Baton-Rouge gazette. [volume] (Baton-Rouge, La.) 1819-1856, 1852-08-14
The New Constitution.

which opposed The calling VI \ Convention, will
nost oil them, u1e their influenced 20 iefeatiht
new instrunsni, whish, Ii ratified \. ihepeopls
Of Louisiana, Il 70 sipsteede The bts4ast rousi.
tuition. II IL conceded BY almost afs W. press "a
10 be a mos, decided Improvement upon our pre-
sent one-but there are nevertheless, some whc
!, attack Il, and who will spare TN pains 10 effect
its defeat; we however. conclude that the repre-
seatatises ef The different portions or our State,
IN Conve rtien assembled, understand better the
wishes Of their constituents, than The press Of
any section OF country, which may be pleased or
displeased with The action Of the late Cottyen-
ticn; they were here representing each his pora
ticn of uouhtfy-cohvefsatt with the views of
their eenstituents-and we are unable 10 offer any
better proof Of their satisfaction, than ,he clos
ing scene OF their labors, when the Constitution
was adopted by the Convention with but eight
dissenting votes.
In The Legislative department there il a change,
Under the proposed Constitution, every free
white male who has acquired the age of twenty
one years, and who is q citizen Of the United
States, and a resident Of the State one year, and
Of the parish In which he oiIers To vote, six
~nehtlis, il quilted 10 vote, aud III case Of q re-
tnoval from one parish TO another, he is entitled
~ sLt f+
to d vote in The parish of his former residence,
until q residence tas been acquired In The latter.
parish And no other qualification Is required 10
w D Senator, and d member Of The House oi Re-
The basis Of representation rests on total pbfa.
lations a .'IA
TIE Executive portion of the Constitution re.
quires that the Governor and Lieutenant Gov
tttor shall have acquired the age tf twenty .eight
years, and neither are eligible tethe office Iol
two successive terms.
The Secretary and Treasurer are to be elected
by the people, and are 10 hold their office, the |
former irr four years aid the latter for two years
A most material improvement upon the pre-
sent Constitution, is found in the judiciary de. |
r%a,tnnent. The Supreme Court Is TO consist d
Ave Judges, insteai Of four, the Chief Justice ID
BE elected by the State at large, and the four AS
,%sociate Judges by districts sYt ggas, |
Under the proposed Constitution, the State il
10 be disttitted into four equal distiicts and 4
commissioner is 10 be elected from each, the whole
10 form n Board of Commissioners Of Public
Works, aa at5 }e fs1i54 ~
The State House Is TO De len here, but may ID
removed at any tine BY a vote Of three -iourtbs
Of the Legislature-and the Constitution requires
annual sessions of the Lesisla ture.
There II also a very perceptible improvement
IL The manner OF amending the Constitution. The
instrument provides for its amendment. BY a
three fourth vote oil both Houses of the General
Assembly, and the ratification Of the same BY
The people. ~ 80, - 3a
y We haze artleavespdt TO point 'dut the msst i'm.
portent changes. and the one which seems to he
The most objectionable, is the basis ef %fepiesen-
lation npo,, Total population, Some are trying to
render this portion of the Constitution as placing
he white m,a1 and negro Upon d level We do
not regaid i, h this light, we believe this clause
inserted Ii a spirit of Compromise, which
intended to counteraet the large and ~inersas.
ng influence of New Orleans in the General Al.
There existed with the country mem.
'ers q feeling 10 restrict the city in her represen.
alton, and as q compromise. this clause was in-
ested. We do not believe ID will restrict the
lily rom her present representation, tat win
any rapid increase Tor some time TO
We cannot conceive this to be any seri-
us grounds for objection, but if this is the most
which eau be Urged, the proposed Con.
~ certainly better with one Objectionable
than our present one with Its many odious
lauses. ar. a.tsea, /,
The people Of this State will, on the first T,es. I
ay Of November next, declare BY ballot, whether !
hey will accept or reject this Constitution II
eeepted, there will be elections holden upon the
oau,h Monday of December next, for members
{ the General Assembly, Governor, Lieutenant !
Governor, Secretary Of State, Treasurer, A,tor- )
icy General, and Superintendent OF Public Edu.
alton and the first Legislature to convene at the
tate House upon the third Monday Of January !
Iext, 1859.