New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-01-07

nome on the platform down here (referilng
to the floor Of the h0use), ask to be allow
| ed to remain. Laughter.]
Mr.. Dupre cf Orleans-Mr. Chairman,
move that as the gentleman was elected by
forco from the House OF Representatives,
he be placed upon the stand by force.
Renewed laughter.l
Mr.. Decatur moved that the convention
proceed to the election of sixteen delegates
to the National Democratic Convention.
The chairman was of the opinion that as
some of the delegates were absent from the
hall it would be advisable to postpone the
| election until their return. as that would
| enable them to vote. He didn't think it
would bs well to go into an election at the
present time.
Mr.. Decatur-Mr President, in making
| this motion, do SO for the purpose OF
avoiding the necessity of calling another
| convention previous to the assembling Ol
the Democratic National Conventions; Sc
| that the campaign may be o shert one, and
| also that we may now do all the business
| between this time and the assembling OF
the national convention.
Mr.. De Clouet, of st. Martin, moved to
amend that motion by the insertion OF ''and
sixteen alternates.'
| Mr.. Decatur accepted the amendment.
| At this time S. j. A. Smith, Of Orleans.
| offered resolution in reference to Nc
Emery and Kellogg, which was voted down
! Tho chairman state that the election OF
| sixteen delegates to the national conven
| ton would be gone into before the close OF
! the convention. Four out of the sixteen
! delegates would be delegates at large and
| two delegates from each congressional dis
trict in the State, making twelve-sixteen in
all-tOgether with sixteen alternates.
No objection being made, this plan OF
procedure was adopted.
Mr.. Tucker, Of St. Mary, understood that
the committees appointed by the conven.
tion yesterday were ready to hand in their
reports.
Mr.. Lewis. of Orleans, asked the chair
man 20 invite the committees to take seat
by him on the platform, which was done.
Mr. VOORHEES,, Of Orleans, chairman of the
committee on resOlutions-Mr. President,
the committee on resolutions have brought
in their report. The majority report is
tee and minority report is signed by one
member. l will now proceed to read the re-
port of the committee on resolutions:
WHEREAS. The usurpatiOn of the govern
ment of the State Of Louisiana, through the
perversion of functions Of the general gov.
ernment. is an evil which weighs heavily on
the people of this State, and while it is a
constant menace to the perpetuity of repre-
sentative institutions and the federal Con-
~pho l,,txy 10 Vtao tO I ho
several States republican form of govern
ment, can not ignore the present condition
of despotism and anarchy so detrimental to
the material interests Of Louisiana;
Whereas, The Wheeler adjustment had
no reference whatever to the elections of
November, 1872, nor did it even extend to
all the contested elections of November,
1874, but was expressly limited to the in-
vestigation of seventeen contested seats in
the House of Representatives and to two
contested seats in the Senate among the
new elected Senators; and
Whereas, The said adjustment never pre-
tended to ascertain or determine anything
beyond the status of these contested seats
of the General Assembly, and, inasmuch as
the powers of the Legislature are strictly
defined and limited by constitutional pro-
visions, and it was not competent for them
to submit to arbitrations the conflicting
claims of the rival State governments, and
as those who supported said adjustment
never intended or contemplated that, by
any possibility. said adjustment should en-
brace any question beyond that of the con-
tested seats in the Legislature; and
Whereas, the Radical party of Louisiana,
at whose prompting the said usurpation has
been forced upon this State, has devised the
most comprehensive system of measures,
through iniquitous election and registration
laws, arbitrary returning board with un-
limited prerogatives, and through frandu-
lent census returns, measures devised for
the purpose Of perpetuating the existence Of
this usurpation, with which it is thoroughly
identified; ard
Whereas. The said usurpa'ory government
has been never acknOw lodged by the people
of Louisiana: and it does not maintain its
precalious tenure Of power with their con-
sent or willing support;
Be it resolved by the Democratic CO1ser-
valve party of the State OF Louisiana in
convention assembled; l. That the memo
rial of the people of Louisiana, praying for
relief at the hands Of Congress, be again
presented for their consideration by our
Representatives in Congress.
2 That the primary test of membership
of the Democratic Conservative party of
Louisiana is an unrelenting opposition of
the usurpation, and, without regard TO past
political affiliations, all those who join in
the crusade against the usurpation are in
full fellowship in the party.
g. That We advocate the abolition of use
less Offices, more especially that of tax col
iectors, which offices should be RENTED to
the sheritts, and reduction of salaries, fees
and perauisites of Office, and a vigorous re-
trenchment in the expenses of the various
departments of the city and State goyern-
ments.
4. We advocate substantial reduction
of taxation, State and municipal, and, while
we are in favor of meeting punctuallv the
payment of the legitimate debt Of Louis
lana, we are immovably opposed to the re-
cognition OF the dishonest and fraudulent
obligations, issued in the name OF the State;
and we pledge ourselves to make search
ing investigation in the matter.
5. We advocate the reduction of the e1.
orbitsnt appropriations for public printing
and Metropolitan Police purposes, and de.
mand that the whole system of police and
public printing be remodeled.
6. We declare our hearty opposition to all
monopolies whatever.
7. We recognize and reaffrm the Dem
ocratic doctrine that gold and silver be the
legal currency, and favor q return to a
specie basis as soon as it can be done with
out injury to the material interests of the
country.
After the report was read, Mr.. Leonard,
of Caddo, who signed the minority report,
arose and said:
Mr.. chairman and gentlemen of the con-
vention, desire to present the following
protest against the resolution adopted by
this convention, and l ask, Mr.. Chairman,
that it be filed with the majority report.
lMr. Leonard's protest was not permitted
to get into the hands Of the reporters].
This request was received with silence.
Mr.. Dupre, of Orleans, moved that tie