The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-01-29
THE RTcossrRroTroN CONVENTION.
FIFTIETH DAY.

TUESDAY, January 49, 1868.
The convention met at 10 AN, Judge Talaferr0
presiding; sixty-six delegates present.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.
The amendment to wicklifies substitute. offered
by McMIlen, of Carroll. and proposed the
sSth article of the Constitution, was laid on the
table by a vote OF 60 TO 9.
Blackburn, of Claiborne. then offered the fol
lowing amendment to Wickliffe's substitute, viz:
The following persons shall be prohibited from
voting OF holding any Office Of honor, trust
profit in this State, viz: All persons who shall
have been convicted OF treason, perjury. forgery,
bribery OF other crime punishable by lmprison-
ment at bard labor; all psupers, and persons IN
der introduction and all persons prescribed by ex
istDg acts of Congress, or pending amendmenssto
the Constitution of the United States, known as
the fourteenth amendment" who shall be
known to have favored secession of this or any
other State the truth Of which shall be sscertained
by direct oath, TO be administered to such per
sons by the commissioner OF election IN all cases
of dosbt and any person so taking such oath
falsely shall be subject to the pains and penalties
Of perjury Provided the legislature may, by a
vote of two-thirds Of each house, remove such
disability.
The pfoposer OF the foregoing Mr.. Blackburn,
advocated in liberal terms It's provisions warning
the eoored delegates. lest by hasty and vindictive
measures they should close the lips OF those who
have never spoken otherwise than in their
behalf.
Crane and Jones, both Of Orleans, spoke on the
amendment, the latter concluding his remarks by
a call for the previous question.
A vote being taken, the previous question was
not ordered.
After further discussion, Blackburn's amend
ment was laid on the table by q vote OF SO to 10.
Wiekiie, of Orleans, then called for the pre-
viOus question upon bis substitute, the chair de-
Gliding that such call was in order.
Judge Cooley claimed that a similar call having
been made and lost during the session, it could
not be repeated until the next day. and took an
appeal from the decision Of the chair.
- Cd he oh air Tha arh
stitute Of Wickliie, Of Orleans, having been read,
was put to the vote by the ayes and noes and was
lost by vote of 3S 10 40.
The substitute originally offered by Packard,
Of Orleans, II. B., was then'voted upon By the
ayes and noes, and lost by a vote Of 81 to 4S.
Mr.. McMilen, of Carroll, then offered article 90
of the majority report as article IS OF the COnsttu-
ton; this brought the convention to the point
where it was five days snce;) and the previous
question was ordered. 1t was adopted BY vote
of 46 TO 80, and reads as follows:
ART. 9SsThe following persons shall be pro-
hibiied from voting or from holding any Office of
honor, trust or profit in this State, tO-wit: Ali
persons who shall have been convicted of treason
| perjury, forgery, bribery or other crime punish
| able by Imprisonment at hard labor; all paupers
and persons under Introduction, and all leaders Or
officers of guerrilla bands during the late war or
rebellion. The following persons are prohibited
from voting or holding any Office of honor, trust
or profit in this State, until after the first of jan
uary, one thousand eight hundred and seventy
eigDt, tO-Wlt: All persons WuOs before lne ursL OF
| June, one thousand eight hundred and sixty
one, held the Office of vice president,
secretary Of state, secretary OF war, Sec
rotary of the interior, secretary of the treasury.
| postmaster general, or attorney general of the
| United States, diplomatic agents of the United
| States, members Of Congress, judges of the
Supreme Circuit and District Courts Of the United
States governors and lieutenant governors of this
| State or Of other States, judges of the Supreme
| and District Courts of this State, judges of the
courts of last resort of other States, members of
the legislature of this State, since the adoption Of
| the Constitution of 1852, who approved or en-
| couraged the secession Of this State any other
| State, members of secession conventions who
voted for or signed the ordinance OF secession, and
| commissioned officers Of the army or navy Of the
| United States, who at any time engaged in the
! late rebellion: Pr0uided, The legislature may, by
| a vote of twO-thirds Of each House, remove such
| disability.
AIT. so. Members of the General Assembly,
and all other officers before they enter upon the
| duties of their Offices, shah take the following
| oath or affirmation / "a b. do solemnly swear
! Tor sfirm) that accept the civil and political
equality of all men, and agree not to attempt to
| deprive any person on account of race, color or
| previous condition, of any political civil right,
privilege, or immunity enjoyed by any other class
| of men; that will support the Constitution and
laws Of the United States, and the Constitution
and laws OF this State, and that |. will faithfully
| and impartially dis charge and perform all the
| duties incumbent on me As according
| to the best Of my ability and understanding. So
| help ne God.
| Ant 100. Treason against the State shall con.
sist only in leyying against it, or in adhering
| to its thanksgiving them aid and comfort. No
| person shall be convicted of treason except on
| the testimony of two witnesses to the same overt
act, or on his confession in open court.
| The convention then adjourned to Wednesday,
the 20ih inst, at 10 IN.