New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1861-03-20
Neh OrIenus 9uiIv Greseal1t,
Convention Of the state Of Louisiana.
WEDNESDAY MORNING. MARCH 20, 1861.

N
he registry of voters in the city and parish of Or
leans. which was read and ordered 20 be printed
and laid over. The chief feature of the ordinance
s that recurring the Registrar to cancel his present
REGISTERS and to open new set Of books.
Mr.. Moore offered resolution to appoint spe-
cial committee of fifteen members TO apportion the
State into six Congressional Districts
Mr. Manning stated that his ordinance OF SatuT-
dov to extend the session of the Legislature, had
for its object that the Legislature should attend to
this business, and moved Suspension OF the rules,
that his ordinance be taken up
Mr.. Kidd desired TO have the latest census re-
turns before consenting to a suspension Of the
rules with view Of putting the resolution on lts
passage.
The resolution was taken up.
BIr. Stockcr objected to present action on ac-
count of the incomplete manner in which the cen
sus had been taken in this city.
Mr.. Briscoe thought had better adopt the
Confederate Constitution before providing for mem
bers Of Congress.
Mr.. Moore explained that lis resolution contcn-
plated only a preparatory measure.
hIr Kidd preferred the ordinance OF hr. Man
ning providing for an extension Of the session OF
the Legislature. He explained that the election OF
Senators belonged only to that body.
Mr. Manning did not think the Legislature had
authority to elect Senators in. this instance. H's
ordinance merely contemplated authorizing the
LEGISLATURE to rc-iistrict the State. However, he
did not care which body did the work, but he
thought the matter orghtto be aotcdupon at once.
Mr., laurence stated that he had heard that
though tho Legislature not to adjourn until
Thursday there would probably be not quorum
Of that b0dy On Wednesday.
Mr.. M0ore's resolution was adopted
Efr. Miles offered a resolution that the ConfcdeT-
nte Constitution be referred to q committee Of
esgcn, 70 report what action should be taken
+y,ereon. Mr. If. had no doubt the Constitution
would be almost unanimously adopted, but there
were some Objectionable clauses in it, upon which
the Convention SHOULD early express its sense
The resolution laid over under the rules.
tfr. Lawrence moved that the Constitution Of the
Confederate States be taken up and read, and
made the special order for tomorrow (to,day) al
II o'clock. After some rambling discussion, the
Constitution was taken up, and, on motion Of 1r
Heron {AIr. Lawrencc's motion being los) the
Convention proceeded to act upon it at once.
Mr. Heron said that since the Convention had
refused TO put the Constitution to the people, the
Convention had but thing to do, and that was
to adopt The Constitution as whole, leaving the
necessary amendments to be made hereafter, il
the manner prescribed by the instrument itself
He moved lie adoption Of the Constitution as &
whole.
Mr. Stockcr stated THAT he did not consider him
self empowered to vote for the adoption, since hi
constituency had been refused the opportunity
expressing their opinion upon the Constitution h'
would therefore vote against ii, but if ho had hat
an opportunity at the polls he would have votet
for it.
Messrs. Brlscoe and DeBIanc said they woult
vote ior it, and gave their reasons, the latter q
length.
Mir. Miles exceedingly regretted the course thing
had tuiscn He opposed what he termed the incon
siderate ana hasty action Of the Convention, il
strong language. To adopt the Constitution nov
and in the manner proposed, he said would be pro
dnctiye Of the most perncious and fatal results
He cited one provision of the Constitution as some
thing not to be approved by this Convention; tina
which provides that any member of the executive
department of the Confederate Government Shol
have authority to take his seat in either house 0
Congress, aud to discuss any measure connected
with his department.. This he denounced in 9tr0ni
language, as something intended by the few
power to shape the whole legislation of the Con
federacy, without any direct responsibility TO th
penpe. He also denounced the manner in whIci
the administration of the public money was pro
vided for. Under Il Constitution with such prov
sions, if adopted we might fancy ourselves fr"
people, but in reality we would not be free. TIL
Brilons fancied they were free under William tb
Conuueror. He further denounced, as the mns
oaions feature Of all, that provision allowing Gel
tain appointed officers to hold Office for life.
Mr.. Lewis, of Claiborne, sided with Mr.. Miles
,lrl a. (r-V,, ti,,r, F,,r5 5ty
nation in some matters and its great haste in this.
FbIr Estlin moved that the further consideratio
of this question be postponed till tomorrow (tt
day) at y O'Clock.
The Convention disagreed upon this notion an
the yeas and nays were called for. The resn
stood yeas SO, nays 35. So there was postpone
ment.
Mr.. Kidd offered arosolution that the Convento
adjourn on Saturday next at IL o'clock, sine di
Laid over.
Mr.. Valentine moved that the Convention no
adjourn; this raising buzz, he withdrew his MT
ton.
Mr.. Fuu,a, of the committee appointed to revis
the ordinances, reported an ordinance repealn
some Of the ordinances, and asked that action
had, The molten was lost, and the ordinance la
over.
resolution was offered that Mr.. Williamson
COMMISSIONER to Texas, be requested to report h
proceedings to this Convention. Lsd over.
Other resolutions of minor import were ofere
and referred to the proper committees.
The hour not having arrived for The special orde
and there being nothing before the Conventio
Mr.. Fuquas ordinance Gust previously laid owe
was taken up, section by section.
The words. " so long as may continue citizt
thereof" were stricken out of the third section
Upon the fourth section, there was considerab
debate between Messrs Olivier, Manning, Tappf
and Fuqua. The section adopted, with
amendatory proviso, offered by Mr.. Lewis of Cls
borne.
The sixth section, after some debate, was passt
over for the present.
The seventh, eighth and ninth sections we
adopted the latter with an amcndatory proyia
The other sections were laid over, rive will pu
lish the ordinance when adopted in whoIe.l
?" The hour being /, the special order of the da
to-wit, the Ordinance relative to Banks and Ban
ing was taken mp and Mr.. Bonfords ordinan
Il concerning the Judiciary, which had been fix
d for this day, was, on motion, postponed to Frida
u When the debate closed on Monday, Mr.. Grart
motion to strike out the enaciing clause Giant
y mosnt to rejection Of the whole billy was still b