St. Landry democrat., 1882-01-28

Before recess was taken however,
senator Luckett, requested the Presl-
dent to announce, that caucus OF the
Democratic members would take place,
during the recess, and re-
uuesting all members to be present. :,
Senator Robertson was present I'D the
Senate when this announcement was
made. just before l entered the eau
caus room, he said to me: . under
reorganization of the Senate" l SAID
"ves." and asked him if he was not go,
ing into the caucus. He said, he would |
not as it's action concerned him pei
sonallv, Senator Robertson had him,
self, seen the call with my name signed
to it, on that morning, previous to tne
meeting OF the Senate. Senator LucketI
had shown it to him and suggested the
Dropriety of his resigning, to when ne
repiied, that he desired to consult ms
friends, and asked possession OF the
document for that purpose. LII was az
cordingly given him. .,o
The caucus met, Senator Robertson
absenting himself. AS soon as the eau
Gus was called to order, and the eau
for the meeting read by Senator Luckett'
the President, the question was raised
What necessity was there, for reor-
| oanization? Senator Lucas thereupon
Stated. that Senator Robertson had
openly declared, that, should he become
Governor, the Legislature should not,
during his administration, pass any act
affecting the Louisiana State Lottery
Company, except by two thirds vote
| lover his vetO). | then stated that
these were grave charges, made IN the
absence of my colleague, and l desired
to know if they could be substantlatnea.
Senator Lucas gave the name OF Mr..
Albert Gibson, as authority for the
statement, and again repeated IL IN
positive terms. Several OF Senator
Robertson's personal friends, who SUD-
sequently withdrew from the caucus,
were present when the charge was
made, and did not deny its truthful
Senators Mutt and Cunningham ex-
pressed surprise, that any member
should be in doubt as to what course
Senator Robertson would pursue TO-
, wards the Lottery Company, were he
!. the Governor of the State.
, This statement coming from such an
authoritative source, caused me &c
{ change my purpose, to vote Tor senator
Robertson had he been candidate FOL
reelection. As matter OF fact how
ever, no name was put in nomlnatlon
? except that Of Senator Walton, and ~
> was selected without opposition by TN
2 caucus, as President pro tenn OF TN
Senate, to which office ne was electet
: upon the reassembling the Senate.
!, After the adjournment OF the caucu
and previous to the assembling Of tn
2 Senate. called at Senator Robertson
2 room. to inform him of the action o
the caucus, but he was not in. Seeing
@ him however, before the meeting OF tn
q Senate. / informed him OF what bat
9 been done, and earnestly advised him
d to resign, to prevent being ousted
t stating at the same time, the charge
q brought against him, and declaring M
O intention to vote against him. He oil
: not DENY the statement OF Senator Lu
,. cas-. bnt remarked angrily-"It was
: ld-n dirty trick, any how, to repor
n a dinner conversation" In answer t
n nv suggestion to him to resign, he sal
V he would not do it-"The Governo
! does not want me to, and L intend
Il fight it," ~ g.
it going statement OF facts and date
i that Senator Robertson, on the morn
ing of the day upon which the caucu
, was held, knew OF it and OF Its pul
9, pose. He did not complain to me, tia
)e 1t was TO Do uclu W lououo uuO AooiS
II nor that any unfair advantage Wa
= sought to be taken of him by the ca
t. of the caucus at that time, nor 90
e. know of any purpose to deal unfalrl
re by him, on that occasion. :.
There was no coup detat, OF surprlt
Of intended, or executed, SO far as know
t. It has been said, that rule had pee
ra adopted, to give "a hours notice OF
b. cancus meeting. [ think l attende
a. every session of the caucus, held durlr
es the two extra sessions, and Knew
Of no such rule. Senator Luckett, Il
IN president of the caucus during 90
m sessions, has stated that he knew OF
be such rule. If there had been such
Id rule, the special call for caucus, sign
ly by a majority of the members OF
%, would for that occasion, have put t
1g rule in allegiance:
%, Of what force however, is this obje
to ton, if it were true, since there we
ed in attendance at the caucus, nlnete
IT. Senators, who constituted, not only
n, majority of the Democratic Senate
le, but an actual majority Of the Senate atsel
a I regret, Mr.. Editor, to take up
ir. much of your valuable space, but
dis felt it due to myself and to the peoE
", Of my district, to give plain and ca
te, did statement of my conduct IN come
IT. tion with this matter, to correct {
to erroneous impression which your e.