The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-08-20
THE THIRD AMENDMENT.
MONROE, La, Aug. II, 1876.

FditOr Den1OCTQt-We IN the country
learn that the voters of your city are In
favor Of the third proposed amendment
to the constitution to be submitted to
the people at the ensuing election. The
adoption OF this amendment will be
ruinous to the country parishes; ana as
we are more directly concerned In the
matter. our wishes should be consulted.
I propose, therefore, Mr.. Editor, to
trouble you with a few suggestive re-
marks on the subject: This amend
ment in effect contains four distinct and
sep.trdte amendments 1st, the abolish
ing OF the judicial powers OF the Parish
Judge mot the Office; ID, the confer
ring of additional jurisdiction upon the
District Courts Sd, the extending OF the
Jurisdiction OF Justices OF the Peace !;
and 4th, the giving Of certain judicial
powers to clerks.
This amendment, containing. as
shown, four distinct D,endments, Is in
violation of Art. lat of the very consti-
tuition it seeks to amend, and IL adopt
ed, will be imperative and void. Article
147 Of the constitution declares, "If
more than one amendment shall be sub
mitted at one time, they shall be sub
mitted in such manner and form that the
people may vote for or against
each dmendm ent sepdrdteh." Suppose
you were in favor of abolishing
the judicial powers of the Parish Judge,
but opposed to that amendment extend
ing the powers OF Justices Of the Peace,
how would you vote ? Suppose, again,
you favored that amendment giving
clerks certain judicial powers, but were
opposed to abolishing the powers of the
Parish Judge, how would you cast your
ballot in that case These illustrations,
with many others that readily suggest
themselves, demonstrate the impracti-
cability Of adopting such an unconstl-
tutional and unwise amendment as the
third.
Our courts in the country, as at pres
ent organized, 'grind" very slow what
would be the effect II this amendment
is adopted and enforced? Why, the
District Court with only two terms,
averaging, say month each, in each
year, would be crowded with suits from
800 and up, and it would, with its full
criminal docket, have cognizance OF all
probate matter; and with its two short
terms year business would accumulate
in such an enormous ratio, that the ut
most dispatch would scarcely effect the
crowded condition OF the docket. Sue
cessions and the interest Of minors
would .languish, and In many instances
be neglected for want OF time, or be
postponed on account OF the ciamOr OF
fitigants for more exciting and pressing
matters. In a suit on a note a general
denial would continue the case for sew
eral terms in fact, until 1t was regu-
larly reached In "its order on the docket"
The writer has seen the working of
the proposed plan under the old regime
and speaks ear cathedrn. Would the
proposed system reduce expenses? II
it produced. such an effect in the mere
matter OF dollars and cents paid as
salaries OF the Parish Judges, perhaps
so but when we consider the correspond
ing increased expenses Of running" the
court, the slow dispatch and accumu-
lation of business, the people in the
''long run" would pay more than the
outlay in salaries.
There is much that could be said in
this connection, but forbear, satisfied
that the people will see that it Is not to
their interest to keep patching up"
the present constitution, but to vote
against all the proposed amendments
If Nichols is elected we will adopt
new constitution that will arrange,
modify and perfect, not only our jul
dietary system, but many other ''sys-
tens" that need Graduating and re-
forming. OUACHITA.