Baton-Rouge gazette. [volume] (Baton-Rouge, La.) 1819-1856, 1844-03-09
(For the Gnzettp.)
TttE CONVENTION.

Soon the people OF tho State Of Louisiana
will be called upon 10 select delegates to meet
In Conyeutiufi to amend OF alter our present
Cuustitutioh, Isgreeably to a law passed by
the Legislature, In conformity to . provision
OF our Constitution, authorizing and directing
certain specific amendments, which have been
twice Rubmiti6d to the people ofthis State, and
which they hjye by their votes agreed should
hu made, BY d large majority. find public
opinion much divided on the subject Of The
power OF limits which the Convention shall
have, when assembled, tur the purpose for
which they were elected. Some contend
that their powers will be sovereign and IN.
limited, and will not be confined to the amend
mcnts pointed out by the law, by which the
Convention was created or called, but 70 the
making ofan entire new Constitution, Others
Tor complying strictly tn the laws and the
amendments specified, 10 those who enter.
tain the cpiniNn that the Convention will have
unlimited pbse. To abolish or disregard our
present Constitution, aud the law made under
ia provision combining their action to certain
specified amendments, | bsg to submit to thsir
most periuus and prayerful considerable on, tho
advice OF the father of his country, General
Waehiupton .ou retiring from the cares Of Of
dee. consider this advice most oppertune at
this time and tho present crisis Of oafcuuntry.
when men seem to have forgntten the prinei.
pies and doctrines recommended by him-that
tl,n sovereignty OF The people means the soy.
ereianly of tie constitution and laws made by
themselves. That the views Of Washington
we're d~tGrreuE from those among is, who lhink
that the Contention 10 be convened have full
power 10 nutiEy or disregard the law and Con.
-.f.Z.F -u. H. 4aE,lar a1f.4aFhnR ANT
make a new Constitution, will appear from
! the following extract from he address TO the
people Of the Uniled States.
"'fhis government, the offspring Of our
choice, uniuGueneed and unnawsd, adopted
upon full Investigation and mature delihera.
tion, completely free in its pr nciples, IN the
distribution Of it's powers uniting security
with energy and containing within ITSELF 4 pro.
vision for III o,sa amendment, has a just claim
10 your confidence and your support, Respect
for its authority, complilnce with Its laws,
acauieseeuEG in its measures, ard duty en-
Joined by the fundamental maxims of true lib.
erty. The hasis Of our political systems is lhC
right Of the people 10 make and to alter their
Constitution of goverameut--but the Constt.
tuition which. at any time exists, until changed
BY an explicit and authentic act Of the people,
- sacredly obligatory upon all. The very
idea Of the power and the right oftle people
to establish government, presupposes the duty
of every individual 70 obey the established
government.
That people may Judge directly and act un.
derstandinglg on this subject, ! here give the
9Th article 81 our Constitution entitled.
Mode of rerising the Consultation.
SEC. | When experience shall point out
the necessity of amending this constitution,
and a majority Of all the members elected "a
each house Of the general assembly shall
within the first twenty days Of their stated
annual session, concur in passing a law,
specifying the alterations intended TO be
made, for taking the sense of the gpod PEG.
bic Of this state, a. to the necessity and ex.
pediency of:ralling a convention, it shall be
the duty Of The several returning officers, at
the next general election which shall be heic
for representatives after the passage of sucl
a law, TO open a poll for, and make return tc
the secretary for The time being, ofthe name;
Of all those entitled to vote for representa-.
tives, wins have voted for calling d conven-
ton: and il thereupon, it shall appear that
majority ofall the citizens in this state, en-
titled to vote for representatives, have vote
iOF q COHNCHlOHs lLG -CASiai aSSGtiutR .etdl
direct that a similar poll shall be opened, am
taken for the next year; and if thereupon, i
shall appear that a majority of the citizen
of This state entitled to vote for representa-
z tives, have voted for convention. the genera
assembly shall, at their next session, call
convention 10 consist Of as many member
as there shall be in the general assembly, an
5 M more. To, be cIusen 10 the same manne
. and proportion, at the same places and at III
same time. that representatives are, by cit
gems entitled to vote for representatives: an
to meet within three months after the sal
election for the purpose Of readnpllug. amer
ding or changing this constitution. But if il sha
: be shown b9 the vote ofeither yea, rs a~fareslit
that a III majority of all the citizens entitled t
vote Tor representatives, did not vote for
, convention, a convention shall not be Gale!
By authority Of the above provision in Of
! Constituted the Legislature of our State pal
sed on the 30th January 1871 the following,
2 ACT-Fpr taking the sense ofthe good pee
ptc-of this, State as to the necessity and exp,