New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1852-09-18

performance of all the duties Of citizen, when
citizens rights are denied? Not upon the score
of merit or capacity, but upon the accidental
want of certain age. Away with such repub-
licanism. The honorable delegate said that the
amendment only contemplates qualification
for office. He would take, in opposition to this
view Of the matter the broad ground that this was
not the proper place to qualify officers for the
people, for the reason that what might appear to
us as proper qualification, might not bedeemed
80 by the people. The different political parties
in the United States assembled, and have each
lately indorsed the qualifications Of their re-
sspectIve candidates for the Presidency, yet, in
November next, the people in their majesty will
deny the qualifications of one OF the other Of the
Candidates now before them for that high office
ihe ballot box is the proper place for the quail
ncatIon OF officers. The crucb1e Of public
opinion alone should be the test of fitness for
pubic trust He was sorry to hear the honor
able gentlemen attempting to enforce his views
by reference to the sayings and doings of the
Convention OF l845. That Convention seriously
entertained the idea of requiring that the Ex-
ecutive should be native born citizen. Would
such qualification have met the appreciation
OF the gentleman Yet it would have been MS
reasonable and as just as the qualification con-
templated in the amendment under discussion
Both requirements strike at the foundation
Of popular rights. Both deny the capacity Of
the people properly to exercise one Of the cardi-
nal functions of self government The honora bic
delegate declares that there is no danger of the
people elevating to the high position Of Cover
nor beardiess boy. Then why does he insist
upon the adoption of this amendment Is it te
remind the people Of Louisiana that they are
not yet capable Of governing themselves-net
yet free: Or is it to excite hostility to this
Constitution, which should be so wisely framed
as to ages, on the part ofstrong minds and
clear heads throughout a State, who, by the
adoption OF this amendment, will justly feel that
they have been legislated aeainst--that their
rights and power have been denied them-that
tl.eir political equality has only been acknowi-
edged in one part Of the organic law to be denied
in another' Bnt says the gentlemen, this faa-}
ture should be engrafted on the Constitution, to
guard against popular excitement That is an
o.d aris ocratic apology for the most grinding
and arbitrary ezactions OF European polity. II
may read very we'll in the pages of Blackstone
Or Coke but it comes with i'll grace from the
lips of az American citizen Mr. r. had heard
great deal about popular exctements and the
danger resulting from them but he would sub
init II it was not unfair to ring this charge so
often upon the masses. when their officers, their
rulers, we're constantly exhibiting themselves
as disturbers of the public peace The peorle :.
instead OF being the instigators of popular ex-
citement, have proved themselves, in more than
one instance, the conservators of order. 1t will
be we'll remembered that when, on a late occa-
sion, the politicians Of the Union, by their heed
lessness and ambition, had well nigh DESTROYED
our national unity-had brought our noble in
stitutions to the verge Of destruction-it was
found necessary to call the people to the rescue,
and nobly did they answer to the call He
hoped he would hear no more of the Constltu-
ton of lS45-a Constitution which, for its illih-
erality, had been stamped from the beginning
with the popular Indignation. He hoped he
would hear no more Of beardless boys wishing
to be placed upon an equality with men. He
cared not whether an individual had hair on
his head or beard on his face OF not, at the
age Of twenty one years, the Constitution Of the
United States acknowledged him man and as
such he would claim for him full equality
amongst men Such epithets as 'beardless
boy,' applied to duly qualified electors, were
out of place, especially upon this floor, where, in
the eye of the law and the estimation of the
people who sent us here, the youngest member
is fully equal to the ablest among u.s. He con
sldered such taunts as undignifed and ungen-
erous-as an improper assumption of age over
youth. He cared not, though he reyerenced
age, whether man was fifty or twenty one :
If he possessed honesty, intellect and sound
Judgment, he should and would be esteemed and
respected by every right thinking man In
conclusion, he would remind gentlemen that
though Louisiana was comparatively old State.
she was but just entering upon career of de-
Velopment-Just aroused to sense of her i'm.
portance-and they should not attempt to cut
garment to fit her now, for the style and the
patter would have to be changed before it was
half worn. The proudest imagination would
fail to picture our power and our triumphs ten
years hence. Then let us be guided in our de-
alterations in this Convention by a wise, and
liberal, and expansive policy. Let us not
cramp, by the organic law which we are now
about to promugate, the energies of our peo-
Pile, but leave them as much as possible untram-
meled, and their virtue and intelligence will
safely guide the destinies of the State to happy
result.
Mr.. CoTToN said, that as this was question
OF great Importance, not only to the members of
this Convention, but also a question involving
the interests of their various constituents, he
felt the privilege that every member had of ex-
pressing his views pro or con, and would avail
himself Of it,
This was question as to restriction. He
could never see why those restrictions should be
incorporated into Constitutions. We see in
the Federal Constitution that the age of thirty
five years is required. He was afraid that the
arguments advanced by the delegate from New
Orleans had been cultivated in the breasts of too
many men Since the formation Of our govern
ment. The gentleman from Orleans either be-
lieves that some distinction exists between other
citizens Of the United States and the people of
Louisiana. or he hos no confidence in the people
OF Louisiana. He was for placing him on the
latter horn Of the dilemma. He believed that
the gentleman never had any confidence in his
own constituents. The gentleman was afraid to,
leave the people free to exercise the ever
blessed right. SO sacred in the heart of every
American. freeman. He, on the contrary
believed that the people were in all respects
capable Of self-goyefnment, anu that this Com
veution had ri ight to take from them any
of their inalienable rights,
1t has been alleged, that in some time of pop
ular excitement, the people may elect some
beardless youth to Office. Happily these q old
fogy' opinions We're dying away, and he WAS
surprised to hear them advanced in this Con-
1ieighborno6u br tweufy-nst earse. ssss,--..l-a
showed strength pf mind and a calmness of
Judgment that would have put much older men
to the blush But his confidence in the peoples
capacity for discrimination was entire.
During the canvass that preceded the Conven-
ton, the question was argued all over the State
as to wiping out all restrictions from the Consti
tuition This was one Of the prime objects of
the Convention. Why does the gentleman from
Orleans resist the acknowledged will of the peo-
pie. 1t is said, however, that all the Constitu-
tions in the Union contain some prohibatory
clause. But, does the gentleman from Orleans not
know that, knowing this and in spite of this, the
people of this State have said that all restrictive
clauses must be wiped out of their Constitution
He detied the gentleman from Orleans to poin
| out single instance in the history of our Gov
tod