Baton-Rouge gazette. [volume] (Baton-Rouge, La.) 1819-1856, 1844-06-15

70 The ]citisens Of HE Parish Of West
Baton Rouge.
| have been among you for twenty years,
! know there are some Of you who arc net
personally acquainted with me, and perhaps
a great many who do not know my opinion
In regard TO what should DO The laws Of our
state, and ag | have thought proper 10 offer
myself ms n delegate to assist in framing a
constitution ofthis state, which is to be made,
altered or amended in August next and as
! believe that every man offering himgGlf
10 serve tho public in any way, should first
declare his opinion 10 them in what way he
intended TO serve them or whPt he believes
should be his leading points to be embodied in
oar Constitution as stated above, there was
some Undergraduates put 10 me some time since
aud answered in the Baton Rouge Gazette
which did not contain half the leading points
| think should be embodied in our CoDstitu-
ton, | will therefore set forth some other
points in as short and as plain q way as |
can write them, without comment, and | will
begin with them, as | think they are first
in Importance TO the people at large.
LIST. | believe, that every free white man
Of 81 years Of age should be entitled to vote,
and Of course 10 bold office, if elected by the
people, provided he should have lived in the
state twelve months and in the parish 6
months next proceeding his offering to vote,
there can be as many good reasons why q
poor man should be allowed to vote as a rich
one as there are letters in the alphabet.
Cd. | believe that all the officers of the
state should be elected be the people and for
short terms, except the judges of District
and Supreme Courts, those officers should
be as independent as possible, and If elected
by the people should hold their office for six
or eight years, and should not be- eligible a
second term, but if chosen by the Legislature,
it should be by the joint ballot Of both houses
and for shorter terms. | have no opinion that
any office Of the state should be for life.
3. believe that when the delegates meet
in convention, being from every parish in the.
state, and knowing the will of their constitu-
ents, that they not only will do what they
think best, but that they have a perfect right
10 do so, either to alter, amend or change the
Constitution as they believe proper or right.
4. | am of opinion that the legislature
should not have the power to pledge the faith
OF the state for any thing except in case Of
invasion, Instruction or education.
5. believe, and strenuously too, that the
convention shall remoKe the seat Of govern
ment from New Orleans, and as soon as the
necessary buildings can be procured.
6. | believe that there should be a lieute-
nant governor elected by the people, who
should preside over the Senate, and act as
governor when the governor is out Of place.
z. Some of the states take 36 quarts to make
a bushel others 40. l believe to make it con-
~venient for trade, that there should be a clause
in the Constitution to fix The weights and mea-
curaE tn oorracnon1 NTH tba ruas1bfg ,aJ
of the United States.
g.. 1t appears that the trainers of the United
States Constitution have given Delaware
State as many senator's as New York. Imuch
doubt whether there could be such a set of
men now brought together as the builders of
our United States Constitution, they must
have had some good reason for ii, and / be-
lleVe the time will come when we shall find
the want of a senator in every parish in this
state. Let the people reflect on this before
the convention meets.
9th. | believe that the legislature should
meet only once In two years-the Governor
a right to convene them when he be-
lieves it necessary.
10. have heard it saidin the parish, / sun
pose in order to injure my election, that was
the rights Of succession. [ will give
my opinion on that point:
| believe that every man, woman or child
should have what naturally belongs to them
and for a proof Of whatI say, enquire Of No.
Ian Stewart, who married my only daughter,
although he was married in the state of Mis-
sissippi, where a man marrying a woman, the
property all belongs to the man, never
would agree to give my property in that way
but what / had to give my daughter was to
be hers, and although the income might be-
.ong TO beth, the property given should be-
.ong 70 my daughter.
remain your obd't servant,
JAMES McCALOP.