The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1870-11-05
ADDR ESS

BY resolution of the Democratic State Con-
venton, which recently assembled in this city.
this Committee were requested to issue all AL.
dress to the people in regard to the proposed
amendments to the State Constitution, which
are to he voted upon in NONembeF next.
They are of great Importance, and shonld be
the luducenient for every voter to present him-
self at the polls, even were no other principles
OF interests at stake.
The first OF these amendments provides that
may have been q collector of taxes, whether
State, Parish or municipal, or who may have
been otherwise intrusted with public money,
shall be eligible to the General Assembly, or to
any Office of profit or trust under the State Gov
ernment, until he shall have ebtainest dis.
charge for the amount Of such collections and
for al public moneys with which he nay. have
been intrusted.
This, Of course, will meet with the approval
The second ard most important amendment
provides that article SO Of the Constitution,
, which now reads as follows: 90,
"Articie SO. The following persons shall De
prohibited from voting or heldmg any once: Al
son, perjury, forgery, bribery, or other erame
punishable in the Pententiary, an'' persess 40,
der interd:c,inn All per~tas who are essopped
from claiming shs sat ststes ey
mcut, Or BY .netoriously legying, war againat 1t,
or adhering 70 its epenriesy giving thes9 aid or
comfort, but who have not expatrlatea tnem-
selves, nor have been convicted OF any OF the
article, ARE heraby festored 60 the said right, e1,
cept the foilowfAg: Those who held Office, esval
or military, for one year Or more, nn'er the or
ganization styled the "Cpnfederate states OF
enernias of the United States; those vhe acted
as leaders of guerrilla bands during the rebel
lion; those who, in the advocacy OF treason
wrote or published newspaper articles or preach
Cd kerEo1s during the late reseI,on eng ny sasss .nos
sion, in any State. No person included In these
exceptions shall either vote OF hold office until
he shall Asye< relieved himself BY veluntarllyy
writing and signing q certificate setting iortn
that he acknowledges the late rebellion to have
been morally ana politically wrong end that he
regrets any aid and comfort he may have given
iS and shall file the certificate ib the office OF
the SECRETARY Of State and 1t shall Se published
in the official journal; provided, that no persoi
dred and sixty-eighs, favored the execution o.
the laws Of the United States, PECULIARLY known
as the reconstruction acts OF congress, and
openly and actively assisted the loyal men O.
the State in their efforts to restore Louisiana t.
her position In the Union, shall DO held to DC Ill
cluded among those herein excepted Regis
trars of voters shah take the ostho any suci
person as prtma. 6acie evidence Of the fact tina
shall be abfogated and annnlled, and that th!
following article shall be inserted in lieu thereof
! to-wit: 81 - ;-.s. &s-}.,. > s.
No person shah hold ANY office, or shall b.
permitted to vote at any election, or to act as
Juror, who, in due conrse of law, shall have beel
n convicted of treason, perjury, forgery, bribery
or other crime punishable by imprisonment u
the penitentiary, or who shall be unaer interdle
ton. .-..~.-....
We particularly call the sttsnsion Of the pee
pie to the opportunity which 10 a9orded them
4 by voting for this amendsnent, to do away wit
tie edious acknowledgements and proseEiPtio
: which is contained in tho Ceastitutios Of lsss
This il duty which no sitisen can eenecieE
tiously avoid. 1t can be In mo- aaaanef cSnsidere
question Of party polissass ks rises superior
the contest for office; it u question of the rel
, toration Of liberty TO our people and peace
our State. t.ss.
II We have grave reaseps TO- beheve: that th
. Radical party intend to vote against the anene
- ment, and.thas Ii swin Esquire Rigiiane and un
ted actian on our part to secure it's adoption :.
Thethird aInendment proposed reads "a TO
.1rticss fifty 81 the cqisstitntion, which read
a follows: The Governor shall be ineligib
o. for the succeeding four year after tbs expir'
+ tioya Of the time 6r which be shall have bee
4 elected, shall be abrogated and stricken oRt I
the constitution Of the StateFf !.
- The State CeavensiQp Eeeeumsndsd. .that q