The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-04-13
THE yACILLlTTON OF THE SENATE.

TINE vACILLkTTON OF THE SENATE.
| On the fifteenth Of March the Senate
adopted, by q unanimous vote, resolu.
ton introduced by Gen. Goode declar'
ing yaoant the seats OF those Senators
| who had persistently refused to occupy
them. This was a popular and proper
resolution. The Senators thus virtually
expelled had not only failed to occupy
their seats and discharge the duties
they were elected to perform, but they
had also joined In conspiracy to sub
vert the legitimate government OF the
State and to disturb the public peace.
Indeed, instead OF performing the
duties OF public officials or servants OF
the people they became the enemies OF
the State. The resolution Of the Senate
therefore declaring their seats vacant
was very proper resolution and 1t
should have been adhered to. But un-
fortunately 1t has not been adhered to.
In the proceedings Of the Senate OF
Wednesday we find the following pre-
amble and resolution, which is retrac-
ton OF the resolution OF March the 18th |:
Whereas, ID IL important, on account OF the
material interests OF Louisiana, that the present
unnecessary political complications be pro pity
adjusted, and IL Is desirable to aid the President
Ia his expressed wish TO restore peace and har-
mony throughout the country; therefore, be II
elected members OF this House, who have here
| tofore abstained from answering roll call, to at
once occupy their seats on the floor OF this
House, and thereby fscii ate the prompt ISOLATION
aSSA
Element Of the present disturbed condition Of
affairs"
Thus we find the Senate on the 18th
Of March expelling the members Of It's
body who had for days and weeks failed
to perform their duties, and on the 18th
OF April, less than month subse-
quently. we find that body cordially, in
the interest Of the State, inviting these
conspirators, perjurers and disturbers
OF the peace to occupy their seats In the
Senate.
We venture to suggest that such vacil-
lating conduct as this will not command
the appreciation and confidence Of the
public, nor impress the President and
the country with sense of our earnest
ness and sincerity. II the Senators
who are leagued with the arch enemy
Of this people, s. B. Packard, deserved
to be expelled from the legal Senate on
the fifteenth Of March, will some one Of
the Senators who voted Wednesday for
the resolution cordially inviting them
to assume their seats in the legal Legisla-
ture inform the public what they have
done since the 18th OF March to win the
confidence Of the people or to deserve
his singular and remarkable manifesto
ton OF respect on the part OF the Senate
OF Louisiana?
It strikes us that we are having just a
little too much Of this sort OF policy.
The Senate and House OF Representa-
tives both are composed Of quorum OF
members elected by the people at the
ballot-box, and q quorum in both
houses Is sufficient for all legislative
purposes. The members Of the Senate
and House who have allied themselves
with Packard's insurrectionary move
ment are. without exception, men Of
bad character; corruptionists OF the
most incorrigible class; they have
proved themselves enemies of the pub
lie good, and the public good can best
be served by both houses promptly
declaring their seats vacant and refus-
ing them now, under any circumstances,
admission as members OF the Legisla-
ture. This is what the people demand
the Legislature shall do, and in behalf
OF the people we call upon both
houses to promptly declare the seats of
the senators and representatives sup
porting Packard vacant.
The preamble and the resolution Of
the Senate are entirely homogeneous.
We cordially concur in the preamble,
wherein 1t is stated that the material
interests of Louisiana require that the
present political complications be
promptly adjusted. But we are unable,
for the life OF us, to see how the mate
rial interests Of the State are to be adj
vanced by a settlement Of our political
complications through the invitation to
q gang Of public conspirators to assume
seats In the Legislature from which
they were a few days previously, justly
and ANONYMOUSLY expelled.