The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1882-02-04
The Senate Reorganization, &c.
EDITORS oF THE COURIER


my letter on the subject of the reor-
gauzation of the Senate, was to set
before my constituents plain state
ment of the facts, not to excite discus
sion.
Some of your editorial remarks how
ever, require from me, an additional
comment, in the interest Of truth.
You charged in your first editorial,
that it seemed to you, Senator Robert
son had been treated unjustly and un-
fairly, and in reply to my letter, you
say that your opinion is ''not materi-
ally changed" Indeed, your last edit
orial is a more emphatic and deliberate
arraignment of myself, and my brother
senators who acted with me, than your
first.
You say, cit is understood land
generally admitted, we believe,) that ii
number of Senator Robertson's friends
were absent in the country, when the
caucus was determined upon"
This is very vague statement, upon
which to base so serious a charge. By
achom. was it understood and admitted
If vour statement is based upon rumor,
it is unworthy of consideration if how
ever, you got your information from
some authentic personal source, |
should be obliged to you, to procure
from that same source, and publish In
your Journal, the names of Senator
RObertson's democratic friends, who at
that juncture, were in the country.
Unless you name them, | shall hold
your statement to be unfounded, in
fact.
You say again,-"Supposs, for in
stance, of the l9 present, only 10. il,
or IL favored reorganization, and one,
two, three or more of Senator Robert
sons friends were absent; is it not
clear, that this minority could biud
the majority, present and absent. to
do thing, in open Senate, to which
they would never have consented, had
they been allowed an opportunity to
attend the caucus?"
A conclusive answer to your ques-
ton, lies in the fact, that there are 80
democratic members of the Senate !;
that these constituted the full demo
cratic caucus, and that eighteen of
these, (more than a maiority,) had
signed pledge to reorganize the Sen
ate. 1t was therefore, beyond the
power of the remaining democratic
Senators, had every one been per-
sonal follower of Senator Robertson
and not one absent in the country,
with any kind of previous notice what
ever, to have defeated the action in
caucus, as determined upon, by the l8
signers of the call.
The 10 Senators who composed the
session of the caucus that determined
to reorganize the Senate, were the same
that formed quorum of the Senate
| when it reassembled, all other Senators
having absented themselves.
Again yen say, you : thought Sena-
for Robertson's attitude towards the
Lottery was well known long ago, in
st. Landry, at least" prior to the time
he was elected President pro tenn. of
thssSsnate in 1880, and that You can
not therefore clearly see, why gentle
| men who voted for him then, should
vote against him now.'
| IF, Messrs. Editors, | had time, and
Eour space allowed, / could select from
1 the editorial matter of your paper, OF
date net very remote, most eloquent
aud lust denunciations of the Louisiana
Lottery Company; sentiments which
did you honor, and gratified your
| friends. But, my purpose is not to
/ arraigB qoatr. consistency, it is to keep
myself right in the estimation of my
| friends.
NV attitude towards the Lottery
Company is we'll known to my consti-
tuents, and TO members of the State
Senate. MY course towards it, has
been Que of uncompromising opposi-
| tion. and will continue to be so, as
| long as / held public position. I did
not conceive however, that. in voting
for Senator Robertson, when elected
| President pro tenn. of the Senate, / was
endorsing, or approving his relations
to the Lottery Company, which you
say, for long period past, have been
of public notoriety.
At the time Senator Robertson was
elected President pro tem there was nc
agitation of Il 3 Lottery question, and
nv obiectionste him on that score,
was willing to put by, in order to Sc
cure for my district, so important anG
influential a position, as that of presid
ing officer of the Senate.
/ A majority of the Senate, was on
posed to the Lottery Company, ant
could protect itself against its presid
/ ing officer, by a reorganization at am
time, as was actually done, when Sena
tor Robertson gave them occasion t.
do so.
4 wish finally to say, that the caucu
that determined upon reorganization
did not do so, because of the diseorer
of Senator Robertson's relations to tn,
Lottery Company; nor do | doubt you
correctness in saying, that they wer
well known. The remark of Senate
Robertson, as reported to the caucus
was considered disrespeetful to bot
the Senate and the House, though i
was incumbent upon the Senate, NOR
!, especially to notice it, as he was
member Of that body. Il would in an.
case, be an offunse TO the dignity Q
the Legislature, and trespass apo
it's prerogatives, were the Governor 9
the State to declare in advance, tha
, should the Legislature pass an act OF
given character, lie would compel ther
to pass il again, over his veto. Sue
declarations, coming from ore, whoI
accident might make the Chief Execn
tive OF the State, are if possible, sti
more improper.
L think, Messrs. Editors, that thi
sentiment animated the caucus of sens
tors.
In conclusion, must call yonr attes
/ tion to some expressions in your art