New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1856-01-28
T,1sa,Isr,DIIsNcE rs THE CONSTITUTION

syl,;Ie ~ near 4 preat deal said about the rowdy
I'M, a, violence that have 1nfor tunately character
lied the past fem months, in which thereis some truth
AMI d great amount of falsehood; while Governors
Hreer to tile subject in State documents while sena
tors and Representatives talk and act as though the
s,iyation Of the whole earth depended upon their
broad shoulders and while newspapers descant upon
the matter in ponderous leaders, it seems to It's the
true cause Of the eYlhas been entirely overlooked by
4 the high discussing parties.
The proposition has never been controverted, and
probably will be, that children acquire their hab-
its OF Life from their parentshe source of their being.
the parents be SOBER industrious and moral, if they
continually set good example to their offspring, the
chances are ten to one that the latter will grow up
sober, industrious and moral. If the parents be dis
solute, idle and depraved, the chances hundred
to that the children viii turn out faithful counter
parts of their progenitors. And it IS equally unde
niabe that this innate natural feeling, influence or
prncipe-no matter what it is termed-holds sway
and controls to "a greater or less extent either for
good or for bad in all the multifhrious relations Of
life, private POLITICAL legislative, judicial or govern
mental. "a government that respects the rights of
others, enacts wise and just laws, and faithfully i'm
partially, and efficiently carries them into execution
instls into the minds Of the people living under it
habits of order, peace and quiet combined with a
reverence for and attachment to- the law and officers
of the law, just as sure sober and moral father
induces his son to habits Of sobriety and morality.
And, as necessary consequence, government, or
any portion of it, that rthlessy tranples upon the
rights of Others that obeys or disobeys the laws Of its
own making, when temporary or permanent advan-
tage is to be gained supernduces general adstrust
of and contempt for the law and the officers Of tile
law throughout the community These feelings very
naturally lead to occurrences as alarming as deplo
Tahle. tts5 =zi 5s5l 59 ,5.4f
( For NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. of the election outrages
that have taken place within twelve months, we be-
eve it can the government of Lousi-
ana is responsibe We1nean that branch from which,
under the constitution, all laws must emanate-the
Legislative branch For three or four sessions of the
Legislature the constitutional lawmakers Of the
commonwealth have systematically refused to carry
out Or obey the unsta liable mandate Of one Of the
articles Of the supreme law Of the land, which
each Senator and had to take solemn
oath sworn on Cons Holy Book, to abide by and en-
force with loyalty and truth before they were allowed
to occupy the seats to which they had been elected
by the sovereign people.
| Il Wepen these words in sorrow, not in anger. We
or cast implied direct reproach upon any party or
any set political leaders. We only wish by referring
10 the neglects Of the past, and pointing out the
nlournfnI consequences that have flowed therefrom,
to awaken ii the minds of our legislators full sense
of the necessity which devolyes upon them to obey the
supreme law, in letter and in spirit, before they bring
their session to close If they laugh to scorn the
constitution, or any portion of it, honored as they
stituencies how can it be expected that the peopIe
generally, and the floating population particularly,
will not follow the pernicious examples thus set and
trample upon laws which they enact, when inclination
and interest hold out temptation.
Viewing the question in this light, which is strictly
fair logical and legitimate the conclusion is irresist
BILE that vast majority Of the outbursts spoken of by
are directly traceable to disregard Of the supreme
law by the very lawmakers themse1vs, The evil seed
sown in high places has brought forth balefl crop
If legislators would have statutes passed by them
obeyed and respected by the masses Of the conlmuni-
ty who have taken oaths in the premises they too
must respect and obey the law which is superior to
them and which they have taken solemn oath to
4 respect and obey. %. 4..es .,..4.lnG- 5...
The neglect of past legislation to enact Registry
i Law according to the requirements of the 18th
allie the people Of this State to bring the law into
contempt, andt cause violations of the law to be
looked upon in the light of venial Offences than any
or all other causes combined. To show that the Con
sttuton is imperative the subject, and that there
is no ambiguity whatever we quote the 18th Article
entire; FG42. y 't &.-'t
ART IL The Legislature SHALL PROVIDE BY YAw that th
names and residence all qualified electors City New
hut the registry shall free of the eector.
si9 The meaning Of the foregoing it is impossible tx
J, misunderstood, misnterpret, or mscomprehend. Il
i is plain and positive The English language is nsus
!; ceptible of giving explicit order-a more i'm
i perative order--or more arbitrary order The lie
gslature shdW provide by law for specified regis
tration. Thus readeth the paramount law Of tht
State of Louisiana under which it exists as sover
! eighty, and without which it would not be known t.
the glorious family of States comprising the Nortl
American Republic. But the Legislature refused tx
obey that paramount law, session after session. al
though appealed to by the press, the people, and
respectable number of Senators and Representatives
i And in SO doing two-fod evil was committed:. LIST
precedent was set that party majority might ne
glect Article of the Constitution when that majority
deemed it eXpedent. Of course if one Article can b.
neglected and set at defiance the same majority if
+ disposed, may neglect and defy any or all of TIL
u
. other Articles. End. Dangerous such o preceden
unquestionaby is the consequences which have howe
directly from tare still more dangerous and deploable
The tniasses--we mean the turbulent and unrul
among them--saw the chosen representatives of til
people, year after year, deliberately neglecting the
duties and splitting contunely upon the source of
l. legal authority known to the State and very natural
concluded that when grave Senators and Represents
tives became law-hreakers, that humble and unpr
! tending individuals should not be too stringent
manaced by Legislative enactments. Here is the foul
of the evil all good men deplore, and by none mo-
i deeply than the editors of this paper Bad examp
\ in high places has done nearly all the mischief. An
s while that bad example continues, we may expe
+ the evil to continue and to augment. There is
!. use Of inveighing against the subordinate. agen
i of the law for not enforcing it, when the We
i source Of statutory enacments refuses submissic
/ to the highest earthly law. This pernicious exal
pie not only stimulates crime, but it weakens Il
power and authority of the conservators of the pea
N in corresponding ratio
L. Had the first Legislature under the new constit
C. ton enacted such Registry Law that nstrlime
requires sincerely believe election day troubles
4l,crp ho,y