New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-02-09
INTIMIDATION.

lNVl0lUAI1VNs
After the violent speeches and the vim
dictive cries of the crowd on Saturday
night it can scarcely be disputed that {
determination exists among the clubs O.
this city to govern the State. Member
elected to the Legislature without dispute
of credentials see the interests Of theil
constituents neglected. Acknowledging
the first duty of representative, they
decide to take their open and undisputed
seats. Other men who can not pretend
to represent all the constituents Of these
members assemble and are asked "whethe,
you will allow yourselves to be bartered
away and sold into bondage:' The mem
bers are told that
Representatives. Senators or others
elected by the conservative people Of Lou.
isiana have forgotten that they are ser
wants with limited functions, and have now
boldly usurped the great inherent preroga-
tive of the people, their masters; and that
no such bargain. compromise, arrange
ment or adjustment is binding on the pe O.
pie, and that it will not be tolerated by
them.
We do not dispute this responsibility,
but who has authorized mass meetin 6
at New Orleans to interpret between
each Representative and his con-
stituents? Upon what rule Of law or
republican logic can such an in
tervention be justified or tolerated
by those to whom it is applied?
A member is elected and certified to
represent the parish of Bossier, OF any
other parish. The constituents wish a
voice in taxation or in reform Of alleged
abuses They have measures of local
requiring Legislative action.
The member elect comes to take his
seat, and is told by mass meeting Of
persons who do not claim to be his leg
islative constituents that he shall not
take his seat - that his constituents
shall not be represented until at such
time and on such terms as they-the nom
sonstituents-shell prescribe! Try this
il al ALAAOAo-uI AZ NuoSoCAuoCtto-- os1y
hat no county in either shall be repre-
'ented in the Legislature until mass
Meeting in Chicago or Boston shall allow
hem to enter the State House, and some
dea may be formed of this outrageous in
ervention. We have called this meeting
nd its cries of ''give US the names Of the
raitors," an intimidation. We will add
What an organ of the fourteenth of Sep
ember has said Of the action Of the men,
,ers:
The people are not prepared for this sur
ender, for surrender it is and nothing else.
hey will not submit to it and their repre-
will cease to be representatives
lst 80 soon as they cOnsummate the act
which they have had in contemplation.
Another journal, announces that the
lembers who have adopted this determi-
alton, will again meet to reconsider their
ction, and that several members have
lated their determination to change their
otes. There could scarcely be greater
roof of intimidations than that given by
protest signed by "a representative Of
10 parish Of Jackson He says:
1t is with profound regret that notice
the evening papers an effort to cast
ain and impose a stigma upon the true
representatives. of the State Of Louisiana.
We must really remind the members
lat each represents special constituency
which he should appeal. The threat
at these members shall cease to be rep
sentatives, just so soon as they con-
inmate the measures upon which they
we determined, must surely be without
thority. 1t can not mean that any
olence will lie done their persons Yet
is equally observed that e. newspaper
ID mass meeting can annul the
edentials CT members elected to the
'gislature.
In the meantime we must remind men,
rs that the constitution protects all
IN in the exercise Of their rights. They
n then resort to that clause of the
'endment which provides that the right
citizens shall not be abridged on
count of previous condition, which will
otect as we'll in escaping from political
from social bondage.
Let each representative stand fast and
tie with his own constituents. They
Il be found more reasonable than those
o have assumed to be "the people, their
.sters." Let not country representatives
inundated by meeting around the
y statue. They owe allegiance else
ere, and will receive protection or pun
ment at the hands of those only who
Ve right to award either. Relying on I
justice Of their constituents to protect c
m from the threats Of irresponsible t
'ty managers, each of the members who
,ides to take the seat his constituents r
l the laws have assigned him can safely
:, in the immortal words Of Sheridan, d
am not afraidr
EXPEDIENCY.
The denunciat;on Of the members elect u
0 propose to take their seats in the n