The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1868-03-28
Reasons for Rejecting the NC"
Constitution.

We have pointed out in previous Is
sues some Of the more inadn'lssible 1ea,
tnres of the Constitution lately framed
in this city, and which is shortly to oe
submitted to the voters Of the State for
heir rat :Gcation or rejection. Not am"ng
the least Objectionable provisions of tins
instrument is the esta bll>hment OF u Nil-
li;ia without distinction Of race or color
and t., be composed of all able bodied male
citizens between the ages of eighteen and
frtyiiv", with the exception of those
VINO have: been di>franchised by. Federal
or State laws. The latter class OF Poop
t. have no ica>"n to regret their exclu-
,iou from III" privilege of serving in the
MiI,tia. The absurd and ridiculous char
acier # t.,. ducunlent as a Whole has been
sell Pointed ont in the protests of certain
Of the members If the Convention, who
refused to s:gn it. The force OF these
protests i, much le>senel. however, by
the fact OF voluntary evaporation IN the
wnrk OF framing the Constitution which
WAS yielded hy the same parties. Inc
i. wli:c rcople of Louisiana will not be able
- extend any great amount Of sympathy
with the rrot"sters. They went into
lal company with their eyes open aud
ought to have known t:lDlr regulations
could not escape faint from the assocla-
alton and their influence for good I'M
paired thereby. One OF those iudlvldu-
ais gives asa reason for voting against the
abolition ofthe Constitution that the
whole plan of reconstruction is agrarian
aud adverse to christian civilization
If thai be the case, and there is 40
doubt of it, the member manifested very
little consistency in taki"g his seat in the
Convention. After taking part in an
agrarian and unchristian scheme his oppo-
,itiou to its contamination does not come
with a very good grace. But apart from
the personal character of the protesting
members, the reasons they assign for not
afixing their names to the Constitution.
are sufficiently weIgh'y to justify all Of
the white men of Loul-iana in exerting
their u'most efforts to prevent its ratiti-
cation. The following are the chief
grounds set forth by parties to whom W
refer for withholding their assert:
|. Because, in the Bill Of Rights, So
cial equality is attempted to be enforced,
and thu rights of citizen, to control their
own property is attempted to be taken
away from them for the benefit of the
colored race.
2. Because a judicial system has been
adopted. which is radically defective and
which renders uncertain and insecure
the rights to properly and the liberties Of
the people.
3. Because the proposed Constitution
DISTINGUISHES IL large, influential and i'll,
%telliyen class IF citizens of the State.
This is inpoIitic, dangerous and unjust,
and is opposed to Republican p inciples.
4. Because a system of public educa-
ton is forced upon the people, whereby
tn" whites, who are to support the schools
by taxes levied on their property, will
be practically debarred of the advanta-
ges Of the public schools. MIXED Schooks
will not elevate the negroes, bit will de-
base the whites. Another effect of this
system will be the neglect Of the educa-
ton Of the colored children.
5. The oath of ofice is inconsistent with
the DISTINGUISHING clause Of the Constitu-
ton, and is absurd.
6. The direct tendency Of the Consti-
tuition, as a whole, is to establish negro
supremacy in the State.
7. Because its adoption Will drive
many citizens from and will prevent en-
igration into the State, retard her
progress, destroy her internal improve
me'ts, blight her prosperity and destroy
her peace and happiness.
These reasons are certainly sufficient
to induce Congress. were it not crazy
with. passions, to withhold its assent to
the proposed Constitution, but the ac-
ton of that body in the case of Alabama
leads us to have very little hope of its
rejection for any reasons whatever--N.
O. Bee.