The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-07-15

In this most profitable and pleasant Of
all the branches of his business.
Instead Of our Legislature enacting
laws for the protection Of dogs, it should
impose a heavy tax on them all, except
sheep and stock dogs, and make it the
duty, under penalty, Of all officers Of
the law to destroy those on which the
tax Is not paid.
It is full time that some action be
taken in this matter.
The hill parishes Of North Louisiana
are we'll adapted to sheep, which could
be made the source of immense wealth
were their owners secure against the
depredations Of dogs. But so long as
this destroying canine army is left un-
! moiested to prey upon the sheep, SO
long will this mine Of wealth remain
undeveloped.- [Columbia Herald.
Georgia h to have constitutional convention
and constitution framed in the interests and
for the protection OF her people. That is what
Louisiana very much ,needs.-[New Orleans
DEMOCRAT.
The idea Of such O convention for this
session of the public mind. The great
marvel is, that the question OF holding
such convention has not before this
assumed greater significance than it has,
and particularly in the public utter
ances OF the press. Even the New
Orleans DEMOCRAT, which is always
| able and outspoken, and leads rather
than falls in with the current of opin-
ing, while advocating the measure,
touches the subject apparently in a
gingerly way. But it need indulge In
no misgivings; the ground it breaks is
patriotic ground. A constitutional con-
! u, CAn+<
mount necessity, and the public are
| awakening to the fact.
On all sides complaints are heard
which, without raising it, go to the very
marrow Of this question. It is said, for
example, that while the Legislature has
cut down the salaries and perQuisites of
the minor offices, the greater ones have
been left untouched. People inquire as
to the origin of this discrimina ton, and
ask is this the idea implied by reform ?
And when they are told that this is a
matter beyond the power or competence
of the Legislature, but is one of those
people in convention, they ask why such
convention is not called. And these
people, representing the tax-pay ing
class, mean just what they say.
They are determined the burdens
Of government shall be lightened.
Another class, and by far the more
thoughtful, casting aside the economic,
take a broader and more catholic view
Of the question. They see in the un-
bridled power and license of the Legis-
lature the parent source Of all our past
troubles. AS long as the present Legis-
lature continues to exist they feel safe
because Of their confidence in the integ-
rity and conservatism of majority of
this body. But they are sensible this
is a reliance it will not always do to de-
pend on. Another election might place
them under the iron heel Of such Leg
| Just escaped, which they feel would be
far worse to them than moral death.
These people feel that it will never do
to entrust their liberties to the law
making power any further than may be
absolutely necessary for purposes Of
public order and the common good.
They saw with their own eyes Legisla-
ture after Legislature crushing out the
most vital rights of the citizen, and they
saw subservient courts carrying out the
behests Of these corrupt and irrespon-
sible bodies. They are heartily tired Of
license, and demand that the lawmak-
ing power be placed under increased
subsection and control. And this re-
straining authority they know can only
be had through convention by mod
ification Of the organic law more clear
ly defining and narrowing legislative
power.
The press may remain silent, but these
ideas are quietly terminating in the
popular mind, and will soon find utter
ance. Certainly there is q feeling Of
strong anxiety among thinking men
with regard to the future. They see
possibilities and endorsements ahead,
much like the troubles from which we
have only so recently been delivered,
and they feel 1t a duty to provide against
foresight can do so. In this patriotic
work we are willing to join hands with
them. We believe that the remedy, il
it exists anywhere, is to be found in a
convention of the people. We say, then,
let us initiate the example Of Georgia,
the most conservative and progressive
of Southern States, and frame consti-
tuition "in the interests and for the pro-
lection Of the people," By all means
let us have the conveniently Mans field
Bulletin.
Our prediction, often made, months
and years ago, that as soon as our polit-
ical troubles were settled, Louisiana
would receive her full share Of immigra-
ton, and thus be permanently redeemed
from political and financial ruin, is
about being verified. Almost every
mail brings us letters Of inquiry from
persons in distant countries who desire
to come to Louisiana to locate, and we
shall hereafter always answer such epis-
ties, either privately or through the
columns of our paper for the informa-
ton Of all. As samples, before us lie
two letters Of this class, to which we
now reply.
just such men as our first correspond
ent are in demand on almost every sugar
plantation in the State. A mechanic
who can thus make himself generally
useful would always be given the prefer
shares, and, by industry and economy,
soon acuuira means enOuph To ni1rchase