New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1877-01-14

cult no quorum, SenAVoE AS"0hJ H"NA~S
been called away by domestic afiiotion'
Messrs. Breaux, Demss, Hamlet and
Wheeler having sought refuge in Odd Eel
loWs' Hall, and Mr.. Weber's absence being
unaccOunted for.
House Of Representatives.
Mr.. De Lacy said the representation that
he had been offered $4,000 to sell out was
incorrect. He had said it was reported So
Mr.. Leonard offered resolution ratify'
ing the contract of Governor Kellogg with
I. C. Cone, Of Washington, relative to land
claims.
Bills relative to the parochial affairs of
st. John and st. James, the appropriation
for the registration, to the exemption of st.
Patrick's Hall from taxation, were referred
to committees.
Mr.. Drury, of the Committee on Elections
and Qualifications, reported favorably on
the resolution of Mr.. Gracien relative to the
expulsion of Messrs. Kennedy and Barrett.
Mr.. Gracien spoke foreibly on the adop-
| tion of the report. He was actuated by no
prejudice toward any one, but he thought
the time had come to make the test. These
gentlemen had appeared in the Legislature,
and were considered Republicans. They
had now joined the Democrats, who were
endeavoriug to destroy the government.
Mr.. Davidson considered the resolution
should not pass, as not being comprehensive
enough; he thought if any were expelled
/ the resolution should include all who we're
elected and not in their seats.
Messrs Carville and Stewart entertained
/ similar views.
After may dilatOry motions and roll call
ings the report was adopted, and the resO-
luton got before the House on q call for the
previous question by Mr.. Drury. Two
names we're called, when Mr.. Warmoth OBJ
jected that he would have no opportunity
to make his speech. With the consent of
the House Mr.. Drury withdrew his motion
for Mr.. Warmoth's benefit. Mr.. MCMillen
said he wanted to speak, too, and others did
speak, which finally mixed members so
that it required ruling of the chair, read
ing Of the journal and Tong explanations to
get question voted on.
Mr. WarmOth said the resolution in itself
was an improper one; that it should not
read to declare the seats vacant, but to
exptll the members. The exceptional cir
cumstsnces of the times should be borne
in mind. We see here nearly half of the
members of the House absent, and it is a
, grave question why they are absent. We
see here two governments, one presided over
by Mr.. Packard, returned as elected, and
{ the other by Mr.. Nichols, claiming to be
, elected. We see the entire Representatives
of the Democratic party assembling in
. another hall. We see the courthouse in
their possession, the streets in the hands OF
{ their police, and every part of the govern
, ment in their hands save this Assembly
We have seen their forces in arms, and the
army of this government surrender to them
without firing q gun. There has been a
surrender of every position outside of the
State House. We see the question honestly
dividing the people. Men on this floor lOOh
: in each others faces and aslC what is theil
duty; is there not some way to adjust
this question-some one who can pOint
out the way to a solutions ap
prehepd it is not by such means al
this resolution, not by declaring seats va
cant. 1t requires more statesmanship thar
that We find there are forty-four members
absent. Why did not the committee OF
elections report their seats vacantY II thil
House is in earnest why not put thil
thrOugh-gO to the bOttoml This is no tim'
+. for sticking plaster, if you wish to 60 to th'
root of the matter. If the House chooses
to exercise its will, then declare all vacant
believe there is solution; that If th'
: Democrats and Republicans came togethe
they could find some ground of settlemen
that would be satisfactory and would b.
. enough to give peace and order, with gov
ernment of sufficient moral and physiCa
3 strength to maintain itself. We now SCI
, that the government has not sufficient pysi
cal strength to maintain any position thi
: House may take. Therefore 1 hope tn
resolution will not pass. Now, we are wait
ing and have been waiting and waiting 70
recognition from Washington.
h We have been told that Grant passe'
r sleepless nights thinking of Louisiana, tina
Il Louisiana was dearer to him than any othe
= State, that we had but to resolve to toucl
"a the wires and he would respond. The wire
have been touched and there is no res
4 ponse. There is no dispatch like that 0
It 1872 from the Attorney General that Pinch
II back was the only recognized head of tn
Q State; none like that of 1874 which reir
+ stated the overthrown government. l al
sorry to have to say that outside of thi
building the government has no power t
assert itself unless aid comes from Wash
; ingtOn, from whence all blessings come; bu
= II is not to be remedied by such small bus
= ness 81 this resolution.
iMr. Leonard In the chair
Speaker Hahn said there was ons poin
! made by the gentleman from Plaquemine
4 tMr. WarmOthl that was good one. Their
was Q technical defect in the resolution b
declaring the seats vacant. There ere tw
ways to cause vacancies. One where ther
9 is no election, or the House has doubt 0
. it, and then it declares the Vacancy. Blu
Il the putting Of . member ont requires th'
- expression to expel him. II thsre had beel
. = contest, and the House had doubts, the
y the resolution would be correct. But tn
House Is not now seting on question Q
election, but question OF conduct. lCor
stitution, articles thirty-thres and thirty
; fve.l The Offense Is having violated thei
oaths and Joined an illegal and revolution