The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1865-12-20
The Convention.

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fraudulent Constitution; and that there is
really no law, except the will of the militia
~ commander, within the limits Of Louisi-
ana. They seem utterly to ignore the fact
that every other State has been put in the
way of regaining its lost rights; and that
the way to such reinstatement in our former !
condition is plain, practicable and open to
all. And yet the Legislature sits idle,
votes itself enough money to pay for a
Convention in addition to its expenses for
reasonable session, prepares the minds Of
the people for running the extra session
into the regular session, legislates on every
conceivable and ridiculous subject, and
proclaims to the world that at the regular
session they will take up the subject OF
providing for State Constitution!
1t is seldom that men do anything with
out assigning some kind of reason for it;
and the ingenuity with which plausible
reasons ore sometimes put forth for doing
very silly things, is remarkable indeed.
But those members of the Legislature, who
oppose the calling Of Convention, are
unable to assign any reason for their con-
duct; although we must admit that, to an
outsider, the reasons which prompt them
are quite manifest, and are such as would
prove damaging to their reputation if thss
should be avowed or otherwise made ppNic.
Some people, we find, are malicious
enough to think, and others malicious
enough to say aloud, that the main reason
| a Convention is not called lies in the fact
that such Convention would completely
wipe out the present State government, with
all its retinue Of greedy appointees, and in
competent Office holders. Now, it becomes
the friends of Gov. Wells to falsify this
insinuation by yielding to the manifest
wishes Of the people. They assert that
Gov. Wells was elected because he was in
dispensable to the public service, and be-
cause the people OIL. the whole State were
unwilling to have any other man. Now, if
| he is such q favorite, and is such useful
officer, why are they afraid to trust him to
| the people again? If he is such as they
would have US believe, the people would
certainly provide, in changing their govern
ment, that he should be retained in Office,
and if not, his reelection ought to be an
easy matter. We say, then, that the zeal
Gus advocates Of the Wells administration
are damaging their cause, and casting obi
um upon it, by their evident fear to trust
| its perpetuity to the will Of the people.
If they would show little more delicacy
! in the use Of the means to accomplish their
desired ends, the people might cease to at
tribute unworthy motives to them.
But, other tender-footed individuals pre-
tend to fear that the calling of Conyen-
ton would incur the displeasure Of Presi-
dent johnson. This subterfuge is unwor-
thy of men who call themselves freemen.
If the President of the United States is to
dictate to the several States the precise
mode Of enacting their laws, and to detsf-
mine what kind Of laws they shall pass, we
might as well give up at once oil thought Of
selfgoyernment and throw ourselves into
the arms of central government with au-
Itocratic powers. It is useless to 60 through
the farce of passing laws, if those laws are
to be annulled by higher power. But we
have no reason to believe that the Presi-
dent is welded to any particular mode Of
making State government. He proclaims
| it q sine qaa non of admission that the
Constitution should be Republican in form,
1 and that slavery should be foreve. abolished;
but how that Constitution is to be made,
is a matter Of very little consequence to
him. If, however, be has any prejudices on
the subject, they are in favor Of a Conven-
ton, as may be gathered from his treat
ment of the other States.
Neither can we believe that President
Johnson has any such prediction for men,
as to attempt to force any man as Governor
on the people Of aState, who isnot wanted
by them. The organ Of Gov. Wells init
mates very clearly that the Legislature may
overdo the thing; that "forbearance may
cease to be virtue; and that consequent
" by some coup detat or other the whole
order Of thingsin Louisiana may be changed
by some overriding power. Now, this is
all very silly, or else we are living under the
most tyrannical and contemplate govern
ment on Earth. We do not suppose that
President johnson cares whether Mr..
Wells is retained in the Governorship or
not, provided the people elect Governor
obedient to the laws, and form Constitu-
ton in accordance with the requirements Of
the general government. We do not think
that the President has manifested any such
respect or confidence in Gov. Wells as to
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