The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1869-06-16

4o0t0 ID some torCo IN the rc8eCtiou Sho
the annual terms Of tho Constitutional Lesia
iataro. were specially authroised to be bel
10 one consolidated term of one hunl.ed an,
twenty days. r q
| What Legislature was this! The article 3
Is tolsrably explicit in declaring that ..no sss
sion shall extend beyond the period Of sixtl
days. to date from its commencement, etc.
but the Legislature that shall convene afte,
the adoption Of this Constitution (and v.
may add after its approval by Congress, be-
cause until approved it was not Constitu
tion) may continue in session for one hun
dred and twenty days" So that in rsalis,
lits whole session-lfe. instead of being d.
vided. as all subsequent LegisAturos are
under ordinary circumstances, into two ses
sions Of sixty days each. was consolidate,
into one session Of one hundred and twent,
days. This, then, was tho term Of its exist
enoe. as Art. ~ declares that ..Reprssenta
tivss shall bo chosen on the first Monday o
November, every two years." on 's'7za
The two annual sessions Of the Legisla
ture combined. give to the Representative,
but one hundred and-twenty days within
which they can legislate. unless conveusd
for special purposes BY tho Governor. (See
Art. 64.) ad interim.
But the circumstances authorizing the Gov.
erner to convene the Legislature must Be
extraordinary. So that the Legislature
elected on tho 18th and leth Of April, A. d.
lS6o. had. under the provision of the Con-
stisution above quoted, a. many day. Of
power to legislate as any other. or % the
one that should have been elected on the frss
Monday of November of that yesr. They
received their full quantum of the State
money in tho form of per diem, etc., and
should be satisfied.
We.trust the Governor will reject upon
this subject: and If he finds anything in the
foregoing reflections to satisfy his mind as
to the fact thst the Legislature Of 1883 was
}sntus e6seie on the lst day Of November Of
that year. that he will in due time order an
election In accordance with the evident
meaning of tho Constitution. The people
will appreciate it and sustain him in il. nj -...
One other thought. and We have doua.
constitutional rules must be regarded in the
light OF Limitations upon the power to be ex-
ercised, and it isnot prudent or wise to make
them vary to suit abstract theories. If a
Constitutional provision is to be carried out
at all such as the 10th and 18th articles. Il
must be regarded and obeyed as premptory
in It's nature. ~ .t. -0.l- IF
10 say that it is only directory. is to Say
that it may or may not be obeyed; in which
vvout st's Instrument as whole. would be
thrown into confusion, and cease to provide
limits for legislative authority, or executive
power. 'T f 1a5s
These articles Of the Constitution are
usandatory. and should be eufosced to the
letter; ''for Constitutions do not usually
undertake. to prescribe mere rules Of pro-
oseding. except when such rules are looked
upon - essential to tn" thing to BE- done."
Il establises those fundamental n,axims,
and fizss these unvarying rules By which all
departments Of the government must at all
times shape their conduct" Cooley's Con-
stitutional Limitations. =.
We would bs pleased 70 sec the press take
up this subject aud ventilato it freely. 1t i.
Of great Importance to the State that some
thing should be done. and done quickly. for
the relief Of the people. @ -lsfHaas