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ASSEMBLED AT LIBERTY HALL, NEW ORLEANS, APRIL 6, 1864.

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DEBATES

IN THE

STATE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION

FOR THE

REVISION AND AMENDMENT OF THE CONSTITUTION
OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA.

WEDNESDAY, April 6th, 1864. This day being fixed by the General Order of Maj. Gen. Nathaniel P. Banks, commanding the United States forces in the Department of the Gulf, by virtue of the authority invested in him by the president of the United States, and also agreeably with the proclamation of his excellency Michael Hahn, governor of the State of Louisiana, ordering this Convention to assemble for the purpose of revising and amending the constitution of the State, the delegates from the several Representative Districts met in Liberty Hall, which had been prepared for their reception, in the Executive Building, New Orleans, at the hour of 12 o'clock м. The Hall was filled with delegates, and the lobbies and galleries overflowing with spectators.

Col. T. B. Thorpe, of Orleans, took the stand and said:

"I have been requested to call this Convention to order."

MR. TERRY, of Orleans--I nominate Alfred Shaw, Esq., as temporary president of the Convention.

Mr. Thorpe put the nomination to the House, and Mr. Shaw was declared unanimously chosen as temporary president, and took his seat.

Mr. Fish, of Orleans, then nominated Alfred C. Hills as secretary pro tem., and he was unanimously elected, and took his seat.

On motion of Mr. Montamat, the proceedings were opened with prayer by the Rev. Dr. Newman, of the Methodist Church.

A communication from the secretary of state, enclosed the general order of Major General Nathaniel P. Banks, under which the election for delegates was held, as well as the proclamation of his excellency Michael Hahn, governor of the State of Louisiana, which were ordered to be read.

Also, the returns from the various districts and parishes in this city and State, of the eléction held for delegates.

A motion was made that the roll be called

to ascertain the number of members present. The secretary read the names and the following gentlemen were present:

Joseph Gorlinski, John Stumpf, R. B. Bell, J. B. Schroeder, Geo. F. Brott, E. Murphy, W. T. Stocker, Terrance Cook, Alfred C. Hills, Joseph H. Wilson, T. B. Thorpe, John Henderson, Jr., J. J. Healy, J. H. Stiner, Geo. A. Fosdick, M. W. Murphy, W. H. Hire, P. K. O'Conner, Jno. W. Thomas, Jno. Foley, James Fuller, George Howes, John Sullivan, H. W. Waters, J. R. Terry, P. HarR. King Cutler, Louis Gastinel, Judge E. H. nan. O. W. Austin, Alfred Shaw, E. J. Wenck, Durell, Edmund Abell, J. B. Montamat, John Buckley, Jr., A. Mendiverri, Xavier Maurer, J. V. Bofill, Dr. M. F. Bonzano, F. M. Crozat, Adolphe Bailey, Judge R. K. Howell, M. Spellicy, J. K. Cook, Ŏ. H. Poynot, H. Maas, Edward Hart, E. Goldman, John Purcell, Geo. W. Geier, C. W. Stauffer, W.

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4

DEBATES IN THE CONVENTION FOR THE REVISION

R. Fish, James Duane, Benj. Campbell,
Edmund Flood, J. E. Davies, J. T. Barrett,
J. H. Flagg, W. H. Seymour, Joseph Dupaty,
James Ennis, H. J. Heard, P. A. Kugler,
Martin Schnurr, Robert Morris, Samuel
Pursell, Christian Roselius, John Payne,
J. B. Bromley, E. H. Knobloch, C. H. Grune-
berg, Lewis Lombard, Thos. J. Decker,
Thomas Ong, R. Beauvais, Young Burke,
Charles Smith, R. W. Bennie, Adolphe Gai-
dry.

It was moved and seconded that a committee of three be appointed by the chair to examine credentials, which, after being amended by striking out "three" and substituting "five," was carried. The chair appointed the following gentlemen, with J. P. Montamat, Esq., chairman: Messrs. Thomas, Gruneberg, Bennie, Brott and S. Pursell.

Motions regarding the appointment of a committee to report rules and regulations for the government of the Convention, and to suggest officers for carrying out its business, were then offered ; but these, as well as a resolution that all motions and resolutions be committed to writing and handed to the secretary, were considered premature, and lost, on the ground that no business could be transacted until the Committee on Credentials had made their report.

It was stated that the committee would require considerable time to make their report; and accordingly a motion was made and carried that the meeting adjourn until to-morrow at 12 o'clock.

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Mr. Shaw, chairman, decided that it would be better to wait until the supposed fact was announced by the secretary of state, when Mr. Thomas informed the chair that a communication from the secretary was upon the speaker's desk, but upon search it was not to be found.

The Rev. Mr. Potter, at the request of the president, opened the proceedings with prayer.

The secretary then read the minutes of the preceding meeting, and no amendments being proposed, they were accepted.

MR. KAVANAGH-I would ask if the Committee on Credentials have made any report.

MR. MONTAMAT-In its behalf, I submit
the following statement:

To the honorable the chairman and members
of the Constitutional Convention:

The undersigned, Committee on Creden-
tials, beg leave to submit the following
report. Having examined the returns of
election from the parishes hereinafter named,
your committee find that the following
named gentlemen were duly elected:

ORLEANS.

First Representative District Joseph
Gorlinski, R. B. Bell, Geo. F. Brott, W. T.
Stocker, John Stumpf, J. B. Schroeder, E.
Murphy.

Second Representative District--Terrance
Cook, Joseph H. Wilson, John Henderson,
Jr., J. H. Stiner, M. W. Murphy, P. K.
O'Conner, Alfred C. Hills, T. B. Thorpe, J.
J. Healy, Geo. A. Fosdick, W. H. Hire.

Third Representative District-John W.
Thomas, James Fuller, John Sullivan, J. R.
Terry, O. W. Austin, John Foley, George
Howes, H. W. Waters, P. Harnan.

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Fourth Representative District
Shaw, R. King Cutler, Judge E. H. Durell,
E. J. Wenck, Louis Gastinel.

Fifth Representative District-- Edmund
Abell, John Buckley, Jr., Xavier Maurer,
J. P. Montamat, A. Mendiverri.

F. M. Crozat, Dr. M. F. Bonzano, Adolphe
Sixth Representative District--J. V. Bofill,
Bailey.

Seventh Representative District--Judge R.
K. Howell, J. J. Baum, M. D. Kavanagh, H.
Millspaugh.

Mr. Montamat, chairman of the Committee on Credentials, rose and said that the Com-licy, O. H. Poynot, J. K. Cook. Eighth Representative District--J. A. Spelinittee on Credentials would report, but that Ninth Representative District-H. Maas, there were certain members claiming to be E. Goldman, Edward Hart. elected, in regard to whose merits no report could be made, inasmuch as no returns of could be made, inasmuch as no returns of their election had been received from the secretary of state.

Tenth Representative District-John Pur-
Campbell, J. T. Barrett, Geo. W. Geier, R.
cell, C. W. Stauffer, W. R. Fish, Benjamin
S. Abbott, James Duane, Edmond Flood,
J. L. Davies.

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