New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-03-05
IN THE LEGISLATURE.

During the last session of the Genera
Assembly the Republican leaders in eacl
house have had Q most dificalt task t.
perform. They have been placed on tn
defensive, and have continually laboret
under the disadvantage of expectation o
denunciation from their opponents. whil'
the policy determined on forbade as un
dignifed a rejoinder. The party has wei
supported them by its representatives
and congratulations are now in order.
In the upper branch, Senator Twitchell
| has fully justified his selection as chair.
man of the Republican caucus and &C.
knowledged leader in the Senate. The
Democrats being in minority of only one
third, he was to expect, meet and defeat
every strategic attempt on their part to
overcome the numerical superiority, not
merely by force of votes but by reason OF
superior parliamentary law to justify its
appearance on the Republican side. Ably
aided by the accomplished Senator Stamps,
he has never failed, when confronted with
an unexpected move, to be prepared with
scounter of superior logical foundation.
Prompt at all times, he has never been re-
quired to account to the caucus for q fail
ure, nor have the Republican members
had any cause to regret casting their votes
under his leadership.
In the House the task of Mr.. Matthews
has been almost exactly the reverse.
Leading a minority, strong enough to
make itself felt, but powerless for perma-
nent influence, generally less informed
than the Senate of the probable action of
his determined opponents, forced always
to be on the watch for moves decided to
be invincible in Democratic caucus, he
has never been off his guard, and his lieu
tenants, Messrs. Demas and Guichard,
have never failed him. Although there is
but one instance where the Republicans
defeated a Democratic measure, and not
one where they carried any of their
own, no matter how worthy, the
record is very creditable to them. Ex-
cept on rare occasions, when even their
opponents allowed there was reason tor it,
they have not resorted to ''filibustering.
They have voted with Democrats for
every measure of reform that was not
solely directed against their party. They
have yielded many points for the sake of
harmony. In all these, and during the
whole session, the leadership of Mr..
Matthews has been manifest. Like that
of Mr.. Twitchell, his selection has shown
the wisdom Of his colleagues. AL
ways in the house. steady, sedate
and quietly determined, an adept
in legislative tactics and well read
in parliamentary history. without being
the chairman of the Republican caucus,
he would have been recognized as
leader by all. For several sessions he
has been one of the few who, with Gov
ernor Hahn and ex-Representative Harris,
could always command the attention of the
House. Never striving for effect, except
in the weight of his argument, seldom
excited, and then hardly rising above the
tone, always presenting
something worth the attention Of the
House, he has been favored by the
Speaker, and won the esteem of his op-
ponents. 1t would have pleased many Of
them if he had occasionally been called
to the chair.
Both Senator Twitchell and Mr.. Mat
thews, with their aids in each house, have
performed their duties faithfully, skillfully,
and with credit to the party that selected
them as leaders