New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-02-09
REFLECTIONS FOR THE HOUR.

A Review of the Position of tho Absen,
Representatives Elect-Shall Patriot.
ism or Partisan Leadership Prevail
NEW DREAMS, February g. 1875.
| To the Senators and Representatives elect, ab
senting themselves from the State House:
CONTINENTAL the risk of intrudins
upon you some unwelcOme thoughts, and
with but faint hope of influencing your
| future action, l have presumed with only
rectitude of purpose as an excuse to raise
my voice in appeal to you, in behalf of the
general welfare of the people of the State,
| irrespective of party lines. With knOwl.
| edge of the men and issues OF our presen t
as we'll as past political and revolutionary
condition, l am disposed TO regard with
! all due respect the views and wishes OF Op-
| ponents, and utterly refuse to believe that
times do not arise when it is necessary for
| the common good for men Of all creeds to
reason together. l think it may be safely
left to your good judgment whether or not
| such an occasion does not present itself
now.
l assert that a great necessity does exist
for union OF the elements required to re
| store public confidence and put the ma
| chinerv of government in unimpeded mo.
| ton. should tride with time and patience
| by a recall of the historical events of four
| teen years to draw therefrom the teachings
Of experience as guide for your conduct
today. and it is only required as basis of
the needed reconciliation to review the acts
of the fourth day Of January, 1875. and
subsequent thereto.
1t is the broad and catholic view of the
better thOughted men Of the two political
parties which have agitated this State since
the era of reconstruction, and which now
occupy SO hostile an attitude, that the con-
ditiOn of our State is not what it should be:
that there is much room for improvements;
that mistakes and wrongful acts have been
committed, and should be avoided here
after; that somehow We appear to be
drifting from bad to worse, and bright
hopes give way to dependency; that we
are a divided and unhappy people, perpet-
uating internecine strife, and in default of
a greater enemy falling upon and iDjuring
ourselves, we seem to mock the provisions Of
nature and of man to make ours prosper.
GUS, contented State. 1t would rebound
more to our credit if wisdom and states
,nanship enough could be found at home to
allay the troubles of our own creation, and
cease demeaning ourselves by the annual
application to the outside world settle our
family Guarrels.
1t is almost needless to remind you of the
fact that as representatives of great nor
ton of the Intelligence, wealth and politi-
cal experience of the State, you bear an
important relation to our existing difficult
tlCSs dAsA hdy AuCkc0Sc VI uIlllulSu LueIu aC
pleasure. In reference to practical solu-
ton of these it is possible you are mourning
responsibility by your present line of con-
duct that, viewed either from patriotic or
other standpoint, cannot be regarded as de-
sirable. The question must frequently
arise, and should be fairly considered: Are |
you now fully and faithfully subserving
your sworn obligations, the common good |
and public order! In answer stand incon
trOvertible facts.
L. You are under oath to support the con-
stitutiOn and laws of the State.
2. Article thirty-eight of the constitution
says: Neither house shall adjourn for |
mo re than three days, nor to any other place |
than that in which it may be sitting during |
the sessions of the General Assembly with |
ont the consent of the other"
3. The place designated by law was
recognized as such by you.
4. The Senate has been in session con- |
at the State House.
5. You have assembled elsewhere or alb |
sented yourselves without the consent of |
the Senate.
6: Your absence is voluntary.
what can be up set as an Offset to the |
requirements of the law and the constitu-
ton? You will but offend the good sense
OF the just by recitation Of party needs |
and grievances; your oath imposes upon
you higher duty.
Again, if it were admitted that the action
Of the military, on January 4, gave you
Just cause for otfense or protest, you are
confronted by the other incontrovertible
facts:
/. That military was directed by the ex.
ecutiye, under the required legal forms.
2 The action of the military subordinate
was approved by his commander-in chief,
md the executive head of the nation,
President Grant.
g. The Congress of the United States.
'ognizant of ali the circumstances, is giving
! tacit consent to that action and is in &C.
ord with the President
4. All opposition confronting you coming
through the agency Of proper authority, it
your duty, feeling aggrieved, to obtain
3; You are legislators al your seats in the
Ialls OF the respective houses, and ordinarv
-oters outside Of them.
=. Your protest recorded in the lawful