remembered that in this
country a man elected to represent
n constituency is alone responsible to
them for this action. It is their
authority which be exercises, and not his |
own. How. then, can persons. however
exalted, take these representatives to
task and demand to interpret between
hem and their constituents? We have
Always Ii own the Republican rule in the
South to be that the representative was
lie to his own constituents. This |
light of popular instruction has been
terrified by orders given by majority of
constituents to do or forbear to do this or
hat. W. can comprehend how
representative may even resign
eat rather than comply with a con-
tituent order which he may not
egard as compatible with his princi-
lies. But we can not understand how
ress, or public meeting controlled BY
ersons who do not form the constituency
f member, can dare to tell him what
e shall or shall not do? If the constit-
ents of a u ember tell him to take his
eat in the Legislature. we can not under
land how any outside party club can
rider him out of it. Nor do we think
lis supremacy of party over representa-
We obligations will be recognized in
ouisiana.
We may remind those who would awe
le resuming members into obedience to
leir orders that the people of Louisiana
ave some other interests than in decid-
e contested elections. There are great
Id grieyous burdens which the Legislature
ut on, and which the Legislature can
one take of. Every day that these
,ople are Represented the peace and
distance OF these people are impaired.
be city of New Orleans has important I
terests. They have been without spe-
al repres entation for more than year,
,cause the sd me political altocrats would
1t allow their representatives to co-ope- [
tie in measurts for the relief of the city a
The Republicans in charge of these in a
rests do not pretend that they can do (
9 same justice to them, that the e
embers chosen for that purpose could. q
, permit these interests to be neglected t
ay, perhaps, make good issue at Wash
gton or in Tammany Hall, but it is
in to the merchant mechanic and q
borer Of New Orleans. We need say no
ore at this moment than to approve the
Of duty to their constituents
the returning members. While we will
turn to the subject subsequently. We =
can to say no more at present than that =
csc members have, in our opinion, per-
rmed their duty to their constituents;
1T we shall welcome their cooperation U
every measure of reform, and that we
ither consider them as committed to any t
ing beyond the exercise of their just a
,hts nor ourselves as under obligations d
recognize any thing beyond the graft t
ing fact that Louisiana is once more a
be represented in au orde rly and o
aceful Legislature. IL
LOUISIANA COVERED" Il
A few weeks aro the Bulletin having ac- | n