The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1875-03-31
THE EXTRA SESSION.

called an extra session of the Legis-
lature for the 14th of April. His
proclamation assumes or presumes to
limit the session to ten days, and to
specify the sole objects of legisla-
ton which may receive attention.
They are:
l. In relation to the adjustment of the
political difficulties heretofore existing
in this State.
9. Revenues of the State and the mode
of collecting and disbursing the same.
3. Amendment of the funding law
with respect to the number of members
composing the Funding Board and with
respect to the manner of preventing the
funding of illegal obligations of the
State.
4. Revenues, financial condition and
government of the city Of New Orleans.
5. Relief of the commerce OF New Or
leans from excessive port charges, fees,
etc., etc.
G. TO consider the incorporation of
the Board of Trade of New Orleans.
This Limitation of time and speci-
fication of objects is made, he says,
by authority of an Act of the Legis-
lature of 1870, which is as follows:
See. |. Whenever the Governor shall
call an extra session, he shall specify in
his proclamation the particular object
or objects for which the General AS
sembly is convened, and such business
shall take precedence of all other that
may be brought before it.
SEC. 2. He shall indicate the length
of time the session shall continue and
the time shall not be extended save by
joint resolution passed by the Senate
and House of Representatives, approved
by the Governor, and in no event shall
continue longer than sixty days.
We first premise that the Legisla-
ture of 1870 cannot restrict the pow
er of the Legislature of 1875, nor i'm
pose limits upon the exercise of that
power, when the source of the power
of both is the Constitution. The
Legislature of 1870 could impose linn
itations upon itself. 1t could declare
it would not sit more than ten days
or ten hours, or that it would not
legislate except upon particular sub
jects, or not at all. But the Legisla
ture of 1875 can sit as long and leg
islate as much as it pleases, except
where it is restrained by Constitu-
tional inhibition, and the Constitu-
ton nowhere restraints except in these
articles:
ART. 80. No session shall extend be-
yond the period of sixty days to date
from its commencement, and any legis-
lative action had after the expiration of
said period of sixty days shall be null
and void.
ART. GA. He may on extraordinary oc-
casions convene the General Assembly
at the seat of Government, or at differ
ent place, if that should become danger
GUS from an enemy or from epidemic
and in case Of disagreement between
the two Houses as to the time of ad-
journment, lie may adjourn them to
such time as he may think proper, not
exceeding four months.
When the General Assembly is
convened in 1875 on an extraordinary
occasion, it may sit sixty days, and
if an adjournment is voted by one
House at an earlier time, and the 9TH
err House disagrees, the Governor
may himself adjourn them, but not
until the next regular session, nor as
long as he wishes, but to a time not
more than four months distant
This is clearly deduciable from these
Constitutional provisions, but it is
equally clear that Mr.. Kellogg thinks
otherwise, for his proclamation says
so. When therefore the General AS
sembly shall undertake at this extra
session to sit longer than he directs,
or to legislate upon anything that he
does not want touched, he hos De-
Trobriand at hand, and the precedent
Of January 4th to follow.
1t may be said he can be impeach-
ed if he repeats that revolutionary
act, since the members who shall be
admitted have only engaged not to
impeach him for his past acts, but he
throttled them once and his crime
was speedily condoned, and his sue
cess.in that adventure will be an in
vitation to throttle them again.
This condition of affairs is very hui
initiating, but the humiliation is not
it's worst feature. The whole pro-
ceeding is extra-legal and revolution
airy, and as the members will be sit
ting, not by virtue of the Constitu-
ton and laws of Louisiana, but by
the grace of Mr.. Wheeler and his CO.
arbitrators, it should seem they must
act not as legislators, but rather as
agents of these gentlemen to do what
they or Mr.. Kellogg shall prescribe.
The justification Of all this, accor-
ding to it's advocates, is imperious
necessity. The good to be accom-
plished for, and the benefit to be
conferred upon, suffering people
and a PROSTATE State is the boon for