Baton-Rouge gazette. [volume] (Baton-Rouge, La.) 1819-1856, 1841-12-18
Ear iha Gasane.

Mn. EplreR;--I made, through tho me.
dium Of your Journal sometime since, IN
appeal to the patriets Of talent disposed e
onlighten tho people of Lonisian,., on the
danger o. amending our constitution
Aware Of my own inability, | eontented
myself, with mantfesting my opinion and
a~pprchensions. In answer to which, an ar.
ticle signed "vor Popaii," has SINCE up.
peared in your forty-frst number. and Ms
that article does not appear to me to have
been written by d man Of talents ! feel
myself authorised TO replv.nntIl other more
capable than either Of u, are Disposed TO
discuss tho question.
Iam far from being atsateh bod to oil
customs, ancient laws, and detective Coz.
stitutions on the contrary, | am one II
those who believe IN progressive improve.
ment | differ in opinion however, with Ger.
thin individuals, and think we may cont.
nue. in every variety Of progress, without
there being any necessity, on that account,
Of amending our constitution. Nttwi;h.
standing its being one Of the best ii tie.
United. States, there ureA defects to b.
found, and If ii were moi dangerous to
amend them, | world he the first 10 restrain
tho right Of suffrage: ! would propose also,
that nc one should be eligible 10, the office
Of governor Of the state, unless a Louisi.
anian by birth, and tina, the same clause,
shoald be applied to our senators to con.
gsess.
You perceive then, Mr.. Editor, that /
am Rot one of those who wed themselves
TO the acts Of their ancestors, as 1 reproach
them with having been tuo liberal; but ]
do not think that on account of u few de.
fects, which can easily be obyiated by a
little discernment and patriotism, we should
introduce arrangements which may be pro-
ductive Of the most ~deplorable results. Fer
il is impossible to deny, that the moment
the keystone of our constitutional ediice
is removed, nothing can prevent lis cruin-
bling to the ground.
The author of "Far Populi," states that
the clause esact,us he payment Of u state
tax, six months previous 10 voting, as a
necessary qualification for that privilege,
has become a general subject of complaint,
and is utterly condemned by, public OPT
nion. / think that he has advanced here
more than he is able to prove, and that
those pretended universal complaints, are
heard only from a few ambitious indivi-
duals, who, unable to succeed in their un.
dertakings, have imagined the plea of uni
sersal suffrage as a means of success, with
the exception Of whom, and a few adven-
turers, the people of Louisiana have never
the desire of amending their
constitution; and if | am to submit to a
of deaf as asserts this pretended
champion Of the people, the latter will have
been shamefnliy deceived and suborned.
Our chrmpion accuses the nobility Of
France and England, Of buying up our
This is mere absurdity ; that class
,f Europiens seldom visit our country, and
they do 80, it is more for the purpose
# criticising our institutions, than with q
new Of taking any part in their admins
As to the English and French who
eside among us, for the purpose 0f ac-
wealth, they take little interest in
ur elections. He adds, it is, the rich man
e, have to fear q. he slone' has the e