New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-11-13


and most just to recognize the mora! and
economical causes which may have con-
tributed to make this defeat So signal.
Indeed, to ignore these errors or abuses is
to ;ndorse them. It has been sometimes
the case that defeat teaches the weakness
Of organization which subsequent pru-
dence co1rects and converts into victory.
Let Republicans everywhere listen to the
voice Of the people. whether it come in
reproof OF in comnendation, and if there
be any moral cause why Republican prin-
ciples have been postponed for personal
incapacity. let these causes and these men
be sacrificed to the sanctity Of the cause
which they have injured.
CONSTITUTIONAL AND LEGAL REFORM.
We coincide with the Picayune in the
general proposition tina. Louisiana would
be the better of certain constitutional and
legal reforms. But we disagree wholly as
to the mode Of affecting those reforms as
proposed by the journa! referred to.
The great merit Of a constitution is that
it fixes certains principles Of government
and so takes them out of the whirlpool Of
perpetual dispute. Such measures Of
organization as may be embodied in
constitution are liable to prove defective.
and nus: be adjusted by reference to the
popular wish. But these alterations do
not involve the reconsideration Of fixed
principles and should be here as IN the
formation Of the English constitution
embodied in the formal and ;unda-
mental law. as the agreed accep:arces OF
the people.
From this view we do not favor the call
Of constitutional convention to reopen
and renew the foundations Of organic law.
as they have been announced in the fed
eral constitution and accepted by all the
States. Let us see what are these fixed
principles which may be eliminated from
political and social strife ana held as ire
pealable canons Of public administration.
/. The freedom and equality Of men.
quoted from the Declaration Of 1ndepend-
ence. A recognition Of all the principles
Of civil and religious freedom. and Of per-
sonal right as recited in the federal consti-
tuition. ...."
.. The federal government is declared
The acts and ordinances Of
secession are with all corporate obliga-
tons declared null. Slavery is forever
forbidden. Electoral amnesty is granted
for political and military acts committed
against the State and federal governments.
With this general classification OF princi-
pies embodied in the State constitution
and confirmed by the acceptance OF the
who proposes to change any of
them? Who would again reopen tina.
strife Of class and race which has been. in
the opinion Of all. happily and finally
closed? We are open to concede any
such proposition. but until some respon-
sible public sentiment shall demand the
reconsideration Of these principles sc
shall assume them as established, and
deny the propriety Of disturbing them.
There are certain systems and measures
enacted in the constitution. There are
certain powers bestowed upon this Or that
which were, in our opinion,
imp1udently enacted. These We should
not object to have considered in the next
composed. as it will be. OF
fair representation OF the character and
ability Of al! the political parties Q. the
State. .......
There has been conferred upon
the executive department: On amount Of
power which might, in our
opinion. be limited with much advantage
70 the public service. Some Of these
powers are not to be found in any other
constitution Of the thirty-seven States.
We aliude to the power Of municipal ap-
po;ntment under which parish officers
may be nominated; judicial officers.
whose department: Of duty is wholly in.
with the powers Of the ezecu-
tive. and the nomination and commission
Of militia officers.
These are few suggestive notifications
Of the constitution due to the results Of
experience and to the yindicatioa Ct true
We will take occasion TO say tina. the
present State executive has inherited an
immense official responsibility east upon
him by political predecessors. He has
CALAMITY and successfully striven for the
reduction Of the State debt and taxation.
1t may become his duty to propose the
limitation Of those powers and Of that
patronage which it was his duty to ad-
but which has heaped upon him
self and his party an amount of odium
md Of weakness always incident to execu-
i've patronage in all ages and under all |