The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1877-11-10
Constitutional Convention.

personally opposing the CONSTITUTIONS +
al Convention, will not vote against
it in the Assembly, becansc the c"un-
try people of Louisiana have made
the issue one of sentiment.
This paper reports the "rcasors'
adduced by this official as follows
"ln my opinion the State of Louisiana
is in the position of a convalrScrnt and
what her people most require is rest
We need time to rccuprlatc and to per-
nit the aspcritirs of the past gradually
become aSsliagcd. 1t would be far better.
he confirmed, until this has been ac
c0mplislcd, to submit amendments con-
silcrcd essential to the present conSt-
tuition. to u popular vote. The cnnli-
ton Of the body polite as | understand
it, is like u mountain lilkd with assures.
The community is divided into an in
tinitcsimal number of parts, and it will
require time for it to become homoc-uc-
Gus. Were this important question
agitated at the present time" said the
gentleman, "fragmentary cliques would
instantly resume their individuality, old
issues would revive. old wounds break !
ont afrcsl, and in the turmoil we would
certainly approximate the ordea! through
which we have just passed.
"Such an issue, in my opinion would
give more animation to the late Republic
can party than any move that conld be
made, and all things considered the dis
advantages developed in securing Il new
constitution would outnumbcr the al
vantages it would confer. l know that
this idea does not prevail in the country
Well informed gentlemen. who have re-
Gently visited the agricultural districts,
tell me that the desire for a new con-
stitution has almost become n sentiment,
and if this be the case, we can estimate
the effort that will be made to secure a
convention. shall not oppose it. IN
deed if | did, the act mi ght he believed
prom ted by desire to retain my pres
ent office, and that is a charge l would
not like to hear.
'Of coulse,' said he, "a constitutional
convention would not necessarily entail
general election, and resolutions could
be offered retaining the present State
government. But conventions usually
result in an entire change, and when
politicians, with the power. See an OPP
portunity, they are not slow i'll using it
Viewing the matter, however, from a
non-partsan standpoint,' continued this
officer, Il would not suggest a convcn-
ton at the present time. In financial
sense the present constitution possesses
many admirable provisions. BY no
State in the Union are securities more
scrupulously protected, and with proper
legislation l think our financial policy
would be such as to render the govern
ment by no means a burden, and at the
same time make it effective. Ny judy
ment convinces me that what we most
need is rest, recuperation and condi-
ton of tranquility, which will prove an
invitation to the industrious of every
land to seek refuge within our borders.
This discourse is as ingenious as it
is fimsey, and is in the usual line of
those who have taken it upon them.
selves to oppose the first great step
towards the crest, recuperation" and
rep0se of the material citizens of this
State.
1t seems strange to us that men
possessing brains enough to entitlt
them to official consideration at the
IL sc %1,o nn,,oorofsn ~
should imagine that the quiet repos'
of the people of Louisiana under thu
present Constitution, when over one
fourth of the articles of it ar
direct stabs at their material and so
cial prosperity, meant patient patri
otism. Show US people remainin!
quiet under the oppression of william
Gus laws, and We will show you
people crushed in energy, dead il
spirit, and fit only for the rule of
tyrant. God forbid that orr peopl
should become "tranqnil' that woul
only be a presage to their thoroug
subjugation.
Paltroonry is Taught a people j
more ways than one, and this cant {
"quiet, rest, recupeation &C., is a
ingenious attempt to instill into I'll
minds of Louisianians the fear of cor
sequences, liberty loving peopl
should never entertain.
The question is not one of rect
peration OF repose, but can be be-
expressed by asking, is the presel
Constitution of this State one tl'
the people can prosper under ca
they be assured that crest, recuper'
ton aud condition of tranquility
this interviewed official 80 fond
wishes7 Most assuredly not!
tits from laws that a people suffer
not from the men who execute thel
and it is the shcerest folly to arg
that a good man can execute b
law in the interest of society. 1t b
not been month since, that an no
est Judge in this State was guilty
deciding against the plain letter
one Of the most villanous articles
the present bayonet Constitution
aQuibble so ridiculous as to make
intelligent man ashamed to read
Judge Rightor's ears must have ii
gled with shame when he was co
PEELED in the interest of "peace a
harmony" to hunt the "groves
1IornocD IN 0r1ar RI sovo fha pnl