The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1868-04-08
The Constitution.
ITS AGRARTANIsM-How PAID.


Besides the general provision declaring absolute
equality between the races and the special provisions
impose social equality, equality as to places Of pub
lie resort and travel equality as to schools, and pot
ical equality coupled in this case, with iuvidious
distinction against the white race the constitution by
article 1872 attempts to provide for equality to lands
in future :" Art. 1872. All lands sold in pursuance Of
DEGREES of courts shall be divided into tracts Of from
ten to fifty acres"
The object Of this provision was, of course, dou-
bic one to secure its ratification by the landless, i'll
the first place and to multiply, indefinitely, home
Steads for the same class If the constitution is adopted
and this provision be executed it will effect in
the future what confScaou could never have accom-,
plished in this State, viz: A subdivision Into small
tracts of not only all the large landed estates, but
constant and continuing subdivision of small
tracts, of all tracts indeed over fifty acres, down into
even ten acre lots.
Such an enforced distribution Of land would be with
out parallel in the legislation of any age country
1t would not be submitted to by the people of any
the Northern States, and is alone sufficient, if there
were other Objectionable articles, to insure the de
feat of the constitution, if its ratification submit
ted to the people whose estates it is intended in this
way to distribute 1t is an enormous outrage upon
common right.
This provision to secure loaf to every voter, is
the party redemption of pledge to provide lands for
all men, and made at the expense of the intercs OF
the proprietors and known opponents of the consttu
ton But while the convention displayed this tender
anxiety to multiply homesteads for its pets it took
care at the tme to declare that the General AS
semby hereafter shall pass no law requiring proper
ty qualification for Office. The power to control is
thus given to the class without property and with a
view to distribution of property. The ingenuity OF
man could not have devised more cunning scheme
for spoiation than this Nor did ever any constitution
hold out stronger brides for officials as the agents of
its execution.
While the number of offices is increased, the saa-
es of all officials is nearly doubled The governor is
to receive salary of eight thousand dollars per an
mum; the lieutenant governor, for presiding sixty days
the senate three thousand dollars the secretary
of State three thousand the auditor and treasurer
five thousand; the supreme judges, seven thousand
the district judges not less than five thousand dollars
&c. In the days of the greatest prosperity of the
State such salaries would have led taxation that
the people in the plentude Of their political power
then, would have repudated In their present impov-
erished condition, on the score of mere economy the
defeat OF the constitution is measure of paramount
necessity At the time that these enormous sal
aries offered many brides for partisan Off
cals, previous residence of only two years is re-
qnrcd for majority of the offices Truly the carpet
baggers have provided we'll for themselves