New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1877-01-05
RIGHTS b. A pBLTBERATTYE BODY.

stand upon the lawful vote reported by
the lawful authorities. The Democratic
doctrine, therefore, makes every csndi-
date his own returning board. These
candidates would count themselves in by
denying the power and provisions of law.
They say: Resolved, that we are elected"
and organize for forcible occupation of
the government They propose to do so
by notification of the law. We ask any
impartial reasoner if the Returning Board
is not lawful body? 1t bears every
formal impress of enactment and promul-
cation. We may even add that under this
law the Democracy claims to have elected
a Governor in 1872. If this, then, be
lawful necessity of regular election,
how can any body of men claim that the
certificate specified by law as indispensa-
BILE to official or representative authority,
is unnecessary, and therefore void? The
Democracy has assumed that every mem
Der of that party is honest. They charge
that every Republican in public station
is dishonest. From this broad statement
it is inferred that the honest party is en-
titled to disregard the forms of law, and
that the dishonest party should be driven
from Office by physical force. Were this
proposition as true as it is false upon
| its face, still all citizens are bouud
by the law, whether administered by
incumbents that we approve or dis
| approve, All citizens outstanding and
in opposition to the laws are in technical
instruction against the laws. Such will
be, we are assured, the views of the people
| of the United States in respect to the
Democratic claim that the candidates for
Office constitute the true government of
the State, which the incumbents in Office
formally certified under the law, are in
truders who ought to be evicted by force.
With the open declaration of the De-
mocracy of purpose to resist the forms
of law, the Republican government and
Legislature have been notified that their
rights and even their lives are in danger
More than this, the life of the State is in
peril of anarchy or even of suppression
by military occupation of the Federal
government. This government, therefore,
surround the State House with barriers
against assault 1t provides military force
against the intention, the threats and the
demonstrated practice of the Democracy.
1t admits into this hall, 80 garrisoned,
every member of the government certified
according to lawful forms. Can there be
any doubt of the authority of this gov
eminent to SO protect itself?
Every deliberative body has the right
to an undisturbed consideration of the
subjects committed to it. The Federal
Congress may determine the rules OF its
proceedings; punish its members for dis.
orderly behavior, and, with the concur
renee of two-thirds, expel a member
These general powers have been devel
oped in the authority exercised over per
sons not members, who may be cited
} before Congress, held in contumacy, and
imprisoned. The constitution Of Louis
Jana goes even beyond this. 1t says tina
each house may determine the rules of its
proceedings. 1t ''may punish by impris
onment any person not member, fo
disrespect and disorderly behavior in it
presence, or for obstructing any OF it
proceedings. +"
We would like to know where the Fed
, eral Congress derives its powers to i'm
J prison citizens for contempt of its pro
cess, and can even cite before its commit
tees the lawful officers of State?
We should be especially pleased to lear
how the two houses Of Congress can g
, into separate and secret session, can orde
: all persons not members to withdraw fror
I the body of the House, and direct tn
sergeant-at-arms to clear and close tn
: lobbies and the galleries2 The constitu
ton says, s'The President of the Senat
shall, in presence of the Senate and Hous
of Representatives, open all the certif
? Gates of the presidential electors" Doe
any one say that these houses or either Q
them has no power to exclude the publ
! from witnessing the performance of thi
responsible dutys To claim that o Legs
lature has no right TO protect the pfivac
of its own proceedings, is to claim for
: less than the right Of any club, which ca
demand the protection of the law fror
" any intrusion. There have been som
: high examples of this deliberative author
: ity. We pass over the session of the RI
= man Senate, in which the barbarous il
vaders pulled the boards and damage
the persons of the members, as of the il
= ruptions of the revolutionary mob an
Z fish women of Paris who invaded the hR
i. Of the Convention, demanded blood {
r bread, OF both. We cite the example
a the American convention which, in ITS
o. held session so exclusive that the natul
of the constitution reported by them WI
. not known until its PRONUNCIATION. The
A examples thus quoted prove the power
q the Legislature Of Louisiana to hold i
h sessions in secret, and to fortify the plat
3 Of session if the building be deemed
a. danger of destruction by fire, or if Il
% members considered their lives or Il
performance of their duties in peril fro
10 the enemies Of both. In addition to q