New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1856-02-13
Is there my Constitutional LAW In the Land


The above is grave and serious question one
that every honest and intelligent citizen should ask
himself and answer camly and dspasslonately, after
examining the acts OF partsans since the adoption of
the Constitution under which we now live, and
calmly considering the arbitrary and unWa1ranted
proceedings of the legislative body in session. to
obey, it would seem, and put into force and effect
the DEGREES Of secret caucsses and the edlcts OF what
is known as the Democratic Central Committee of
louisiana a selfconstituted trihunal-the supreme
Judge of the Constitution of the State and the laws Of
the land We belong neither in body or soul, to any
political party and are not now appealing to the preJu-
dices Of the people but ask ALL Of whatever persua-
sion of politics. 10 put aside their preudices and view
with calmness and mpartiaty the acts Of the pres.
ent Legislature i'll reference to the clear provisions of
the Constitution andtheir arbitrary and unwarraned
ejectment Of $50 fa no less than six legally elected
Representatives of the people in that body To our
mind there is constitutional law in the land The
State of Louisiana s in this respect like other States
Of the Union; of which an English writer has very
truly said, "the people make the laws and therefore
they have right to break them at pleasure, and the
majority trample the rights of the minority with
| the iron heel of despotisn."
We do not ask the people to look farther back in
history than the adoption of the present constitu-
ton but for the sake of their liberties, which
in jeopardy by the action Of faction of demagogues
held together by the adhesive properties OF plumber
to how clear constitutional provisions to secure
our commercial emporium from fraud and anarchy
have been disregarded by the nuuiston under which
the State is now ruled The party in power has failed
to provide q registry law for New Orleans; why?
Is there any man whose intellect is so obtse as not to
divine the reason? We presume not The power
OF the dominant party lies in tile hands of class Of
people, in way identified with the interest of the
State, and registry law would cut off thousands
who stand as man by them, for the mere charm of
! the word Democrat an z5.s..
| Citizens of Louisiana, 1--WE appeal to none other)
will you taely submit to this condition of things and
permit this proverbaly order loving people to lapse
into anarchy and confusion by default of your own
action at the baliot-box? Throw down for mo-
nlent the hired irWectiyes Of base and unprnciped
sCrbbers for party organs and ask yourselves these
questions We have been told that legally constituted
judges OF eection-citizens of the country-sWorn to
perform their duties, incompetent to decide upon
the qualifications of those who come up with the
sanction Of selfcQnstituted tribunal of demagogues
to perpetrate frauds at the very fountain head OF
| liberty, -l94.4
We have been Did that if votes are rejected at the
proper place wheie they shoad be deposited, then
there shall be one two three places where ir
responsible parties hold the boxes-to allow such to
vote if they have with them the watchword of 20 De
| hocracy.'s Ay, anda legislative body, claiming TO
W conscisnciously takes such chaf, to weigh down
tfe opinion of our honest citizens. when the scale
turns in favor of this sefstyled Democracy. Shall
this thins' s'centinue? The humbest as well as most
exalted Fan raise his voice in answer. What is 1t to
! lead tGl Why the whole machinery Of government
is at an end the Legislature degeneIates INTO mao
mob which Rarat or Danton IS alone nj 10
preside Had there been majority on the otiler Sloe
in the legislature we do not pretend to say that there
would not have been partialty shown Tue Alnerleth
party in this matter OF contested eectohs pe we
say that the high handed measures so fresh before the
people for their inspection would not have Deen re
sorted to- 1t is tlsuty of every citizen OF this State,
If not of the Union itself, to procure the pamphlet
shortly to be published by order of the legislature
and examine into this matter, before the door now
opened to anarchy, is knocked down. There can be
but one honest opinion in reference to it.
...N... [Baton Rouge Comet.