Baton-Rouge gazette. [volume] (Baton-Rouge, La.) 1819-1856, 1852-07-17
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The Convention-Its Spirit and
.ss prOgreS1,


The Convention-Its Spirit and
Progress.
,csAlaYe majority ofihe members Of the
Convention seemed 10 have been sndaonly
seized with an inoilinats desire to rnsh
from n extreme y another, from over
strained conservatisin % red r~spublican-
ism. The proceedings Of the Conventions
plainly shows, that with honorable excep.
tons the members seem to be running a
race for the bauble Of popularity, to win
which every vessige Of The rights Of the
minority afe to be sacrificed. LII this a Q
FOR popularity the experience of ages is
passed over rough-shod, the majority never
pausing to look at the landmarks placed
before rs by our forefathers, aud which
have guided Us safely thus far in our march
to greatness. In this crusade against the
wisdom Of our forefathers,f each aspirant
for political honors is ruthless In his thr,lsts
at those who would preserve some Of that
wisdom from their wholesale innovation.
The 9th Article Of the Constitution be-
ing under consideration it was so amend
ed as to require only the same qualification
for Senator asis required for a Represen-
tative in other words. that every elector
is qualified as a Senator. Mi. Conrad,
who was accidentally absent when the
vote was taken upon this amendment, de-
sired to record mis- vote against it. This.
according to parliamentaryrule could only
be done by way Of a protest, leave to make
which being granted, he fled the follow-
ing VT as
The undersigned being of opinion that
tile amendment made to Article 9th of the
Constitution, placing the qualifications for
eligibility to the Senate OH the same foot
ing with those which are required for eli.
gibility to the House of Representatives,
is a grave departure from those simple and
fundamental principles Of organic law
which have been recognized in theory and
adopted in practice since the ommen
ment Of American liberty and indepen-
dence ; that by American practice it is &c.
nerally conceded that one OF the houses Of
q Legislature should be constituted upon
more conservative principles than the
other; among which principles for this
end which have been the most generally
recognized, the most simple and least OBJ
.jectionable, consist in the difference OF age
of the members of the two bodies, and the
difference of time required for residence Of
each, protests against the incorporation Of
this new, and, as he conceives, retrograde
principle in the Constitution Of this State,
and asks that this his Protest be extended
upon the journals, as evidence of the man
ner in which he would have voted, had he
been present, at the final passage of said
Article, and the reasons for his vote.
(Signed) E. D. CONRAD.
The next attempt at innovation was
unsuccessful, though we cannot see that
4F#&EHz44s ANE}-#EHEE -&HE#S EHE&f @EFf #EF E#ND
either side gained much or, in fact. we
do not think it was worth half the wind
which was wasted upon it, certainly no
one half Of the time which was wasted in
the discussion. The innovation was an
attempt to remoy all qualifications as TO
age and residence for Governor, making
any qualified elector eligible for the GO
vernorship-the radicals ~contending that
# a man was qualified to vote for Cover
nor, he was qualified to ill the office ! that
every elector vas qualified to discharge
he functions appertaining to the Office Of
Governor. Reason, however. triumphed
this, SO far as principle was concerned,
out so far as the age is concerned we do
not think that much is gained. The Com
is progressing rapidly with their
work, and if there were fewer speech-ma-
kels among them, we might with safety
calculate on their finishing their labors by
he 1st of August-they have accomplish
ID much. but they have still much to do.
We do not doubt but that the Constitu-
ion which they will adopt will, as q whole,
,rove acceptable to the people. Perec-
ion is not for man, and IL cannot be ex-
,ected that every clause will be s~atisfac.
DRY /; yet it will no doubt be far less OBJ
ectionable than the Constitution of 1916.
SOUTHERN DEMocRAT.-Ws have re-
the first number of this new paper,
and published by L. A. Besancon
Z Co. It's politics are indicated by its
tile, and gives evidence Of ability and use
illness TO the cause Of Democracy. and il
d every respect worthy their support.
g --- 40 |
feeting Of the Members Of tho Bar.
tH ffHs4 a--
AT q meeting of the memberssgof tho
Of the parish Of East Batenb Rouge,
leld for the purpose of tesiifying their
to the memory Of the late Isaac
Preston, Associate Judge Of the SUI
irene Court Of tie State of Louisiana,
On motion Of EG. Morgan. Esq, Tie
Ion. w. B. Robertson was called 10 the
Chair. aud M. Moreno appointed Secre.
airy. 80 rs ss h
The obiecf II the meeting having been
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