Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1851-05-24
From the n. O. Bee
A Convention,

We think it more than likely that the cues.
ton OF a Convention Of the people to alter and
amend the Constitution Of the State will hc.
come a prominent subject of debate before tho
next General Assembly of Louisiana. That
the present Constitution is unsatisfactory in al.
most every respect is a conceded fact. In many
points it Is far behind the spirit of the age. 1t
is restrictive in its character framed and mod.
elled upon 4 system of contracted ideas, and
in obedience to temporary prejudices, rather
than fixed opinions. We are as little fond of
tinkering and tampering with the organic law
of the State as most people; but if that instru-
ment be radically defective if time and ex-
periencc has shown that it has totally failed to
answer the purposes for which it was created;
and tha. those who were foremost in urging It's
adoption, are now eager for its modification;
if, above all: the people themselves desire that
in various essential particulars it should be
amended, We, for one, can conceive no funda-
mental objection to the proposition.
1t is conceded that the restraints of the Con-
%stitution upon Corporations atta the total pro-
| Iiibition Of Banks are not in accordance with
popular sentiment. We do not mean to imply
that the citizens of Louisiana are at all dispo.
sed to revive the system of Banking, with all
its grave defects and its monstrons privileges,
as IL iIlC CAlStCu. A1tkiiI LouIt u . StCils
we, Wing as we are, would protest with all the
ability at our command. But we do believe
that Free Banks, established on a sound basis,
organized upon principles that will ensure safe
ty, convcrtibility and public confidence, would
meet the appreciation of seven-eighths Of the
constituency. We hold too, that the great
principles Of popular accountability and the d.
minution of official patronage, will find favor in
the eyes Of the pcople-that nearly all Offices
may be properly rendered elective; that the
qualification of the suffragan may be materially
modified and that many changes ofdetail may
be beneficialIy introduced in the Constitution.
The Convention question was brought before
the last Legislature and passed the House by u
large majority. 1t was defeated, however, in
the Senatc-chief1y, we imagine, because its
advocates did not take pains to illustrate its
necessity and enforce its advantages. When
the time shall arrive for the renewal of the dis
c%ussion, those who desire the proposed change,
will probably be better prepared to establish
the soundness of their views. We feel the ur-
gent expedicncy of amending the Constitution
in almost every public enterprise that is under
taken. Our railroad attempts are even now at
Il dead stand, because the Constitution, and the
laws made in pursuance OF its mandates, fail 10
accord the requisite powers to carry them into
practical operation. If the evils complained of
can be remedied by special amendments passed
upon by the people in the mode pointed out by
the Constitution itself, Il Convention may be
avoided. We apprehcnd, however, that care
full revision of the instrument will be needed
to fit its disjointed members, TO lop off super
~tfuities, and to make it Il consistent and harmo-
NOUS whole. +