The Louisianian. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1870-1871, 1871-02-09

people of the State had taken its peace and
order into their own hands, as was proper,
and that the power OF these bad and restless
spirits was gone. I am glad to say that
these assurances have been realized. have
everywhere been received with that wOnted
corliality and hospitality for which Loui-
sianian are 50 descrvedly famed What is
more important, I everywhere saw evidences
that the people were determined to see that
the laws were obeycd, and the right OF all
men, under the law, respected. 1 was met
with assurances from all parties that in
every effort to advance the welfare, cie lit
and the great interest, OF the State, I should
receivethe hearty suppo t Of the people.
AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION.
The last General Assembly proposed four
important amendments tour our constitution
which were duly ratified by the vote of the
people 1t the last election. The first amend
ment repeats the ninety-ninth article of the
constitution. This article, by reason OF its
Acknowledgement of an influential class OF
our citizen, for political reasons, was OBJ
noxious to them and their friends, as the
result has proved, was dist eful to almost
all. Incorporated in oilr constitution by an
unwise spirit of retaliation, and by its pecu-
liar phrascalogy, serving mainly to irlitate
and humili,,te, while debarring from suffrage
and Office only the most scrupulous and up
4 o,,I
admitting al others, it had all the most
odcons features Of Acknowledgement, with
none of It's good effects, if such there be.
It is to the lasting credit OF the first Repu-
blican administration of Louisiana, that the
amendment to strike out this last vestige OF
the war, in our constitution, was passed
with the unanimous Republican vote of the
General Assembly, and Endorsed unanimous
ly By the people. 1t is no longer part OF
the constitution. Henccforth in Louisiana
all disabilities resulting from the war are
removed, and no citizen is DISTINGUISHED by
its laws, exec pit for crime or mental disabili-
ty.
The second amendment limits the total
amount Of State Indebtedness that can be
contracted mp to the year 1890 to the sum
of $50. 200, 600. All Indebtedness, of what
ever character, contracted above the amount
before that time, is illegal and null and void.
This voluntary limitation by the people of
the amount of Indebtedness which they
will incur, for Il term of years, will have the
double effect of increasing the credit of the
State securities, thus lesselling the interest
the State viii have to pay on any future
loans, al,d of compelling rigid economy on
the part of the State government.
The third amendment prohibits all off
cials who have held public moneys from
voting or holding Office, until they shall
have procured from the proper authorities,
receipts in full for all funds which they have
thus held. The former history of the State,
with regard to many OF its public funds, is
sufficient proof OF the wholesoneness of
this measure: 1t is to be hoped that it will
lead to q more stringent accountability by
public officers for such trusts.
The fourth amendment removes the
ineligibility, for second term, that was
imposed by the constitution upon any
intumb,n, of the guhe-natorial o 1ice
Under this amendment, the reelection of
Il Governor is left like that of any other
officer, to that last and best albitrament
OF all free governments, the good judS-
ment of the people. While this might
seem to most minds sound principle,
yet did not feel at liberty, owing to my
personal attitude toward the question at
Issue, tp take any part in the discussion
for or against it. The amendment was
spontaneously and voluntarily presented
to tho people by the last General Assem-
bly,, and has been ratified by majority,
approximating $1,000 votes.
GENERAL Foley.
The great questions of public policy
now most urgent, are such necessary
measures of State and national legisla-
ton as will most speedily bring us rail-
reads, open natural watercourses, facili-
tate ocean commerce, and redeem our
alluyial lands from annual inundation.
These will bring us. settlers, open lands
to cultivation, afford direct and speedy
transportation to all products and mer-
cnand;se, and make New Orleans, what
nature destined it TO be- unsurpassed by
any commercial city on the Atlantic sea-
board In this connection will say that
it is the unanimous sentiment of our peo-
PIE that it is the duty Of the general gov