The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-11-11
THE COUNTRY PRESS.
The Debate Of the Constitutional Conven.
ton Question.
Mansfield Reporter,)

tAVAA AuCssAUNs
Mansfield Reporter)
number of our contemporaries are writing
strongly In favor of a constitutional conven-
ton. This paper has advocated convention
from the first and it Is well known that nine
tenths of this parish earnestly favor 1t. What
our representatives will do we are not in
formed and do not doubt but that they will
represent the feeling OF their constituency.
opposition in some quarters Is evident, but 1t
has the warm support of eighth-tenths of the
Democratic and Conservative press of the
State, and II it fails, the fault cannot rest with
us.
[Desoto Democrat
The subject of calling Convention to
frame new Constitution for this State Is
still being agitated. The whole country press,
with few exceptions, is In favor of the pro-
ject. and we believe they represent the, senti-
State Since the subject has been under dis
cussion, SO many defects have been brought
to light, that the idea of improving the old
one by amendments, seems to us to be utter
ly ridiculous. We believe the people of this
constitution, and we trust that the matter
will be urged to a rapid contamination. Let
us have convention by all means. and rid
ourselves of this, the most defective and
corrupt work Of carpet-bagism.
[Minden Democrat
The present constitution, with it's multitude
of offices and high salaries, Is robbing and
pundering the taxpayers. 1t is oyerflowlng
with radical defects, and no sort OF patching
by amendment can ever remedy them. The
slime and filth of carpet-bag and negro rule
will cling to it, and continually remind us
that people cannot live under the baneful
influences of such an organic law WITHOUT be-
coming contaminated by Its filth. The re-
demption of our beloved State; the estab-
lishlnent of an honest, pure and economical
government can never be accomplished, or
even fairly begun, until we have new consti-
tuition as foundation to build upon. There
is no gainsaying it, a constitutional conven-
ton is a State necessity, and the Legislature
must call it,
Monroe Observer
Some papers propose to improve the con-
stitution by amendments How ii the amend
ments were made party measure. though,
and the ballots printed for on all OF themf
the amendments would be adopted. But this
is exactly what we are now striving to get rid
ola party constitution; and this Is exactly
one of the strongest reasons to be urged
against having the constitution tinkered by
the Legislature; because the party In power
must give complexion to the amendments.
We say, let the people speak. There ought
to be no partisans in framing the organic law
of the State. Let the Legislature adopt the
suggestion of the Baton Rouge, Adpocate,
meet, pass LILO appIOpllbtlOu ulli, Sdu OllC
convention and adjourn sine die; Its labors
need extend no further unless there should
be another United States Senator to elect
[Lincoln sentinel.1
Mr.. Lewis figures published in the New
Orleans DEMOCRAT as an argument In favor
of constitutional convention present certain
ly an array of facts which it Is highly import
ant that the people should know; but admit
ting the verify OF the figures, it is not con.
elusive, by any means, that constitutional
convention is preferable to amendments pro-
posed by the Legislature. Let us see: The
total excess of the expenses OF 1877 over the
expenses of 1858 shows the enormous amount
of 1928, $40. Now there is only S135,9O0 of this
excess which arises directly from provisions
contained in the constitution; and all such
provisions about thirteen in number) can be
amended through the Legislature. Let those
take the statement of Mr.. Lewis and the con-
stitution of the State and examine them to-
gether.
[Opelousas Courier.l
Now, the objection of the great expense
that must necessarily attend the assembling
of a convention Is very much like the ole
Radical excuse for not prosecuting crime
| that it cost too much money-which led tc
the people taking the law into their owl
hands in some portions of the State We are
it costs 'too much to get rid of it. This is
the proposition we have to meet. But no
they say, let us have a new constitution, but
let US get 1t in a less expensive way. CheaI
goods do not always wear well. A cheap con
stitution might not be adopted by the people
and then we should have to bear the burden
of the old one with the expenses of the
cheap (O commission added. Or ii 1t were
| adopted, it might prove to be Locke affair
| and would have to be done over again at ar
| early day, by convention OF the peoples
delegates, at the same expense as would have
| been incurred to do the thing right at first
| And then the chances are that large salaries
| would be less favored in convention OF the
peoples delegates than in a commission Sc
| lected and appointed by men in office, who
| cannot be expected to know quite as well as
| the people themselves do who they want tC
| represent them in a matter of such vast mo-
ment as the establishment Of the fundamental
| law Of the land.
[Thibodsux Sentinel
| The press of Louisiana is warmly discuss
ing the calling of a convention to frame new
constitution for this State. There seems t.
be great unanmity in the demand for sucf
an assembly. but there is considerable differ
ence of opinion in regard to the proper time
for such a convention to be called. The ma
| jOrity OF the newspapers are in favor OF {
speedy call, and demand that the Legisla
ture at it's next session shall order delegates
to be elected to such a convention with as lit
tie delay as possible.
| Others think it best to postpone such actor
until the close of the term OF the preSen
State officers. There are but few If any OBJ
jections to be urged against the proprety ant
necessity of a convention, but the question az
to the proper time for one to be held is diff
ferent. The people in this portion of Louis
lana are sick and tired of political excitemen
and the necessity of holding elections TO
delegates to a convention and a subsequen
one for State officers under the provisions 0
the constitution will occasion great annoy
anee and confusion at the present time. Witt
| the present State officers economy can be ant
is practiced by the present government. LIE
it be continued and let us have quiet ant
tranquility for a couple of years, and whe1
the time for change of State officers arrive
then complete change can be made under
new constitution without disturbing any O
the elements of peace ard concord.
Lake Charles Echol
The press of the State is agitating the ques
ton of calling State convention to adopt
new State constitution and MANY able Demo