The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1868-03-25
The Radical Constitution.

| The extreme length Of the proposed constitution
forbids its publication in full in our columns. Nor
this publication necessary, for in many Of its provis
ions, changes have been made in the previous or
ganic law Of the State. We SHALL therefore, confn
our review Of the work to the changes themselves.
The most conspicuous feature Of the whole instru
ment is of course, its entire adaptation to the nev
philosophy of social and political equality, whch
is its chief design to establish It recognises dis
tlnctons heretofore founded race color preyiou
condition, and, far organic law can effect it. com
pletely abolishes all such distinctions Gan men" b.
article l. are declared have been "crcated free AM
the Declaration Of Independence, it is provided arti
Gle that ali persons, without regard to race, colo
or previous condition, born or naturased in TIL
United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof
and residents Of the State for one year are citizens
this Staten
Having thus declared who are citizens in general
it provides that all citizens owe paramount alegi
to the Government of the United States and tina
they shall all enjoy the civil, political and pub
lie rights and privileges and be subject to the same
pains and penalties The equality Of the races being
thus fixed by these general provisions, any further
legislation would have been unnecessary as any act
the legislature controvening these provisions if thu
constitution is ratified, would be clearly unconstitu
tlonal But the partisan purposes of the trainers re
CURED, 1t seems inc apon line and precept upon pre-
cept, to guard and enforce this equality AN per
sons, under article II, "shall enjoy equal rights
and privileges upon any conveyance of a public
charS nj ioh H. ,
termonoogy that all negroes shall be equally entitled
with the whites, to the right and privilege of con-
Veyance on all lines of public transit, as railroads
steamboats,, &c. .--. .-
Nay, this is not even sufficiently explicit; the same
article provides that all PLACES of business, or of
public resort or for which license is required BY either
State parish or municipal authority, shall be deemed
places OF public character, and shall be opened to
the accommodation and patronage Of all persons with
out dstsnctioG,' SC. This provision was Intended to
introduce the negro constitutionally to full enjoy
ment of all the public exchanges, hotels saloons,
theatres and other places of public resort on footing
OF protected equality with the whites. If denied these
public rghts-a new phrase, by the wayne, of course
entitled to his action of damage for all injuries sus
tanned to his person or his reputation So much for
social equality.
The constitution is equally explicit in enforcing, by
special articles the doctrine political equality "Ev
cry male person. article 49, Of the age of twenty one
years and upward. BON OF natlralsed in the United
States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, and
resident of this State one year next preceding an cleo
ton and the last ten days within the parish in which
he offers to vote is declared elector entitled to
those DISTINGUISHED And every such
elector is qualified to hold Office under certain re-
strictions as to offices specially named w. .5-'~ +'
These provisions open the way to the polls and to
all public Offices well to the blacks as to the whites
But to prepare, in the future for more thorough,
equality, it is declared by article 1885, that the gen.
ern assembly shall establish least one free school in
every parish throughout tie State, and shall provide
for its support by taxation or otherwise Ali children
between the ages of six and tweny-one shall be nd
mted to the public SCHOOLS or other institutions of
learning sustained by the State, in common without
distinction of race" &C. &c. The State is forbidden
70 establish schools for any exclusive race and no NIL
1icpal corporation shall make any rules contrary to
he spirit of this article |
Lastly: 10 commit all ohieers elected undar this
to the enforcement of these several p;o
Visions article 100 requires each officer to swear that
10 accepts the civil and political equality Of all men,
md agrees not to attempt deprive any person /
n persons, on account Of race, color, or previous
condition, Of any political or civil right, privilege or
immunity enjoyed by any other class of men,"
Our readers, from these general provisions will see
That will be the consequences of adopting this const
atlon. Besides enforcing absolute social and political
quality with the majority secured the blacks BY the
lause of dslranchiscmcnt the Afrcanisatiou of the
tate is forever secured.
We shall recur to this subject again.