Baton-Rouge gazette. [volume] (Baton-Rouge, La.) 1819-1856, 1850-03-02

conpnct--tlr covenant which binds us 10
gather AZ Individuals and as PARTIES
owing a common allegiance to our coun
try, opposed with Ill their influence the
r.s,rictiots in the Constitution which the
Conservatism Of ,he wing patty pat there,
and whfk should never be erased. The
Jsnoctts submitted, and now shall The
wLipsaay this a +" paper constitution
sienging nothing we can leap over it
the over Of M interested majority gives
ristt Shall they say combinations Of
iuttests will give a plurality Of votes 7
,ht threeAftths, as prescribed, is only
prerl 9Ihs democrats say it Is moft''
Jan paper. and 10 prove their consistency
Z their gnoi faith, they refer you 10 your
distinguished political friends who made
your 'paher constitution" MIR. Benz, H.
min, on the Io,,nali,ies Of amending the
CONSTITUTIONS said, "all that we ask IL that
81 simple 3msjority Of The Legislature be
not 1--we ssoed with tho power Of bringing
about prsatipitate changes. Let there be
soule gus. anteps that the compromises
sulemnly entered into will not heedlessly
bs disturbed. and that the rights nf the
minsrity shall not be exposed to further
inyasion5 II this contemplated facility
In amend ~ the Coastilntio" be carled
II will ", subject to the @control Of that
party tho may be monentarily in The as.
cendanl, and Il will ses,k TO perpn'"ste liz
power by modifying thS' Constitution SO as
10 sui, i's particular Purposes. All thai we
ask IL the restriction Of one-ienth over
and above All ordinary majority and Is
that Nh unres sonahle demand -
MIS- Beujanin will never finch from
BIZ, conservatism, ngr change what he as.
serted abpve.)
And what said Mr.. john r. Grymes :;
hear him" May God deliver lis trona
these petty passions and excitemen's the
legislation Of the country cannot maiutairG
itself without the checks and balances pc.
culiar to our system are preserved. No
thug is safe without ther,. Our liberties
and our property IL exposed to become the
mere sport Of a temporary majority. The
inter Get Of the minority ought Ito be vigi-
lantly guarded. There is ii limit to the
power OF 'nalorities, and beyond that limit
they must not be diiowed 10 pass. The
sower Of the maioritirs must he restrained
60 it, appropriate orbit let them govern,
but let them govern according to fundd.
mental principles. The new theories, we
have heard. age dangerous, and If they
prevail the strength and tho power OF the
&5a'e are gone"
q expect this distinguished gentleman,
A hearing OF the convention act, will
come to the conclusion that us. he was
~feartuI) " we have approached Che dead
level. every ching Is cut 10 suit ths motives
of the day y nothing is about II be len,
aud instead of riding with n single, we
ute about TO ride without any "anchor.")
And wln, said the Hon. Mr.. Marigny 7
his predictions are about to be verified.
Hear him The city is doomed 10 have
but 70 r Senators. consider that as
most unjust. y She 's des.
tnnd TO have u population of five hun
drcd thousand soul. aud with all this ins
crease she IL 10 he forecer restricted to
four Senators. = A ban has
been placed upon her a the future seat of
government. Restrictions upon rest,ic.
,ioss have been piledsnpon her. '
If the Constitution be accepted by II u,a
ioritv EVEN, the svatest NIL not end there.
There may be II reactions that may menace
the Tranquility Ibis section Is fempcst're.
L. Ia informal. Mtchevel himself never
could have Invented such a principie.'
" These sentiments aud disconlen's with
The often bank and rag money party, fur
nish the secret springs that may give rise
20 the act under ,ey.eN. ,
but Mr. Benjamin, who WIS always
rirAt. said !" admit the argukent which
ins been us"d1 That Legislative power
Nheu concentrated. i more I'll IN an euui-
raIcut 10 the dame numerical number Of
votes in a Legislative body without that
conccntrStiou.1 y i y Feeling
this, | sAould 1sc willing IN tho spirit OF
compt nmise to allow something TO the
cnuntrv as an ~equipoise." Again he said /.
" freely admit that | do not desire to see
the prepoaderaace Of l,omS' in the city.
apl | think that the arguments adiu"ed
NV the County ,armbe,s on that point
have remained unanswered"
\ Constitution was made. aud the pre-.
pnndnranre of power was given 10 the
county, Can 4 majority Of electors trans
Ter that power TO thu city IN any other
manner thea tha, provided il the Consti-
tnIion ! The idea is absurd. Then why
should a lean majority Of the Legislature
presume u'ppsS an act to give New Or
lraus an opportunity OF sobtataing the
transfer, bv requiring only II lna)n,ity OF
the electors who may go t. she polls, and
whuSs pleasure may salt theen 10 vote
The deeds Of great men, their virtues,
their writings, and opinions live after
them, aud become the property Of all
mankind. 1T is then, and with respect to
the memory OF the late ex~l'resident, JAS.
X. Polk, whose patriotism and honesty of
purpose is acknowledged, that | quite from
his inaugural address, said J" by the
theory OF our Government majorities 'ule,
bot this right is not an arbitrary or unli.
United one. II is a right 10 be exercised
In swbordi diioa 10 the Constitution. and in
conformity 10 1t. One great object Of the
Constitution was To restrain malor,tics
from depressing minor;ties, or encroach.
ing upoa their Just rights. Miaorittes
have n right to appeal 10 the Constitution
as a shield against such oppre% ssion."
This is indeed conse,sa,ism-it is the
true doctrine, aud until very recently has
been considered the doctrine Of the whig
party, but is now repudiated by many, and
the only hope the people have Tor its main.
tenance in n most important maiter--a
matter involving their liberties and free