The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1879-05-03
Gov. Wiltz's Address.
IN. o. Democrat, April %. I


ment to his able and accomplished
competitors, Judge Lyons and
Judge Richardson, probably the
very best that could have been
made. 1t is the judgement of the
Oldest and best parllamentarians
of the State that Gov. Witt is the
equal of any man i'll the State as q
presiding officer over dellberative
assemblies, if he is not without a
rival For the duties of such a
position he is eminently and sim
gularily qualified. OF digni6ed
and imposing presence for SO
young a man, with a firmness of
will and rapidity of perception
and judgement that are most unu-
sual, adroit, courteous, with the
tact of woman, and accurate as
well as profound III his knowledge
! of parliamentary custom and law,
We feel assured that his direc-
ton of the counsels of the conven-
tion will prove most satisfactory to
each and every element that finds
representation III that body.
Perhaps Gov. Wilt owed his
election to this responsible and
most honorable position as much.
to his well known ability in these
respects as to any other cause, and,
in this connection we desire to
call special attention to that por-
ton of his speech of acceptance
wherein he alludes to the particu-
lar dulles he has been called upon
to discharge. With the terseness
of an epigram he destribes the
rules of decorum common to all
dehberative bodies" which he is
called upon to enforce, as merely
the rules of good breeding as
adopted to the exigencies of such
bodies, spontaneously practiced
at all times, and by an instinct
common to all who combine good
will with intelligence"
This most admirable and con-
else statement embodies the true
spirit of parliamentary courtesy,
and, therefore, of parliamentary
law. But, beyond this mere mat
ter of good breeding, there is a
practical and useful purpose in the
rules Of debate which Gov. Wiltz
takes special occasion to impress
in his address. He does this in
advising and urging "a strict ad-
hereuce to tie established order of
business. As the speaker truly
SAID, those who have had expert
ence in Legislative bodies are well
aware Of the enormous waste of
time that results from habltual dis
regard of the rules of debate, the
maxims of parliamentary law and
the customary order in which bust
ness should be considered" One
has but to attend the sessions of
a single legislature in order to be-
come convinced of the truth and
wisdom of this advice. 1t was by
insisting upon this rule and by
voting against every proposition
to suspend the rules, that Gov.
Witt was enabled, as presiding
officer of the Senate, to keep the
calendar of that body always clear,
ard it was by doing this, as much
by his justice and impartiality, that
he won his great reputation as
par)iamentarian. For these reas-
ons we believe that the convention
has elected the most efficient, and,
therefore, the best man it could
have found to preside over its de-
hberations.
It is not in this respect alone,
however, that Gov. Wiltz's address
is to be commended. In all that
he says there is evinced the broad
grasp of the statesman as well as
the adroitness of the tactician or
the technical accuracy of the mere
polemic. The solemn response
bilities that have been imposed
upon himself and his associates do
not impress him lightly. There is
an intelligent purpose and a manly
and conscientious sense of duty IN
every word that he has uttered.
Without being, or pretending to be
a great constitutional lawyer or
expounder, he evinces largesand
enlightened appreciation ofthe
purposes this convention is called
upon to carry ont, as well MS of
the great and enduring principles
which should control its action.
These purposes and principles are
admirably presented in his address,