Baton-Rouge gazette. [volume] (Baton-Rouge, La.) 1819-1856, 1841-12-11
For tie GuzeftT.
CHANGE Or OUR STATE coSsITG.
Itff1h.

IIDIs.
II IL astonishing that tie good people Of on
beloved state desire any change whatever il
the franc Of Their governmental IL 80 per
feet, 80 excellent at present in all its parts
This viii do very well in the commencement
for assertion, but now let me enquire whether
it 10 not borne Ddt by the truth.
In tho first place, the present constitution
is wonderfully perfect in having provided, thu
Whole state should be partitioned into fourteen
senatorial districts and that these should RI
main Jorcvtr indiyisi5te. The population in
these districts eince the adoption Of tho con.
s%tltntion in 1872, has Of course always re.
rDailed stationary ~ il regards wealth and
numbers, III order to preserve the equilibrium
ut that time established
That pnrt ofthe constitution which provides
for the election Of menbers If the Legislature
In the mouth Of July, ID remarkably proyidsnf,
since 1t deprives all the ~citizcrs Of tho state
who desire to visit the north during the sum-
tser months OF the trouble Of voting not ex-
eepsing that host Of individuals called /" birds
of passage"
The provision fixing the seat of government
at Now Orleans until removed by lay il ad-
mirab!e. Il can be demonstrably proved. thot
q large commercial city il best suited for pur-
poses Of Legislation The representative is
lot distracted in the discharge Of his duties by
objects which appeal alone to bis Senses
there arc no balls, theatres, dinner p~arties,
fashionable resorts for dissipation, OF, indeed.
any other causes likely to divert or draw off
the mind from tiis crave duties eonfided 10 the
legislator. In a large city, tho members come
in contact with wise men In every department
Of scjence--light ~ al around them, (partiet-
larry the gas lights1. and il, coming from The
tranquil scenes Of the country, they happen to
carry with them some Of the simple and unsus-
pecting virtue Of its inhabitants. II In soon
brushed aside, or rather raised and refined 10
the city standard.
In case Of some groat pnDlic exigency hap
penine. az It might during the summer months,
requiring the Legislature To Immediately as
scmble, how agreeable and convenient il
would be for the members for the country 10
whit New Orleans, especially If the yellow
fever should prevail! It 10 true, the governor
may avoid this difficulty BY conyening the
assembly at some other point, and IN that event
how very convenient to find suitable buildings
and ether nsceseary eonf0rta! What a terri
bic thing for the state and Der people, if a cen-
~yention should change our constitution in THE
particular, and deprive our Legislators Of gtsh
great and important advantages, by fzing the
seat Of government at Batsa Rouge Of scfae
other point out Of the city Of New Orleans.
The people # the state I've for years coz
graduated themselves am! rtioiecd for their
p~osterity in the po5seseion Of such 4 happy
system Of fa4ra, and IN their wise. pradeat and
eeone,1icai administration. DGr Justices Of
the Pence, %slieriffs, coroners and judges are
such as have given entire satisfaction !; and
what could be more dreadful than TO have
these officers elective. A Justice of the
Peace may now for years inaocently procure
a comfortable living by his Office ; but il sab-
ject f. election, will be charged with giving
Judgment against the party able to pay him his
costs-with encouraging litigation, and, in
fine, all manner Of corrupt practices; whereas,
now he has the prospect Of transmitting fis
fame fr al these things to poster,ty. A.
Judge may nog be accused OF crimes at which
the deya himself would tluafg bit how will
making the Office elective, close the month q
SANDER, and why should the people change the
man for another perhaps in every respect less
perfect True, this is a government OF the
people, but they know nothing about iudges
and DINER officers who exercise their powers
Immediately upon them, whether they dis
charge tieir duties well or ILL ard therefore
have no right to complain, or to decide when
and bow they ought to be removed The
people make the laws, but to choose persona
to administer these laws is quite another thing
-tiO lNniL . o~A " tAi-iS k.@~ b1Sat9t
when once created he rules as long az seems
to him best And is not this in accordance !
with American institutions I ia not, /" every
man for himself and the devil for ALL the
grand principle of our government!
The constitution provides for the impeach-
ment of officers, and ne all know that this is /
a most @effectual remedy in the punishment Of
evil doors. Ajudge. or indeed, any other Of
icer who abises bis powers, IS sure to be
fairly tried, and if innocent. (as he universally
Isl, honorably acquitted. People who desire
a change Of the constitution, seem tohaye for
gotten the p~riaciPae OF law, . tka. cserv man
is presumed innocent until the contrary APP
pears" Some persons arc disposed 10 view /
the trial by impeachment as q vain thsDg-too
tedious, formal and expensive for the end pro-
posed, and too apt to result in the acqufttai of
the accused. They prefer the Polls, where
the people make the court, and where the
witnesses testify to what they please, and nn-
der such sanctions as they may think proper
to elect. It is certainly a knosty question to
decide which mode of trial is best ; but who
will presume TO say the people are competent
Judges Of kzessy questions especially the
people Of Louisiana.
The people have an odd idea which it is dit
fcult TO eradicate from their minds, that ofzzses
are created, not SO much to piesse the officer
as to serve the eeople themselves and hesce
the vulgar impression that IN appointments
they ought TO Re directly e~oazuitsd.
This leads me to consider another provision
ID the constitution. relative Ia inc ELECTION or