St. Landry democrat., 1882-01-28
senator Fontenot's Reply.

IGtSs |
Senator FOntenot's Reply.
Senator Fontenot has a reply IN TINS
weeks Courier, to an editorial which
appeared in that paper two weeks ago.
and which was copied in this paper Las.
week. The following is q copy OF
Senator Fontenot's article:
In your issue of the 18th inst. ap.s
pears an editorial upon the euo]ecI OF
the removal of Senator Robertson, srvM
the Office of President pro; ten. OF !ne
Senate, in which you use the following
language: 80 +ha .o,,n |
Fetat which displaced Senator Robert
son as nresident pro tenn OF the Senate
in the recent special term OF the Legs.
latnre. the more are we convinced oi
It's seeming unfairness and injustice.
NJ fanlt was found in Senator Robert
son al a presiding officer, and no char
ses were uttered against his party 1ealty
when the caucus of nineteen senators
announced their intention OF olspiaclns
him." .;,s+ n;ne-
teen democratic Senators OF tne oCa1o'
not only of injustice and nnIa If has; w.
derived him Of his Office, by practlclng
q deception upon him.. g .Lso
The Character and standing OF these
Senators should, l think you Will agree
Nth me. exempt them from such grave
charges. unless they be substantlatea
ho indispntable evidence. l DO not
Inow whether any of these gentlemen
axcant myself. will feel called upon to
notice vour editorial. ! owe 1t to my
elf and to my constituents, to 90 So
having been one Of the eighteen Sena-
tors that approved of the reoTganizatlo!n -
and that voted for Senator Walton, IA
omen session of the Senate especiaily
in view of the fact that the " w asIlng
TON Argus" has copied your eaito q 20
with remarks OF approval, anu iHJ p =
~ ;ta columns. although without COM
ment. h.os m re.
vain unanswered, and by my silence,
acnn;esce in their business, l would be
ha9S more censurable than the other
Senators with whom have acted, pc
canse of the fact that Senator ROBERT
con ia INV colleague, and entitled to re-
ceiye from me, most particularly square
The following is brief statement {! Of
this matter, and my connection We'll u.
The Legislature assembled III eA zth
session, on Monday December ene e osn'
V ". '1 Rohertson near the st. Charles
Hotel when he preached the subject OF
reorganization, asking my opinion
abnnr Il. In substance, | stated to MN
that in nv belief, the Senate had the
mnanestionable right to reorganlze, an0
e made question, / would certainly
favar # telling him at the same time
+Lat vet saw no reason for removing
h;m and I should vote to retain MIN
Unless charges sufficiently grave e
shange nv opinion should be preferred
and spbstantiated against MIN. l !ur'
rher stated to him on that occasion
that it was matter OF prlGe 70 Me :.
that a Senator from my dlstrlct nelu
nosition 80 near the gubernatoIlal cnai al
haIa On the morning Of the next day
neu to the meeting of the Senate
and in that caucus, a motion TO reof
@anize was defeated by a vote OF II q
n nv vote being in favor OF the mo
4;nr and Senator Robertson Deln.
,arasent. voted in the negative, thus de
$eating it. At this time, severai 9emo
cratic Senskors had not yet arrived, AM
|, eanaennentay took no part in the caucus
IEnow of no arrangements or nnoef
Standing among the Senators VINO "a
Torad the reorganizatiOn, that the mat
Tar was to be dropped then ana inert
certainly, was no party TO any sue
arrangements u;or - 4ba al
;onrnment of the first extra, session,
Jnnar Was handed to me by senate
Narston, with request tnat ! s snure
son II. should it meet with my apPIo
val It was request to the presiuin
nfiieer Of the caucus, to call Ineei,n
and nled ICED the signers to reorsani1a
aJ Ra;nr Of opinion that the PresideI
.,so ter, of the Senate was not q cor
stitutional officer, as ne wa was + I., N
fn he. by many persons, ana !. tl, annt ~
Sanate had full authority 10 con.a,
th;s as a matter relating exeIusnsbS l
~ Il own organization ! as mGm vi
~ the Senate, thought that oody snou,
OF tn6 ; S question at rest, by q pr0ml
ppwarc;se nf its legitimate antnoflty.
was actuated BY thus pfi .,tapS to civ
an5 ala not at that time, lntena 10 s''
c,v vote against Senator 1oDerisDn' an
IN the last day OF SAID SESSION. a! 81 II
sasse i took recess until Z o'clock =