The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1868-06-24

e 3 2
OF THE UNITED STATES.
The white people of the State Of Louis
na, through their State Central Commit
Tee, make this protest against spy lesisla-
ton by Congress to force upon them, as
the fundamental law Of Louisiana, the
constitution framed under the military
bills. s.s,s..ff,.,. Is,
TO the Senate of the United States they
address their protest. That body has yet
reyisionary control over this Constitution,
and upon itrests the final responsibility
for this legislation. Though it has but a
concurrent authority for the enactment Of
laws, greater wisdom is supposed to reside
in its deliberations. As the equal assem-
bly, Of the States, charged to preserve the
residuary sovereignty of the States, its dig
nifty, the sense of its responsibilities and
its superior craftsmanship, enable it to
check the legislative power of a supposed
majority Of the people ofthe United States.
When the social, educational and govern
mental institutions of State are imper-
Tiled by inconsiderate legislation, the SEN
ate, recalling the original purpose of its
creation to protect the weaker States, may
rightly pause and study the consequences
Gifts legislation. Ybe Judgment Of pos
terity will be the Judgment Of the present
generation-that the true source of the
grievances and of the degradation of the
white race is the legislation of Congress.
The forms of State Conventions, acting as
the agents Of Congress; will not mitigate
your responsibility to Che country. When
our future deplorable condition shall have
made manifest the evil consequences Of
your laws, it will be too late for remedial
legislation. The claims of civilization, the
interests Of humanity, and the cause Of
good government suggest that it is a wiser
economy to prevent those evils now than
to attempt to avert them hereafter.
The past action of the people in this
State sufficiently records their protest
against the mode by which the Convention
was made to exist. We now protest
against the constitution ffamei by that
Convention, because its purpose is and its
effect will be to subject the white race to
the domination of the negro.
That we but anticipate the results in
tended by this constitution, will appear by
considering few of its provisions.
Arr. Is. Cali persons shall enjoy equal
rights and privileges upon any conveyance
Of public character; and 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 a public character,sand shall be
opened to the accommodation aud patron
age of all persons, without distinction Oh
account of race or color"
An effort was made in the Convention
tollmit this indiscriminate patronage only
to business that would be licensed. By
not requiring q license, the Legislature
could then have allowed to the people that
'nodicum Of personal right.recognized even
under every absolute monarchy. The ne
gro element. would permit no protective
barrier against his conceit for supremacy.
~ asserting his power to invade and. de-
stroy the commonest rights of the white
race-he understanding the practical work
lnss OF this provisional time when his
rlghs to vote had not been permanently Sc.
cured to him. when he was standing on the
shfeshhold of his political existence, we see
MN struggle for supremacy and carry his
point. Is it not reasonable to predict that
all subsequent legislation will be inspired
W mat anlmus of antagonism, that fren.
1lea demand for supremacy to enable him
70 gather the fruits ofhis fatal TRIUMPH
Articles 81 and IS establish Parish
Court in each parish, which have Probate
jarisalcuon, in which all SUGGESTIONS shall
~ opened and finally settled. This court
IS also invested with important criminal
jaflsalction. The vast and intricate inter
es's u SUGGESTIONS, involving the grayest
questions Of law and the estates of widows
aua orphans' are to be settled by the Pa
.''loudges. The rights of personal liber-
= w., a's placed within their cognizance.-
as0are to be Parish Judges? The ne,
s,oes' No qualification except citizen,
'Ap, Is prescribed. The proposed vague
fa"Nncalion OF learned in the law was
i; s''ea' a delegate has published over
no own signature, that he heard dele
e''s ssF that this was done to enable