Shreveport semi-weekly news. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1865-18??, 1865-09-16

argument 0y the defendant then d0et
not sustain his plea fully.
Much time has been occupied
showing that Judge Weems was reg.
ularly appointed judge. and that the
constitution gave the governor the
power to appoint Judges. and tina.
the constitution OF 1864 abolished
slavery and involuntary servisudc.
except for crime.
| 1t was also shown that great care
was taken At every stage of the trial,
to conform strictly to the rules OF
legal practice. and that much merci.
full consideration was shown to the
prisoner.
No doubt this waa true. but it was
beside the CAGE in controversy. We
do not deny the perfect formaiity of
the trial in all Its steps. but We deny
the jurisdiction Of the court in the
case.
The point on which the whole
case turns is in tho question: Was
there in tn. parish Of Bossier on the
9TH Of September, 1866. an Interrupt
t,on Of c'c,f iar7
If there was. then is the defendant
guilty in manner and form as indi-
Gated, il there were not. he can claim
verde: Of acqui,tal.
Was there an interruption Of civil
law7
1t is Admitted by all with whom
we are concerned. that the constitu
ton Of Louisiana. made in 1852, has
persisted. Has the so-called consti-
tuition of 1864 succeeded to its seat
and authority That constitution
provided for making itself effective.
II says in substance that it shall be
referred TO a vote of the people. in
their several parishes. on the first
Monday OF S-p,elnbe., 1864.
We are no, concerned at present
with the question Of the constitution
within the Union lines. We are
under no obligations to look outside
of the parish of Bossier, for we have
not affirmed an interruption IF cirI
lac anywhere else
We repeat. the constitution Of 1852
is gone, and the binding validity Of
til. constitution Of 1864 in that pa
IRISH, depends on the answer to one
question. Did the people of Bossier.
on the first Monday Of September.
1864. vot. for tina, constitution or
against it, If they did not. they
never adopted it; fer in specifying
that it must be voted for. that consti
,u,ion declares that it cannot become
binding III any other way. Now
how stands the easel On the day
on which tbs constitution fixed that
i, should be voted for, the people Of
Bossi-r parish were in open rebellion
again., it. and agains, the govern
m-nt under whose protection it seeks
to bring it's friends The people of
Bossier had reuouuc.d their allie
glance to their old government. and
they lot the first NJ ondav of Sept.
1864, go by unimproved, aud there
never has been another day fixed ~:
which they could vote themselves
under the protection Of the consti,u-
ton. There is then in that parish,
as in every other part Of the State OF
Louisiana within the Confederate
lines. OH the first Monday Of Sept,
1864, no constitution, no civil law.
They siuned away their day Of grace
until no law left them but the
bayone, III :. =. hand Of negro.
We find tn ~ there was an INTERRUPT.
ton o, civN law in the parAh Of
Bossi.r OH the 9Th Of September
1865. and ~ ,ha, Judge Wrcms did
violate Par. No. :, Circular No. S
Gr-a, importance was attached to
the Presidents proclamation. re-or-
gsn,sins State. 'hs, had been IN
rebellion.
With tina, document we have moth
ing to do at present. 1t ordains that
Delegates be elected and sent to
convention. The people Of Bossier
held No. election. and sent no dele
gates. The constitution provides
tina, it shall be made effective by
being voted for by the people OF tue
sev-ra! parishes of the State. at the
places designated by law for holding
elections. and this voting must Re
don. on the first Monday Of Sept,
1864.
The PARTICULARLY with which the
constitution sprci.irs the mode Of its
adoption shows that no other mode
Of adopting !: is possible. Did the
people Of Bos-ier SO adopt it'll 1t
they did. there j. no 'nterrupt,on Of,
ctra tnsc; if they did not, for them it
does not exist.
We had hoped to be able to avoid
the discussion of the question OF the
validity OF the constitution of 1864,
in those parts of the State within
the Union lines at the time of its
adoption, bu, VIC find we cannot.
Tn. true state of the case appears to
be this:
1t was no part OF the design of
the government that the city Of New
Orleans and its dependencies, Joined
by few refugees from various parts of
the State, should give 4 constitution