The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1859-10-12
NUMBER Y.
The House took up this substitute

Wnlcn considers II " iRcdlcutdGiy adnSef0aS
to intrust the privilege of voting to oil
white male citizens possessing all requis-
lite qualifications but that of owning land,
and proceeded to act upon it
Mr.. Morse moved to lay the substitute
onythe table indsfuitely, which was equiv
alent to killing it. The motion was killed
by 10 for and % against it---Hon. Thos.
j. Wells voting no-that is, for the pro-
scriptiye substitute
On the same page of the journal we fad
that Mr.. Conrad moved to lay the whole
subject on the table-the original resolu-
ton and the substitute-thus defeating
the resolution of the Senate extending the
principle ofuniyersal suffrage, upon which
motion we find Gen. Wells, true to the in
stincts Of Federal hostility to the people,
voting in the affirmative.
On another occasion--see page 81,
House Journal-we find him still resist
ing public opinion, and voting to prevent
a Convention whereby the defects and
anti.democratic features Of the Constitut
ton might be changed to meet the. wants
Of the growing State. Wequote from the
Journal
Order Of the day--a An act for taking the sense
Of the good people Of this State the necessity
of calling Convention to amend the Constitution
To kill this bill-which only contem-
plated submitting the question of calling
Convention to the people--we find the
Wings resorting to a system Of parlismen-
tary tactics which would answer the ex-
igencies Of partyism without coming to 4
dircctissue with the question.
Mr. Conrad moved to postpone this bilf
until the FIRST Monday Of January, 1s42--
a year oH-the Legislature to adjourn in
the meantime SO as to prevent any action
whatever. The Speaker decided the mo-
ton to be out Of order, when Mr.. Wads-
worth appealed from the decision. Gen.
Ratliff called for the yeas and nays. and
Mr.. Wells is again found voting to post.
pone a Convention by opposing the Speak
er's decision.
on page 81, Journal Of the same year,
Gen. Wells is again found nlanifesting his
| love for old ideas Of Government and in
opposition to the will Of a more advanced
civilization. That was the striking out
of a bill under discussion the following
clause !: That all judges shall be ap-
pointed for q limited period Of gears, and not
for lifs" Forstriking out 20. sgaint ID
Gen. Wells voting y.s! by which means
Judges Of our Courts were made lifetime
officers and relieved of direct RESPONSE
bility to either the people or the Legisla-
Iture.
| Notwithstanding this opposition Of Gen.
1 Wells and his political associates, new
Constitution, giving the right to all white
male citizens who had acquired resi-
dence, was adopted in 1916. and the In
creased wealth, population and progress
Iof the State in her material prosperity.
Iproyes that universal suffrage vindicates
! I. ts74sa s.s+5 -
the people fromtfle charge Of ignorance
Econtained in Mr.. Conrad's substitute for
the Senate resolution.
One more votesof Gen. Wells and We
1 are done for the present. On page %,
Journal ls4l -same ,sshject. calling Con-
vention under considerationAMr. Win
chester moved to strike out the following
paragraph !" That Sheriffs, Clerks, Cor
oners and other parish officers Be elected
by The peopls.v Mr. Wells voted 10 strike
! this clause out, and thus deprive the peo-
pie Of elccting their own parochial officers,
Istill exhibiting that doubt in til liadg-
Iment and capacity Of the people
government which was incnlcated
days Of Hamiltonian federalism.
| With this record staring them
face, can the getters-up Of the /"
ton ticket have the effrostery
men who hold no property to yotefo
Wells, when it has been shown th|
! whole political life has been devat
] the support Of measures for the restl
5 Iaof suffrage and consequently for ests
ing an Inequality among white uen
SIS AZ unjust as it's anti,RepBbll
When solicited 80 to vote, will those
would have been prescribed by contln
the old order Of things, as Gen.
desired, respond yea or nay? The d
ton is not dillicnlt to answer. .,s.s 1
CRors ON New RiyEa.- Acadian
the Sd inst, says: e.,
4 -