The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-03-16
THE PEOPLE AND THEIR REPRE-.
SENrATIVES,

Editor DeUlOcrGt-I read with much
interest the remarks made yesterday
by Hon. J. B. McGehee, from the text
OF editorials In your paper on the sub
ject Of the delay in the United States
Senatorial election.
"that the General Assembly was elect
ed on account of two qualifications, in
telligenee and independence" the hon.
orable gentleman should remember
that the people who elected them as
representatives of their interests did
not yield their opinions or convictions
as to what their interests were or as to
what constitute intelligence and inde-
pendence, and the expression OF their
opinion by the people, either through
the press or in any other public manner,
should not be stigmatized as clamor by
one whose sole office is as q representa-
tive Of the people.
The people may be, and very proba-
bly, are, altogether in the dark as to
what Is their true interests In the mat
ter Of enjoying their right OF self-goy-
ernment, and as to what intelligence
and independence on the part of their
representatives demand in this crisis.
But whose fault Gf there is any faulty is
1t that the people are la the dark?
They have no information on the SUBJ
jeet matter but that which comes to
them through the press, either over the
wires from Washington, or In the daily
record OF the proceedings OF the Gener-
al Assembly.
The people know that on the 7th day
Of November last they elected their
government; that on the 9Th Of Janu-
ary they inaugurated their Governor,
and on the 9th, when their government
was interfered with by band Of usurp-
erg, they showed their power by Install
ing the officials OF their choice. They did
this in their own style, very promptly.
and without consulting Washington
physicians as to when or how 1t should
be done. The result Of this action by
the people has been that Mr.. McGehee,
and his brother members of the General
Assembly, have been ever since left un-
disturbed by Packard's crowd to dis
charge their functions as members of
the General Assembly.
The people know, also, that Louisiana
is entitled t0tWo members of the United
States Senate, and that the only proper
recognition which Louisiana can receive
from the Federal government is by the
seating OF said two members of the
Federal Senate. Tt seems to the people
that the very first duty Of their assem-
bly, was to elect these Senator'S. But it
has not been done, though the whole
regular session and nearly all Of the
extra session of the assembly has passed
by.
Why has nothing been done?
The only reasons the people have for
this do-nothing policy are those they
gather from the public press and the
utterances Of their representatives.
What are they?
Nothing beyond the advice OF place
hunting politicians from this State,
here and In Washington, and Of Sena-
tors and other Intermediates in our
affairs, from other States-some ad-
vising don't do it: others, do it by
electlng me; others, again, send Re-
publican Imported OF home -made), and
near all Of them uniting In advising,
when they elect, to elect somebody
who don represent louisiana.
Beyond this the people have no in
formation; and in view OF all this, how
does the honorable gentleman think it
tallies with the idea Of intelligent and
Independent action on the part Of the
representatives of the people?
Ii the people are in the dark, let them
be enlightened, and don't get angry
with them for the expression Of their
common.sen5e conclusions under the
light they have.
Respectfully, FRITZ.
Tomorrow Ii. l.. Byrne & Co. offsr remnants
Of ali classes of dry goods at ffsy cents on the
dollar.
DOUBLE DAILY.-On and after Sunday next,
the 9Th inst, the Jackson Road will have two
passenger trains daily, running to and from the
e9tv his fnF al