New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-03-14
TILE NEW nnNsrIruTIoN. .

THE NEW CONSTITUTION. e. -
The constitution now offered to the peo-
pie Of Louisiana for adoption OF rejection
presents, among its points Of difference TO
the existing constitution, many admirable
provisions, some of which may be prohtaply
noticed in detail. Foremost among these
are the acknowledgment in the bill OF
rights" that paramount allegiance Is que "
the national government; and the estao-
lishment, under the same title, of political
equality among the citizens of the state
It is evident that in complex govern
ment like ours, composed of states indie
pendent in some respects, yet subordinate
in Others to central national power, the
question of primary allegiance must be
one of paramount importance. Ignorance
on this point in case of a conflict of au-
thority between the two governments can
not now be pleaded in excuse for violating
allegiance to that having the paramount
claim; and yet avOwed ignorance on this
very point drove thousands and tens of
thousands into the armies of the rebellion.
In future the citizens of this state, if the
proposed constitution shall be adopted,
will have no such apology.
The new constitution, title one, article
two, says: The citizens of this state owe
allegiance to the United States and this
allegiance is paramount to that which they
owe to the state = thus reaffirming, in pre-
else and unequivocal terms, the iunda-
mental principle dictated at once by sound
reason and enlightened patriotism that there
can be no question of authority between
the state governments and that of the ma
ton, but that the latter, by the very nature
of the case, must be paramount. This feat
ure alone entities the proposed constitu-
ton to the support Of every patriotic citizen.
The next article to which we would call
attention is that which declares that
'all persons shall enjoy equal rights
and privileges upon any convey
anee of a public character; and all
places of business or public resort, or for
which a 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, without distinc-
ton or discrimination on account OF race
or color"
This article will undoubtedly meet with
strenuous opposition. 1t is nevertheless the
logical result Of enffanehisement, as that
was of emancipation, and as emancipation
was of rebellion. Il is also the dictate Of
simple justice, and there is nothing to be
urged against it, except the prejadice of
race-a prejudice which has already sus-
tanned some powerful shocks, and which is
moreover distinguished by strange incOn-
sisLencies. To one familiar with the effects
Of slavery in promoting personal intimacies
between the two races it will be evident
that something more than mere prejudice
Of race is at the bottom of the objections to
the sort of equality established in the
above quoted article. That something is irri-
tated pride. To see those whom they have
regarded as mere ehattels, to be bought
and sold, dashed, and trodden upon, now
holding up their heads as men,. and
sharing the political rights of their
former masters is exasperating to those
who have exercised such unholy power
and have hGd it wrenched from their grasp.
This is the real cause Of the opposition to
what is falsely stigmatized as social
equality" But legislation in truly demo-
cratic country can not be based either on
prejudice or pride and therefore, we re-
peat, this article is eminently just, and
commsnds Itself to all who are sincere
believers in the principles of pure de-
mocracy.
There are other Important provisions in
this instrument which we propose to reeur
10 on future occasion.