New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1861-03-18

SATURDAY, March lG, 1S6l.-The Convention
met at noon; President Mouton in the chair and
eighty-seven members present The journal was
read and approved.
Mr. Bienyenu offered an ordinance requesting
the President to lay before the Convention the
official vote of the parishes Of this State at the
election for delegates to this Convention.
Mr.. Bubh moved for a suspension of the rules in
order to take action on the ordinance, and Mr.
| Rozier seconded the motion, explaining it as bis
opinion that in view of the Constitution being
about to be submitted to the Convention, it was Of
great Importance that the official vote of the
parishes should be known.
The President ruled out further discussion; and
the motion to suspend the rules was lost by yeas
% to nays n. The ordinance, consequently had
to lie over.
MI Manning offered an ordinance to extend the
session of the Legislature for fifteen days more,
and to amend Article s. Of the State Constitution
relative to. Referred to the Committee on the
| Constitution.
! Mr.. Walker presented two claims, which were
referred to The Finance Committee.
Mr.. Thomasson offered a resolution to change
the hour of meeting to 10 o'clock. Laid over, the
rules not being suspended.
Mr.. Olivier reported an ordinance making
amendments to the Constitution. It was ordered
to be printed.
Mr.. York presented copy of the Constitution Of
the Confederate Government, which he said was
duly authenticated by the signature of Mr.. Cobb,
and moved that it be printed and made the special
order for Wednesday next. He had received it
from Col. Lockridge, who was on his way to
| Texas.
Mr. Lewis, stating that resolution had been
adopted authorizing the President to have the off
cial document printed and submitted to the Con-
vention as soon as received, and offering other
objections, Mr. York withdrew his motion.
Mr.. Fuqua of the Special Committee appointed
TO revise the ordinances, presented an ordinance
repealing some of the ordinances and amending
others. It was laid over.
Mr.. Marks, of Caddo, offered resolution invit-
ing to seats within the bar those Louisiana dele
gates to the Montgomery Convention who were not
members of this Convention. Adopted. The
Hon. Jacob Thompson, late Secretary of the In
terior was, on motion, included in The invita-
ton.
The special order Of the day, to-wt, Mr.. Can.
mons ordinance 10 submit to the vote Of the peo.
pie the Permanent Constitution of the Confederate
States, was taken up and debated at length.
Mr.. Cannon, being invited to take his stand al
the clerks desk and give his views in support O.
his ordinance, did so, ably and at length sustain
ing himselfnot onlyby argument, but by reference
to history, and quotations from leading newspapers
etc. In some parts of his address his usual pleas
ant humor broke forth, and upon concluding hi
was much applauded.
Mr.. Elan opposed the ordinance, on the GROUND
that the people had delegated to this Convention
full power to take this State out of the Union ant
to form another Government For this purpose
the Convention was empowered to form an ALI
ance with other States; and it was for this body
and none other, to act upon the Constitution FL
believed there was no occasion for delay, or any
time to spare.
Mr.. Rozer spoke at length in favor of the ordi
nance. Whilst he was speaking, Mr.. Lawrence
interrupted him with the question, if he had eve
? signed the ordinance of secession? Mr.. R. an
swered, No, and so help me God, I never will
. Mr. Lawrence: " That accounts for the gentle
mans opposition" Mr.. Rozier: " Are you an
! swered, sir? think you are, fully" The chai
called the gentlemen to order, and Mr.. Rozier con
. clnded hi4 speech.
: Mr.. Semmes spoke in opposition to submitting
] the Constitution to the people. He did not believ
the Convention called on to submit to the peopl
what the people had delegated the Convention Il
: attend to.
: Mr.. Moore followed on the same side.
Mr.. RoseIius spoke atlength in favor Of the ordi
! nance.
Mr.. Walker called for the previous question