Baton Rouge tri-weekly gazette & comet. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1865-18??, 1865-09-30
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THE NEXT LEGnsGATUHsE.

| AAA ~ NA1aAH HJRSNEhIh1AA D8Akts -
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i Editor gasefe and Comet - Whatever
opinions may be entertained Of the Con
stitution of 1864, it is now clear that we
must organize our State Government under
it, The Governors Proclamation for an
election fully recognizes it as the organic
law, and accordingly conforms to its pro-
visions! Fortunately for us that C0nstitu-
tion provides very easy and speedy way
OF getting rid Of It's Objectionable features.
Article 147 provides that any amend
ment which has received the sanction of
majority Of the members elected to both
houses of the Gene raj Assembly, shall be
published for thirty days, at the end of
which period popular vote on it may be
be taken, and if sanctioned by majority
of the voters, it Immediately becomes part
of the Constitution. In addition then to
the other important duties which will de-
yelve upon the next Legislature, will DO
the very important one Of revising the
Constitution; they will indeed practically,
be q Constitutional Convention. Have the
people thought of thisG Are they suffl-
GENTLY acquainted with the Constitution
Of 1864 TO know in what respects it ought
TO be changed | fear that the disgust
and contempt felt by most of us for the
character Of those who framed this Con-
stitutien, and the bold and shameless pres
u z gE q 2.
tenees under which 1t was claimed to llavs
been adopted by the people, haveprevented
many, even professional men, from read
ing it: but important interests impera-
lively dema nd that we should lay aside
these preiudiees; we must cease to talk
about what should have been, and reso-
lntely address ourselves to the task of
making the best of things as they are. AS
already said we cannot ropudiate it, and
indeed, / do not know that it is desirable to
do so, but we can speedily rid ourselves o.
its Objectionable features. do not propose
at present to GO into any discussion of
these features, but simply enumerate Some
Of them upon which There certainly exists
difference Of opinion, If not conflict of
interest, fer instance Shall the Judiciary
be elective as under the Constitution of
1859, or appointed by the Governor, by
and with the advice and consent Of the
Senate, as under that of 1864 Shall the |
apportionment Of 1864, stand-aan appor 1
tionment by which the city of New Or |
leans has forty-fouf ont of one hundred |
and eighteen representatives., aud ten#
out of thirty six Senators Shall the |
State Capital remain at New Orleansl By |
this Constitution the Lieutenant Governor |
has a salary Of five thousand dollars; the |
pay Of members Of the Legislature, and |
nearly all State officers has been doubled; |
nre we in condition to 'stand the raise,h |
and is it desirable to do SO if we could |
These and many other similar questions of
grave import will come before the next
Legislatures, they ought therefore 10 be
thoroughly discussed by the people; the
rress should do all in is power TO throw
light upon them, and the people, as they
expect TO exttieate themselves from the
embarrassmeuts by which they nre sur
reunded--as they hope for future pros
perity do they desire to see Louisiana as
sumo once more the proud position she
once occupied before tho world should take
care that the men selected to represent
them, are qualified 10 deal with these all
important subjects. J. O. +.
fIhe Parish Of Orleans, II is true elects but nine
Senators. but then the Particles Of Plaqusmns, St
Bernard and Orleans (rght hank.l compose ono sens
torial district, and elect another.