The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-03-14

upon this State, and no concessions we
can make will prompt them To cast q
single vote OF utter d single word calcu-
lated In the slightest degree to recognize
any other authority here than that OF
Packard. Upon the other hand, those
who desire the restoration Of peace and
prosperity In this State and the re-
establishment here Of law and Justice,
Democrats and Republicans, will vote
for the Senator elected by the Legisla-
ture Of the State and holding the certitl-
cate Of Gov. Nichols.
rp The DISPATCHES which ara sent hero
from Washington, advising the election
of man acceptable to the Hepubli.
cans. or. affirming that this or that in
dividual alone can obtain the seat, the
Legislature should give no more heed
than to the passing wind. Our dis
patches show that the parties sending
these dispatches are Of different epin-
ions on these points themselves; and
that. consequently. they cannot have
derived their views from authoritative
sources. The Legislature, therefore,
should act AZ all other Legislatures act.
It should fulfill Its duty, and fulnll 1t In
manner and spirit TO show 1t is the
Legislature of the State.
Has II never occurred to our repre-
sentatives here, that In hesitating to go
forward with government functions we
are embarrassing the PRESIDENT II we
fall or hesitate to exercise those fune-
tions, we cast doubt upon our own
authority, and give our enemies d plau-
sible pretext to question and dispute 1t.
IF we confess to the whole country that
we entertain 30 contemplate an opinion
Of our title that we are eager to
strengthen 1t by surrendering one OF
the highest and most important rights
OF government-the free choice Of q
Senator=for recognition In Washington,
we degrade the dignity Of Louisiana
and weaken instead Of strengthening
the claims OF our government.
We do not assume that the Senator
we may elect will be seated at this SEES
sion of the Senate. Indeed, we think |
IL is extremely probable that he will
not be seated. But we do assume that
his chances of obtaining recognition |
will not be impaired by rightful and in
dependent action on the part Of the |
Legislature In electing him. The Sem
ate has indeed fallen since high and |
honorable men filled its places az
the eagle and the stofk ~
On cliffs and cedar tops their eyries build, |
Il man whose politics and fame have |
been those Of robber, and whose
claims are based on concessions extorted |
from an enslaved people, stands better
chance Of admission there than gentle.
man and statesman, identified with the
of his State, representing his
people politically and socially, and se-
lected as the free choice Of legislature.
The people In every part Of the State
desire that their government shall 60
straightforward to the discharge of all
Its governmental functions. They are
waiting anxiously for the Legislature to
act In this matter. They are disheart-
sned by that policy which Is 80 vaoil-
ating that its purpose has been changed
three times In as many days. We think
The Legislature should proceed without
'urther delay to the election Of Sen
stor, and that a man of pronounced
riews and high character should be
elected, vaeillation Ia policy which
slways ends In disaster. No battle
vas ever won by It; no cause was
'ver saved or served by it. The
Nichols government Is the government
Il this State: we have affirmed 1t and
declared ourpurpose to fght for 1t. Will
he Legislature Of the government for
which the people are willing to pour out
heir blood discuss the policy Of con-
ession. or talk Of bartering away Its
enatorial honors The people who :
made the Fourteenth of September and
he Ninth Of January cannot darken 0
he luster Of those days by creating one
tanned by an abandonment OF duty.