New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1861-02-02

IAPORTANT DELIEERATToNs.
FRIDAY, Feb. l, 18G1.-The Convention assem-
bled at quarter to IL o'clock, a. M.
Prayer was offered by the Rev. Father Perche
of the Catholic Church.
The roll was called, and los members answered
to their names.
The journal was read and approved.
Report of thc Military Board.
The President announced having received from
Gov. Moore report from the Military Board. On
motion, the report was referred to the Military
Committee without reading.
The Secret Proceedings.
Mr.. Elgee moved that the injunction of secresy
be removed from the secret proceedings of Tues
day last and that the minutes of those proceedings
be read. Mr.. Semmeg concurred, and the
motion carried.
Mr.. Olivier asked if all the secret proceedings
were to be read. The President answered yes, as
he understood it, Dir. Walker objected to a GER
tain part of the proceedings being read. MFR.
Elgee concurred; the vote was reconsdered and
the resolution was laid oyer to be acted on at the
next secret session.
Tfie Public Lands.
Mr.. BOnf0rd offered resolution that the Presi-
dent appoint standing committee of seven men,
bers on Public Lands, in addition to the standing
committees already appointed. Adopted.
Paying Government Employees.
Mr.. Wilkinson, Of Plaquemines offered a rego-
luton providing for the payment of persons who
have been at work on the Government Works in
this State, and moved its reference to the Com
mittee on Commerce. Referred
Another Amendment.
Mr. Thomasson of Claiborne, offered an ordi.
nance to amend Article S1st of the Constitution in
reference to the election of Judges of the inferior
Courts by the people, etc. Referred to the Com.
mittee on the Constitution.
PRONUNCIATION of Ordinances.
A resolution was offered instructing the Commit
; tee on the Judiciary to report ordinance pro
vidins for the PRONUNCIATION of the ordinances o
this Convention. Adopted.
Assistant Secretary. ~
, Mr. Rozier, of the committee appointed to in
quire into the necessity of an additional Assistant
Secretary for the Convention reported strongly il
favor of such an officer and offered resolu
ton authorizing the Secretary to appoint secont
Assistant. The resolution was adopted.
Purchase of War Vessels.
Mr. Davidson, of Sabine, offered a resolution re
quiring the Military Committee to inquire into and
report upon the expediency of purchasing the wal
steamers Gen. ALiramon and Marquis de la Habana
now lying in this port. Referred to the Military
Committee.
Standing Committees.
The President called for reports from standing
committees. None had reports ready, except tn,
Committee on Enrolment, who, through Mr.. d.
i Blanc, reported a list of ordinances and othe
1 documents which had been enrolled,
Order of the Day.
The order of the day. to.wit, the ordinanc
amending the Constitution, was taken up at l
O'Clock.
t Mr.. Olivier, Chairman of the Committee on tn
Constitution, read and explained the sections o
the ordinance, one by one and as there was de
bate upon some of the sections, and as some sec
tons were not adopted, we separate them, in order
to show the action upon each:
, ORDINANCE.
We, the people of the State of Louisiana, il
Convention assembled, do declare and ordain, ant
it is hereby declared and ordained,
lst. That Article tenth Of the Constitution Of
this State be altered SO as to read follows, to
wit: Every free white male who has attained the
age Of twentyone years, and who has been cti
zen and resident Of the State twelve months neX
preceding the election and the last six months
| thereof in the parish in which he offers to vote
shall have the right of voting, but no voter on re
moving from one parish to another, within the
State, shall lose the right OF voting in the former
until he shall have acquired it in the latter Elect
orS shall, in all cases, except treason, felony OF
breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest
during their attendance at, going to, or returning
from elections
Mr.. Olivier stated that the only change in Article
10 consisted in inserting the words "a citizen and
in place, and striking out citizen of the United
States'' in another place. Mr.. RoZier, moved tc
amend further, by adding to the section provsc
defining the strict meaning of the word citizen
Mr.. Olivier objected to the proviso, seeing no ne
cessity for it. Mr. Elan thought the Committee or
Citizenship should first define the meaning Of
citizenship, and then let this section be framed tc
} accord with it. After further debate, between
Messrs Olivier, Rozier, EIam, Lawrence and Bush
the above section was made the special order o.
the day for next Monday just after the Convention
shall have acted on the report of the Committee
} on Citizenship.
I'd. That Article twelfth of the Constitution O.
this State be altered to read follows, to-
wit No SOLDIER seaman mariner in the d77n7
or RdUy Of this State, no pauper no person undeI
introduction, nor under conviction of any crime
punishable with hard labor, shall be entitled tc
vote at any election in this State
Upon this section there a lengthy debate
Mr.. Perkins, of Orleans, moved to amend by strik-
ing out the words above printed in italics, and argued
the right Of soldiers, seamen and mariners to vote
as we'll as other people. Mr.. Moore, of St. Martin
warmly seconded Mr.. Perkins. Mr.. Olivier opposed
the striking out, and stated that the object in ex
Guiding the classes named from the right of suf
frage to prevent that unity of action in those
classes, by which the Government might be sub
verted, and become a despotism under military
despot. He stated that all history showed that nc
class of men were ever so devo ted to their leaders
as soldiers. Mr.. Tappan took strong grounds against
Mr.. Olivier, and stood up stoutly for the soldiers
Mr.. Tappan's speech being twice applauded
in the lobby and galleries, Mr.. Walker called upon
the President to protect the Convention from these
noisy and insulting Interruptions; and the Pres
dent gave the order to have the lobby and galleries
cleared if any more noise were heard Mr.. Walker
went on and explained that the clause relative to
soldiers, seamen and mariners, as copied from the
State Constitution, had reference only to such as
were in the employ of the United States Govern
ment. Mr.. Marks of Caddo. was willing to accept
Mr.. Perkins amendment, but still agreed with Mr.
Olivier that it was dangerous thing to give sol
diers the right of suffrage. Mr.. Wilkinson, Of
Plaquemines, took the same side with Messrs. OF
Vier and Marks. Mr.. Olivier spoke again, saying
that the section had reference to regular stand