The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1851-12-02


| to The presen, Constitution We objected to four.
teen important and restrictive articles-,o nearly
one'tenth Of the wbole-snd promised, then, to
demonstrate the weight and force Of our objsc.
| tons
| Let us begin with the restrictions upon the
elective franchise and the right to hold office
The two are go intimately connected as not to
bear separation in the discussion. Articles g. 10,
II, %, 80, are those which we shall notice in
this connection Like every thing else in the
Constitution, they are full of negatives and pro.
hibitions.
Whoever has not resided in the State /" for the
TIRES years next preceding the election" shall
no, be member of The Legislature What is
exactly meant by this we cannot say. Citizen.
ship is one thing residence is another and here
some delicate questions might arise, and seriously
embarrass the enjoyment of The natural rights OF
citizenship.
To vote, man must have been two years a
citizen Of the United States. We do not obiee,
to that, but following Immediately after is pro-
vision, that he must have "resided in the State
two consecutive years next preceding the cleo.
ton" We do object to that; and the more
strongly that it is provided that absence from
the State for ninety consecutive days shall' in.
terrupt the acquisition, and compel man 10
| start for it again, unless he be rich enough to
buy or rent tenement, and to hire some one
to take care of it for him during his absence!
We are opposed to all property qualifications,
and we consider this one We are opposed to
all show of disfavor, discourtesy and suspicion
to the citizens of other States coming hither to
reside, and we find most absurd and Chinese.
like spirit in this. The only object of such
provision should be lin this case there is plainly
another) to fix the residence Of those offering
themselves as voters. One years residence ought
to do that--it is certainly too long a stay for
visitor. If citizen of Louisiana should emigrae
to Tennessee, Kentucky, or any other State in
the Union, one years residence would invest him
with the privileges Of a voter, and he would
find no cunningy placed stumbling block, in the
shape of forfeiture by /" ninety days. consecu.
tive absence" The trainers of our Constitution
were plainly afraid that we should be cheated
by our fellow.citizens immigrating hither and
paid as poor a compliment to the capacity of
the people of Louisiana to take care of them.
selves as to the honesty and fairness of new
corners. Other States require only one wears
residence and the notorious history of the Pla.
quemns frauds can show if our requistion of two
years mot even to be interrupted by ninety davs,
consecutive absence,) makes our elections purer
and better
In the matter Of eligibility to office, the same
absurdly jealous and suspicious SPIRIT prevails
throughout the provisions of the Constitution. IT
will be by reference to the articles referred to
Is, 30, 39,) that they confne office holding to the
classes which may be represented by citizens, some
of three, but the larger portion of six and fifteen
years " residence" We note here, as curouslv
significant of the jealous and suspicious feeling of
the trainers of the Constitution, the continued use
of the word resident or residence - instead of
" citizen" or citizenship" 1t is too frsonen,
and unvarying not to have been designed.
though it may amount 10 nothing. Let this pass.
The provisions we now have under notice are con.
trary to what is the policy of the United States.
and what should be the policy of Louisiana. As
far as they go, they discourage immigration from
other States, and nterdict those who will come.
from touching the honors and profits of Office. for
three, six, or fifteen years.
The provisions, after thus establishing band of
aliens in our midst-which we must have or immi.
grafton stop-go further, and mark out apy /" cler.
gyman, priest, or teacher of any religious persua
sion, society, or sec" as unworthy to hold ocs.
We think this very bad feature. We are free to |
say that we would hesitate long before we would
vote for any of the class but we think it uniust
to take from them any of the distinct, undenjable
we had thought inalienable) rights Of citizenship
Here is more fear, more suspicion. Some "cler.
lyman, priest or teacher" (of religion NAV ruin
The sovereign people of Louisiana, if he sbould |
irop into an office. If the people of Louisiana
could be ruined in this simple way, thew would |
have very small capital Of common sense and re. |
publican spirit on which to commence the business
Of self-government A republican and democratic
constitution should know nothing of religion or
sect, except to pronounce its perfect freedom to Jew
and GENTLE, Turk and Christian; nothing of pro.
LESSONS, except TO secure their rights nothing Of
except to establish their citizenship
We think clergymen can be much better smploved
in the pulpit or at the altar than at the hustipps
and in legislative halls, but We think it unrepubli
can and undemocratic to mark them for special
Introduction.
Mississippi U. S. !Senator.-Ws are informsa