The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1866-02-21
. The Veto.
STATE OF LOUISIANA, EXECUTIVE DBPT. I
Efa2 Februaryl9th, 1866. {
In thn Honorable Senata lnf the Stata q

STATE OF LOUISIANA, EXECUTIVE DBpT. l,
lf's9 Februaryl9th, 1866. Il I
'To Che Honorable Senate Of the State oil
Louisiana: s.fgsi Nj
Gentlemen The bill which originated in
your honorable House, appointing d day at
AN unusual time .for,the holding Of d munic-
ipal election in the city ofNcw Orleans;
would, were there no more powerful objec-
|tions to it, challenge its rejection by me on
constitutional grounds. Exceptional legis-
lation, unless in seasons ofIpeculiarneed or
great emergency, is to be greatly deprecated.
The necessity for anticipating tie period
| fixed by law for holding this election is not
apparent; no public opinion can be tinyok-
led in its support, even were ! to permit my
Judgment and conscience to be controlled
| by popular clamor or legislative urgency.
But very serious objections apart from
constitutional scruples, exist in my mind te
the holding Of municipal elections in New
Orleans, unaccompanied by proper gnaran
| tees that it will be in my power to see the
laws faithfully executed. 2' si.}
Such guarantees, suitable amendments
Of the present, charter, with a radical reyis
ion of the registry and election laws appli
cable to the parish Of Orleans, will, in my
opinion, give. e
It is within'th knowledge of all citizens
resident here before the war, that for years
preceding the rebellion, elections in ths
parish Of Orleans were q cruel mockery O
free government. Bands Of organized des
peradoes, Immediately preceding and during
an election, committed every species OF out
rage upon peaceful and unoffending citizens
to intimidate them from the exercise oftht
|inestimable privilege offreenlen, the electiy.
franchise. A registry Of fourteen Thousand
names, in the days alluded to-, could scarce
lily furnish ene-fourth of that number Of lie
lgal votes at the polls, although six or sever
Thousand votes were usually returned as
east. 70 guard against the possibility o
d return to such condition of afairs, many
citizens ofintegrity, intelligence and loyal
ty to the. Union, VINO believe that a new
danger will now be added to pre-existine
ones, in the expected rapid increase ofpop
lulation, advise reconsideration OF the cleo
torai qualification in all municipal elections
for the future; holding that experience has
shown coliclusively that they cannotbe con
fused with thepoiitical contests of the times
with safety to the true interests lof thu
country. This view is worthy of respectful
consideration. Ras1 ila ala
7 Pre-eminently demanding the serious at
tention oflegislators in the altered cicum
stances of our State and its institutions
lis the unequal distribution ofthe ewhiteln
habitants of the commonwealth, by mean'
of which a perilous preponderance of politi
cal power is placed atithe disposal of TIL
ever changing population ofits chief city
At this moment, it is safe to affirm, thert
lis larger white population in the parisl
of Orleans than in all the other parishes 0
the State combined, and the likelihood
may the certainty is, that foryears tocom'
the increase will continue to be largely il
| favor Of New Orleans. ] mention this il
no spirit of unkindness to our queen city
entertain none Of that jealousy Of he
sometimes charged to exist, among agricul
turl people like myself: but while ] desir'
with all my heart to see her great, prosper
GUS, and free, and will doall in my power
Ito render her so, with my consent, she shall
never be endowed with political power tt
the transient dagradationor lasting injnl.
Of the rest of the State. A just equilibri
UNI must be required and retained. # tn
J electoral SYSTEM applicable to the parish 0