The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1877-07-20
A CoNsT1TUrIoNAL e0NSENrIoN DE.
MANDEO.

1t IS fact that cannot yield to the
opposing force of public opinion, that
the political strife of the past twelve
years has hushetl, and the conclusion is
reached that the political condition of
Louisiana is fixed for years to come. 1t
is folly to deny the existence Of state
of affairs, when it is plain to the COM
mon sense of every practical, free
thinking man, that such state OF
affairs has a real existence.
Politics in Louisiana have been rev.
olutionized the policy of 1865 Is the
curse Of 1877; the legislation of 1868
and of the subsequent years to the year
1877 has received the emphatic con-
domination of the people. The whole
policy of the present National Admin
istration is the direct reverse of that OF
the preceding years, and he is blind
who cannot see that a wonderful change
has been made in the internal condition
of our State government.
After all that has thus so rapidly
passed in review before us, would it be
! inopportune to call attention to a SUBJ
ject which must sooner or later absorb
the public mind? refer to a change
| in the organic law OF our State govern
| ment.
No person will endorse the position
| that the Convention which adopted the
Constitution of 1865 fully and fairly OK
pressed the sentiment Or wishes of the
the people of Lou siuna. r!t-
That Constitution was a Temporary
expedient. 1t Was necessary as II con-
dition precedent for the restoration OF
| the State to the Federal Union under
! the Reconstruction Acts OF Congress.
| The people had not then recovered
| from the effects of a four years drastic
! war they had but little inclination to
! engage in tho excitement Of a political
] contest for the election of delegates to II
Constitutional Convention, and lnuci,
| less desire to do SO when !. large por-
| ton of them was disqualified from
voting. -..:.u.
A general apathy oVersprcad COM
munitiess, and under such gloom, the
| real and substantial interests of the
people could not be fairly represented.
In America, the people are governed
ny written law. Their government is
| founded Oh u few plain principles
| which are Incorporated in an organic
law. AS government progresses, the
ever changing affairs of tho people de-
velop some new theory or principle
some enlargement Of the plan of gov
| eminent is necessary. The Constitution
of to-day will not meet the demands of
the peoples quarter Of u century hence.
| The Constitution Of 1868 was the off
spring of Il public mind which had
been agitated by events unparalleled
in American history Of a public mind
| that was not healthy, and which
| tabored under an extraordinary pres
sure. Besides this, the very first order
I OF talent in Louisiana shrunk from
participating in the creation of a Con-
stitution, knowing full Well, that their
labors were not to be submitted tor ap-
proval to the solid yeomanry of LOUISE
ana, but merely to those who had elect
ed the trainers Of that Constitution.
! A new and it seems a brighter and
happier impression has fallen upon the
sentiment of the public. New life has
entered the body polite and il the as
severatiOns of the public leaders are to
be received, they promise a guaranty
of a long and continued era OF good feel
| ing among the people-they promise a
time of which it may be truthfully
said: .s -
"'fis FROM the past we shadow. forth tho
| land
Where smiles; long lost, again shall light
We arc now grooming under so many
abuses-we have been oppressed with
so much useless, corrupt, partisan and
revolutionary legislation since the year
1865, that we think the time is come
when the people in their aggregate
power, may appoint their deputies
who shall meet in convention, and i'm
press upon Il new Constitution, the
features of the present political, IegisIa-
tive aud Judicial demands Of the coun-
try.