The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-04-06
ThE LEGISLATURE.

THE LEGiSLATURE.
We published on Wednesday morning
nm ANALYSIS or the Legislature, showing
its political complexion according to
the true returns OF the votes actually
cast In November last, and the present
composition of the legal Legislature OF
the State, sitting at Odd Fellows Hall.
We gave also as an illustration OF the
ingenuity with which the scoundrels
composing the Returning Board falsify
the results of our elections, the consti-
tuition of what many people have fallen
into the habit Of calling the Return
ing Board Legislature" though, to our
mind, the use of that term, except by
way Of pleasantly, Is sufficient to JUS
tify Q Launching OF writ de
ltnatico inqutrendo against the per-
son using it. We might as well
speak of "Cotton Exchange
Legislature, or Penitentiary Legis-
lature." as of a Returning Board Leg
islature," since that body has no more
jurisdiction in the matter Of counting
the votes for members OF the Legislature
than have the two former institutions,
and much less control over Legislators
than the latter of these two ought to
have over some OF those in hiding at the
st. Louis Hotel. It Is most remarkable
and notifying to find men who are pre-
sumed to have some intelligence, since
they occupy public positions, advertis-
ing and proclaiming their dense ignor-
ance of the real nature and constitu-
tional bowers and prerogatives OF legis-
lative bodies, under every representa-
tive form Of government, by employing
language which implies the admission by
them that board OF oanvassing officers,
the mere creature Of the Legislature,
can usurp the functions Of Its creator
and control for all time to come the
legislation OF the State. Ii these peo-
pie, instead Of venting their ignorance,
would take the trouble to turn to their
own written constitution. they would
And that each house Of the Legislature
Ii the sole and exclusive judge Of the
election of its members and that no.
body else has anything to do with the
,natter. This point being settled in their
minds. they might, probably. without
much trouble, be made to understand
that Legislature composed Of q ma
iority OF the persons elected to both
branches thereof Is as good and legal a
Legislature as 1t il possible to create in q
State since such body cannot, under the
constitution OF any country where the
form and substance Of republican and
representative government prevail, del
egate to any board OF canvassing officers
It's constitutional duty and power to de-
termine and control its own organiza-
ton. Then, perhaps, we should hear
no more silly and idiotic talk about
Returning Board Legislatures "a
term invented to confuse the public
mind by cunning carpet-baggers. who
laugh in their sleeves at the simplicity
OF those whom, by persistently harping
upon 1t, they have bullied into using
and adopting 1t as the equivalent Of the
legal Legislature Of the State. It Ia, as
we said before, really notifying to find
free citizens of Louisiana accommo-
dating their Interpretation of the con-
stitution, the bulwark Of their own lib
critics. to the demands Of a band Of ras-
cally adventures. who care no more
for the constitution than they do for the
decalogue. But enough OF that.
The analysis we publishedon Wednes-
day shows that the Legislature sit
ting at Odd Fellows Hall Is composed
OF twenty-three Senator'S. without in
GLIDING Senator Allan. who took his
seat Wednesday afternoon. and seven
ty-six Representatives-all elected on
the face Of the returns or seated after a
contest. OF these. four Senators and
nine Representatives are Republicans.
Thus 1t Is clearly seen that this Legis-
lature, SO far from being in need OF
reorganization, is already as legal and
perfect as it can be made. and that the
only strength which could be added to
It Is that of numbers. To obtain such
strength no reorganization Is neces-
sary. All that is required is that
the absent members appear and take
their seats. Why. then. should there
be any talk about reorganizing the
Legislature, with all the enormous
confusion and expense which such an
undertaking would entail, when the
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