The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-03-03
THE RECONSTRUCTION ooxvExrIo,
sEvExrr-srxrH DAY.


MONDAY, March 2, 1858.
Convention met at 1880 A.. NJ; sixty-dve dele
gates present. Judge Talafeno presiding.
resolution paying Messrs. Campbell and Pr
card $500 each for services, was adopted.
resolution by Burrill. declaring forfeited after
February LIST, the per diem Of any delegate absent
since that date, was adopted.
A resolution paying Policeman Meade 500 for
efficient and faithful services, was adopted.
The rule confning speeches 10 Eve minutes was,
upon motion OF Wapies, Of Orleans, rescinded.
THE CONSTITUTION.
The convention then proceeded TO adopt further
articles Of Constitution. Title TX militia. en-
bracing articles l43 to las inclusive, was adopted
as a while, after some amendments. Title X
(srtice 1867 mode Of revising the Constitution,
was also adopted as q whole.
The title Schedule No. XI being next 10 order FOR
adoption, Judge Cooley took the floor and deliy-
cred lengthy and elaborate speech in oppos
ton TO the article rendering invalid the following
enactments, viz:
IAN act to authorize the widening of the New
Canal and Basin" Approved March IA, 1867.
An act granting ferry privileges to O. X. Mar
shall, his heirs or assigns" Approved March TO-
1866.
An act to authorize the Board Of Lsvee CON-
issioners Of the levee district in the parishes Of
Madison and Carroll. to issue bonds, etc. APP
proved March 2s, 1861.
Judge Cooley spoke in eloquent terms, AID
cited a number Of legal authorities to sustain him
In his position.
He was followed by Judge Crawford, who
favored the ground Of excepting these enact
ments from those declared vslid
The article NO l4s) was adopted as presented
together with those following il under the same
title. af
ORDINANCE.
The following was adopted as the election ord
nance, viz:
ART. ISL Immediately upon the adjournms nt Of
this convention, this Constitution shall be sub
mitted for ratification to the registered voters Of
the State, IN conformity TO the act OF Congress
passed March I'd, 1867, entitled /" An act to pro-
vide for the efficient government OF the rebel
States" and the acts supplementary thereto.
AIT. 1872 The election for the ratification OF
the Constitution shall be held on Friday and
Saturday, April IL and Is, 1868, at the places
prescribed BY law, and the polls shall be kept
open from o'clock A. NJ TO o'clock P. n. At
that election all those In favor of ratifying the
Constitution shall have written or printed on their
ballots, " For the Constitution; :" and those OPP
posed TO rstifying the Constitution shall have
written or printed on their ballots, against the
Constitution"
ART l53. In order to establish civil govern
ment required by act OF Congress. passed
March %, 1867, an election shall be held at the
same time and place, at which the Constitution is
submitted for ratification for all State Judicial,
parish and municipal officers, for members OF the
General Assembly, and for Congressional repre-
sentatives, at which election the electors who are
qualified under the reconstruction acts Of Goa
gress shall vote, and none others; provided. that
any elector shall be eligible TO any Office under
any municipal corporation in this State.
ART. l54. At the election for the ratification Of
the Constitution, and for officers Of the civil gov
ernment as required by Congress. all registered
electors may vote in any parish where they have
resided for ten days next preceding ssd election,
and at any precinct in the parish upon presents
ton Of their certificate Of registration affidavit or
other satisfactory evidence that they entitled
20 vote as registered electors.
ART. 1855. The same registrars and commission
ers who shall be appointed by the commanding
general Of the fifth military district, to superintend
the election for the ratification rejection of the
Constitution, shall also at the same time and place,
superntend the election for all officers and repre-
sentatves herein ordered provided, they be au
thorized so TO act by the commanding general.
And in case the commanding general should not so
authorize said registrars and commissioners, the
committee Of seven, appointed by this convention,
to take charge OF the whole matter OF the rathcs-
ton OF the Constitution and the election OF civil
officers. shall appoint one registrar for each parish
In the State, except the parish Of Orleans and one
in each district Of the parish Of Orleans counting
Orleans tight bank. as one district, who SHALL each
In his parish or district, appoint sufficient num-
Der Of commissioners OF election to hold the said
election for said civil officers and representatives.,
ART. l56. Returns shall be made In duplicate.
sworn to by the commissioners holding the' cleo
ton, and forwarded within three days thereafter,
TO the registrars of the parish or district. The
registrars shall imme diately forward one copy OF
said returns 10 the chairman OF the committee Of
seven appointed by this convention. who shall,
within ten days after the last return has been re
ceived. make proclamation Of the result Of said
election.
Art. 1877. All civil officers thus elected shall
enter upon the discharge Of their duties on the
second Monday after the returns OF their election
shall have been officially promulgated, or as soon
thereafter qualified according to Law, and shall
continue in office for the terms Of their respective
Offices herein prescribed, said terms TO date from
the first Monday in November following their
election.
~
this Constitution shall hold its first session in the
city of New Orleans, on the third Monday after
the official PRONUNCIATION aforesaid, and proceed
Immediately upon its organization to vote upon
the adoption Of the fourteenth amendment to the
Constitution Of the United States, proposed by
Congress, and passed June -, 1865; said egisa-
ture shall not have power TO enact any laws rela-
tive TO the per diem Of members, or any other
subject, after organization, until said constitu-
tional amendment shall have been acted upon.
ART. $50. All registrars and commissioners ap-
pointed under this Constitution shall, before enter
ing upon their duties, Jake and subscribe the oath
of Office prescribed BY Congress, approved July
2, 1862, entitled san act to prescribe an oath of
Office" The said oath of Office shall be admins
tered, 10 each registrar by the chairman of the
committee of seven herein provided for, and to
each commissioner BY the registrar appointing
him.
ART. leo. All registrars, commissioners and
other officers, necessary to carry into effect the
provisions Of this ordinance, except as otherwise
PROVIDED Tor Dy the reconstruction acts OF Con-
gress, shall be paid out of any funds raised by
virtue Of the tax ordinance, adopted BY the con-
yention, December "a, 1867, not otherwise appro-
priated.
The previous question upon the adoption Of the
Constitution as a whole was then called, aud the
yeas and noes were ordered, resulting in the
adoption by vote Of sixiy-one 10 six; Messrs.
Cooley, Crawford, bearing, Ferguson, Harrison
and Ysndergrif voting in the negative.
Judge Crawford entered the following protest
in writing. which we give with others ss show wing
the most obnoxious features of the instrument
which is to be submitted to the people for their
votes.
+" The undersigned member of the constitutional
convention Of the State of Louisiana respectfully
submits the following rs some,of the reasons which
impe him to vote against the adoption Of tue Con-
stitution framed by this convention:
Il. In the bill Of rights social equality Is a.
tempted TO be enforced, and the right Of citizens
TO control their own property is attempted to be
AIKEN 4 ON them.
80. A judicial system has been adopted which,
in my opinion, is radically defective aud will rem.
der uncertain and insecure the rights to property
and the lives and liberties Of the people.
=" 3. A system Of public education has been