The daily union., 1852-05-12

existence of features OF The judiciary OF the Stale worthy
OF the political darkness OF The middle ages and OF the
anti democrats feature OF exclusive Qmited) suffrage
then remaining upon the staute-b books lie also attacked
the principle oil feiennte OF olce wherever iouns IN
der the laws constitution, wRh crusnlngy convincing
force and satisfied vast majority OF Inc people o the
State that in these and many other psrucuats Iadcai
reforms necessary IN the cis poity Oh louisiana.
they would ever hope for assistance rom lns Jaws 10
the enjoyment of their rights and the attainment OF ndi-
vdua prosperity such they were fairly enlea 10 un-
der proper nst ubons. Save the writings OF ihonas
Jefferson upon the dangers and embarrassnen's ke 10
grow OF the perpetuaon in this country oil veteran
abuses in ffe law systems OF Europe, nave met WIN
other powerful exposition OF the proprety oil legal
reforms This paper. having served text Tor ihe ad-
yocates of reform in American Slate sabse.
queny amended. will remain the guide TO direct The
labors of all in the United States who. desng 10 live
10 The spirit OF the age, aim to elect changes IN iunda
mental regulations framed TO sui. society IL existed
half century since The limits OF this notice will NOT
permit me to quote from this elaborate paper Its eulo-
gy, however to be found in the fidelity with which the
principles il nculcates insisted upon by the reform
returned TO the conventions which have since emod
PEELED the constitutions OF not only Louisiana, but OF
Texas, Missouri and New York.
Under the stunning effect OF this report the bill OF Gen
Downs passed the senate by the constitutional vote-a
majority OF all the members elected to the body Unfor
unaely the house, instead of Immediately acting upon
it, took a copy OF the bill introduced by member,
which seriously endangered the consummation o the
project under the existing constitution, to authorize
the submission Of the question OF a convention 10 the
people, the bill for that purpose required 10 be enact
ed by both houses within the first twenty days OF the
sion. Commencing with motion for postponement,
equivalent TO moiion for its reiecon) The wings in the
house fought the bill at every step by proposing odous
amendments. and other tricks of legislative diplomacy,
which often enable minority TO defeat the purposes
OF the majority The bill was finally passed in shape
10 give the convention carte blanche to enact any and all
needfu constitutional reforms, without regard to lis
specfcaions but at so late PERIOD that legislative
coup de main was necessary to secure its re- enactment
by the senate within the constitutional term of twenty
days. To this end General Downs procured the suspen
sion OF rule standing in the way of its consideration
decision OF the chair against the motion. II was
passed within the constitutional hour, and returned again
to the house, the whg members of which body deserted
their seats to break up the usually required when
bills thus returned This ruse however proved of
no avail; for, as the friends Of the bill soon made
apparent, it had been enacted according to the forms
quired by the constitution, (Which did not demand its
of the legislature After short struggle upon this un-
important technicality the wings abandoned the contest
before the legislature and prepared to meet the friends OF
convention be called Of not AT The same session Of the
legislature, through the exertions of General Downs and
bis democratic fellowmembers. resolution for the ex
tension OF the suffrage 10 every free white male citizen
of the United States above the OF twenty years
passed the senate by the constitutional majority and was
laid the tablen the houses friends. before being
democrats with or two exceptions and Its opponents
all wings g
On the sih of January. 1912, the democrats Of Louis
lana met in New Orleans in State conventions and.
mating Governor Mouton their candidate for COVER
nor by resolutions and addressbo,h from the pen OF Gen.
Downs the most prominent menber-they made the pro.
reforms their issues OF the approaching
In This address General d. formally incorporated the
the banking system Of the State which he and other
individual democrats had carried since 1897 in the
cycle of the measures OF the democratic party. !,
first time eectng majority Of The legislature and OBJ
tanning the order OF the people f0r the assembling
of the convention to revise and amend the constilu-
| ton.
AT the succeeding session of the legislature an election
for members OF the convention ordered under the vote
Of the people above referred to- and in the memorable
fofl fbay ch fbprn vUaa
the life and soul OF the movement-Gen S. w. Downs
himself AS the wings bad opposed the proposition in it's
every stage, in this election they badly beatena
handsome majority OF the members chosen being demo
crais in favor of thorough and sweeping reforms.
On the 14h of January 1916, this important body met in
New Orleans and sat de die diem until the 10th OF
May following--ful four months Both political parties
having sent up their first embraced, indeed almost
all the great and learned men OF the State identified in any
manner with public affairs. During the year previous
the meeting Of this body Gen Downs had been elected
brgadier genera-an office of responsibility and labor
under the old constitution OF Lousanaand had served
the State senator and in the capacity OF elector for
President and Vice President; which, in the South, II will
be remembered requires devotion OF all the time and
talent Of the candidate for the ye six months OF the
year in which residents OF Louisiana avoid active bodily,
or mental exerion as dangerous TO health. While
gagged in the discharge OF his duties member OF the
convention, he honored with the unsolicited appoint
ment OF district attorney for the district of Louisiana
by Mr. Polk Gen. Downs, however, did not qualify
and enter upon the discharge Of the duties Of this Office
before seeing his hopes OF radical constitutional reform
crowned with success. The wings opposed with vehe-
ment resistance almost all the reforms proposed and
especially the proposition to place naurazed ci
zens in all respects footing with those OF native
birth Upon this question: which the subject OF pro-
acted debate. in which all The great minds OF the con
venion participated, he and few others delivered
arguments OF much force-so conclusively demon
stranr the improperly OF requiring longer residence
in the State TO enie noiuraiSed citizens OF the United
States to the franchise than il the intention OF the
convention 10 demand OF the native .born-that without
distinction OF party the Europeans by BIRTH residents OF
New Orleans, presented them with an address and
medals recur to this fact, because in having occa-
sion denounce the tone OF Mr. Galatins famous pam.
phle against the Mexican in speech in the Senate
OF the United Staes he took occasion TO point out in
sionsupon the integrity and character Of the United State.
government on the part OF those naiurazed citizens,
whose hearts. like that of Mr.. Gaaiin, wrapped up
in the systems of the European world This portion OF
his famous speech ION the Mexican war was garbled
and msquoted by the federal press with the design OF
creating upfounded impression that his sympathes
with the Native American party This very char
by his previous abos to unimpared and without
delay all the rights OF citizenship TO the foreign bon
promised in the legislation OF the general government
that il is not necessary TO be further noticed here
Bat TO the thread OF my history. The consti-
tuition Of Louisana, then extending. (Which had been
adopted in 1921 but version Of the old consn
tion OF Kentucky the mperfectons OF which gave
the embarassments and the general of its c
zens ending in the beforrotten cold" and ne
was finally swept from their statute The night oI
suffrage restricted without Judgment The
Judiciary were Irresponsible and held Office for life Oh
course, therefore, they were inefficient tyrannical, and
corrupt The public expenditures enormous, OF
proportion 10 the means Of the State having really brought