The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-12-23
A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.
Fer.
IMnrksyille RnllnLin.l


But a few short weeks will elapse before the
Legislature meets, and an interesting session
It promises TO be in view of the grave matters
which will then and there be discussed. Ac-
cording to the generally declared wish, both
of the public and the pres-, the first duty to
which the Legislature will probably address
itself will be the consideration Of the very
grave and important question Of the revision
of the State constitution. 70 this all minor
questions will have to be postponed, all others
carry out In u spirit of fairness the views of
those 1t represents.
There is no doubt that the people Of this
State favor revision of their constitution,
and there is no doubt that they have indicated
AZ clearly as such thing can be done that
this revision, to be at all practicable, can only
be effected through the agency and instru-
mentality Of a convention. Whatever differ
Ance of opinion may have once existed with
reference to the mode In which this revision
should be effected, this difference has long
since disappeared and passed out Of view in
the light oil more recent discussion. All par
ties are now in accord that the present con
Stitution IL too defective to be reached by
amendments, and that we have no option i
we desired one, but to call o convention and
frame an entirely new constitution.
The Legislature has thus duty before It,
and 1t liz a plain one. Neither official blan-
dishment In high places, nor the batteries
d # M tss Pgb aee DE
.
The people are In no mood to be trifled with.
The votes of their representatives will be
closely scanned and rigorous accountability
enforced. The representative who expects to
grossly deceives himself There will be no
mercy shown to recalctrants. Nor Is IL to be
credited that any such will be forced into the
ranks Of q party whose watchword s reform.
The duty OF the Legislature. In this view,
we repeat then, becomes an exceedingly plain
one. It's first act, after voting the appropria-
tions, should be to order the convention. It's
next II 1t carries out the will Of the constitu-
emit, will be to adjourn.
Against.
Lincoln Sentinell
The time is now near at hand when the con-
Stitutional convention question must be set
tied, and we hope 1t will be In the negative of
the proposition; for we believe that d consti-
tutional convention held at this time would
prove detrimental to the well being Of the
people and good government Of the State. We
believe instead Of calling Q convention, that
both prudence and economy will constrain the
next Legislature to propose amendments to
the constitution that viii Immediately, when
adopted, curtail governmental expenses
and remove the heavy burden Of taxation
tion Of taxation is the all-important matter
for consideration at this time. But In our
efforts to bring about this desiratum we must
be careful not TO make any false step. There
are other questions than that Of economy to
be considered before the policy of calling a
mined. The. whole state of political
matters must be weighed In the scale.
The political sentiments OF a majority
of the voters OF this. State are by no
suit will be If we hold a constitutional con
vention2 To attempt such thing in the
present juncture of affairs would certainly
place very dangerous argument into the
mouths Of our anniversaries, and, we fear, re.
suit in the defeat not only of the proposed
constitution, but of the Democratic nominees
Tor the next general election.
But aside from all this we believe that II
would be cheaper, wiser and better, at this
time. to reduce taxation by amending the con
frame new document and submit it for rati
ntstion. A constitutional convention will
cost the people not less than two hundred
and fifty thousand dollars, besides great
deal OF excitement and unnecessary trouble
When we consider the uncertainty Of the
result OF a constitutional convention, and the
general confusion that will inevitably follow
whether the new instrument be adopted as
our organic law or not, we enter an earnest
protest against the movement for eonstitu-
tional convention to be called by the mex
Legislature. BY proposing amendments tc
the constitution the most Objectionable fea-
lures, expensive provisions OF the constitution
can be changed, giving great relief TO the tax
payer, AUu DIT ITO IuUIS Cp5b b1lttu WILL uduultsl-
Nv be incurred by the next session of the
Legislature. Most of the arguments we have
seen In favor of constitutional convention
have been addressed mainly to the prejudices
and passions of the people, and not to Their
reason.
The question to consider is, not when the
present constitution was adopted, nor who
by, but what are its Objectionable features
and how can the necessary changes best be
made If the people of Louisiana We're to
have thousand constitutional conventions,
the greater part of the present constitution
would be engrafted into each new constitution
The objection has been raised to proposed
amendments by the Legislature that "the
people should say what the constitutions
law should be. In answer to this it is only
necessary that the people have just as
much voice in adopting amendments as they
would have in adopting new constitution
The convention would be composed of dele
gates from all parts of the State and its poll
Gcal complexion would be similar to the pres
ent makeup of the Legislature.
For useful and ornamental Christmas pres
ants, go to Navra's China Palace.