Natchitoches spectator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1867-18??, 1868-03-12
The demonstrations, Convention.

convention HIS DrONlOcu, ny OIuinduCc,
that the voting for ratification or rejec-
tion of the proposed unconstitutional
Constitution shall take place on Friday
and Saturday, 18th and 18th prox.
This we think was an entirely unnec-
essary piece of mislegislation on the
part of that disloyal assembly of ire
sponsible vampires, as the Military bills
under which they profess to act and by
which authority they are assembled,
simply provides that "after the adjourn
ment of the Convention the Command
ing General shall order an election, etc. %
By whose permission or what authority
do they presume to designate the time
for holding said election? 1t is not their
province to say anything IN regard to
the matter, but simply to adjourn
which is the best thing they can do
and leave the district commander to
perform his prescribed duties without
any unnecessary dictation.
The ordinance also provides that at
the same time and place balloting will be
had for State, Congressional, Judicial,
Parish and Municipal officers, whose
term of service will date from the first
Monday in November following their
election, but are to enter upon the dis
charge of their duties on the I'd Monday
after official PRONUNCIATION of their cleo
ton. The Legislature meets at New
Orleans on Sd Monday after promulga-
ton of official returns. Those who are
disfranchsed by acts of Congress are
also prescribed under this Constitution.
Ont of 90 members of the Convention,
only 6 voted against it's adoption, and
one under protest-W. Jasper Black
burn, of Claiborne.
There are registered, according to Of
fetal PRONUNCIATION. 127, $3.50 voters in
this State-of which number S2,907 are
colored and 44.732 plain, giving the
former a majority of 37,775. In 1860.
the State polled 5O,517 votes. There
are. we suppose, about 6,000 disfran-
chised, and equally as many more who
were entitled to register, but refused to
do so. The number of blacks registered
is undoubtedly largely in excess of the
real voting population, but this deficien-
cy will be more than made up by whites
who will vote the Radical ticket. With
the lights-or rather, darkness-before
us, and the military over us-taking
Alabama as a precedent-we are forced
to candidly admit we see no prospect of
defeating the ratification of that odious
measure. simultaneously, candidates
for various offices are being balloted for,
who TO secure their election will exert
every imaginable influence is secure it's
ratification, inasmuch as their success or
defeat depends altogether upon it's fate.
1t is evidently the intention of the re
naming portion of once legal Con-
gress to force the Southern States in
this disruptured Union, under Radical
misrule, whether the Constitution is rat
fled or not. If the new destruction b7ll
providing that only a majority of the
votes polled is sufficient for ratification
becomes law, rejection would be out
of the question, as a sufficient number
of whites have been DISTINGUISHED to
place the blacks, and the Radical whites,
largely in the ascendancy. If said bill
should not become law, rejection would
not be so difficult, as then, all good
Conservative citizens could remain quiet
ly at home, and their not voting would
count as if they had voted against the
Constitution. But even then, it is ques-
tionable whether the same objects would
not be accomplished by our opponents.
If seems as though we have drifted too
far out upon the current to again reach
the shore in safety-if we remain mac
tive, we are engulfed beneath the mad
waves of fanaticism; if we attempt to
reach a haven Of safety from the impen-
ding storm, a doom equally as destruc-
tive awaits us.
DEMoREST's Young AMERICA.-This
popular little periodical has been greatly
enlarged and improved with the new
year. Twice as much reading matter is
given as formerly. 1t is great favorite
with the children, always supplying
them with fund of amusement and in
struction, conveyed in an attractive
wou Parapfc oonnoE do battor CO... fla; -