New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1852-08-03
DAILY CRESCENT.
OFFICIAL JOURNAL
OF THE CONSOLIDATED CITY OF NEW oRLE

OFFICIAL JOURNAL
Of THE CONSOLIDATED CITY OF NEW ORLEANS.
UI OFFICIAL.
JOURNAL OF THE STATE CONVENTION.
.- "WEDNESDAY, July q, 1852
! Tho Convention met pursuant to adjournment.
The Rev. Mr.. Harmond opened the proceedings with
| prayer. So sH-'' -. - e.
Present: Hon. D. T. kenner President Of the Conven
| tion, in the chair, and 104 delegates. ..
Mr. Taliafero, from the minority Of the Committee
the Legislative Department submitted the following re-
| port ri L-.f .l ...-.#. ~
The undersigned. meInoers Of tle Committee the
Legislative Department. whom referred articles
10 and 16 of the Constitution being unable to
with the majority Of the committee respectfully ask leave
| 10 submit this their separate report s.
We dissent from the views Of the majority chiefly
CARDS the proper basis of representation The majority
Of the committee basis the total popula-
ton of the State This basis then incudes the slave
population and the free people of color Tho minority of
the committee cannot basis Of representation, recog
nize MS persons slaves and free people Of color Slaves
under our institutions have political existence We
cannot therefore, in this connection recognize them in
other character than constituting property and
object to the Introduction Of property basis Of
presentation in either brauch Of the Legislature. and
more especially in the numerous branch We re-
sectfuly submit that basis thus formed Of the total
population will, il adopted be unequal basis. We OBJ
ect to it the ground that is contrary to the genius
Of republican institutions because nfnges that per-
feet equality in political rights that should exist among
the people who constitute the governing
is founded upon falacious mode of reasoning and be-
cause II adopted it will be Of dissatisfaction and
complaint among the people It is of the Of
pubicanism that every free citizen should stand as
CARDS political rights terms OF perfect equality with
every other free citizen OF the community. In the
councils ct the State the will ard the Of every free
citizen should be equally heard and have equal weight
and influence. Upon the basis Of white population
upon the electoral basis in opinion. confer
that equality fully than by any other method that
bs adopted But that equality cannot be obtained
by the basis Of the total population. This believe
may easily bs shown. For example By the census OF
1850 the Parish Of 4ersas contains population Of nine
hundred whites and eight thousand one hundred and
thirty slaves in the whole, nine thousand and
forty.
The Parish Of Concordia has, by the enumeration Of
1850 white population of eight hundred and twenty
three and slave population Of six Thousand nine hun
dred and thirty in all thousand hundred
and hfty. eight. .. ,. -rWi-
Assuming the number of Representatives to be one
hundred, and estimating by the census, we shall
that these Parishes together do not contain upon
white basis, population sufficient to entitle them col
ectvely Representative and they would only have
Representatives the principle that every Parish shall
be entitled least Representative But by adopt
ing the basis Of total popuaton the Parish Of Tensas
would be entitled to Representatives and the Parish
of Concorda you'd approximate very nearly to two By
the basis of the whole population the Parishes of Cla
borne and Bienve the former having white Population
of four thousand nine hundred and fortynne. and ths
atter Of three thousand six hundred and twentythrce
wonld be entitled each to only one Representative
Here, then that the white population Of Tensa
and Concora amounting only to seventeen hundred
twenty three has power and influence in the Hous
Representatives than the white population of Claiborne
and Benvile. amounting to eight thousand FIVE hundret
and seventy two Claiborne has thousand and Sc
venty- voters, and Bienville hundred ans
sxy-seyen making in both Parishes one thousand egh
| hundred and fort y-six voters. ----s---s-4---
In the Parish Of Tensas there are three hundred an
thirty voters and in Goncoria two hundred and eighty
making. in these two Parishes, six hundred and ter
Then six hundred and ten voters in Teuas and Concol
dia wos.d have weight and influence in the Hous
Representatives than thousand eight hundred an
forty-six voters in Claiborne and Bienyic would hay
because the Parishes last named would have only RI
presentaves and the Parishes of Tensas and Concord
| would have three. .
The principle that property should he represented a
well persons, hold be fallacious and inappcabl
to the condition of things that exist in this country.
England, where there distinctly organized classes
where the society is composed Of different orders cear
defined where all the property owners found in
classes and in another class very large porto
of the people, who property and who can neve
become propetors Of real estate this doctrine prevail
and doubtless in that country it holds good it
sonabe that under such organization OF society," tn
rights of property should be guarded against egsatv
lection But different state of things exists in Louis
lana. In the State at large ueaving out New oreans)
may safely that maory of the voters pre-
perty large portion of them are owners {
land or slaves of both land and slaves. Under tn
fostering influence Of liberal institutions it Is with
the reach OF every man to acquire ownership in
species of property. Accordingly, find that yer
large number do own land or slaves or both The
who owns small plantation or tract OF land which
is cutvatng and improving his home for himself
his posterty and who may may not few slave
feels much interest in the enactment of laws th
preservation and protection Of property as the mos
wealthy planter in the State Then. this il
terest asa1S from the ownership OF land and slaves
the reA4 preponderating interest Of the State and
obviously continue SO to be- where is the necessity
this separate element of representation Why esabls
basis Of representation that manestly introduces
inequality between parishes between the citizens
different parishes But if property is to be repreSene(
why limit the principle to slave property alone! Wh
not include lands and houses and lots and every othe
species Of property? 1t is clearly UNEQUAL basis
this view Of the subject Why should not the owner
lands, worth ten thousand dollars houses and lot
worth that SUM- have his property represented well
the Of slaves. valued at the amount have h
slaves represented The land the houses and lots
yield in the way Of rents and thereby become
productive property well as slaves. Many citizens
Louisiana OWE land who own slaves, and there is
very large number OF slaves in Louisiana whose owner
are citizens OF the State In any view that
take Of the basis Of the total population it to th
minority of the committee objectionable. and that
should not prevail In revising the organic law the Cor
vention should avoid the adoption Of any principle cacr
lated produce local sectional preudices in relao
to State legislation and Of opinion that the intr
aucon the proposed basis Of representation woul
have that Although Objectionable in either branc
it is more so when INTRODUCED into both branches.
view however, of the difficulties arising from this
question the minority of the committee recommend tn,
the basis of representation existing be readopted
| Signedl JAMES G. TALlATERRo
Without concurrng in all the assigned by judi
Taliaerro his opposition to the report of the msort
yet unite with him in recommending the adoption
the basis Of representation fixed in the Constitution
1s45 and shall give my therefor when the sube
comes up for consideration.
4 ISicnedl Gno. NJ. sANpIDGE.