The New Orleans daily Democrat., 1877-10-08

On this subject Of the necessity of revising the
constitution, all PARTIES and the entire press of
the State, be ieve are unit: but the mode by
which It is to be accomplished seems to afford
ground for discussion. The selection by the
iurists and statesmen" to frame and present
for adoption by the Legislature all necessary
aa bs most m t we + ha ps py
vaiing sentiment inclines to the calling of
constitutional convention, | have considered
that In my opinion n convention is not only
preferable. but Indispensable.
Any amepdmt n,s suggested, by commission.
no matter how ably eomp0Sed, would undOubt-
from BY the present Legislature. The present
est partisans of the Radical orgHnisation-m
who were elected at time of high political ex-
element. and who will contend with acrimony
and stubbornness. Should a commission prs
sent all the necessary amendments an extra
session would be neee- sary before they could be
finally disposed OF by both houses. This would
not b. 50 If all men could think alike but |
have seen the Ito my minhl sim plp st PROPOSE ion
require several days before 1t could be disposed
Of by the General Assembly.
Expe ience has shown me how slow such
bodies move. even when tn re are no strong
political antagonisms. With the conflicting
eral Assembly there is no, telling when they
would get through with all necessary amend
ments. We had better conine ourselves to our
strictly legitimate du les, otherwise you Will be
bored with us ''Hll summer" The necessary
extra session would cost nearly as much as
convention. But this matter, Of cost is an insis,,
nificant item compared to The economical and
wholesome reforms that n convention elected
for the purpose would naturally adopt,
Agaiu, suppose we adopt the plan OF a com
mission" and the commission should present
all tho necessary amendments. boh by alb
rogaing oil provisions and suggesting new.
ferent articles to be voted on by the people2
Amendments to the constitution are not sub
mitted as whole or by mere references. Each
entirs amendment must be submittet. and in
such manner hat 1t can be voted on separately.
Below each amendment NUT be the words
FOR approval, and against :. approval p or
that we need almost an entirely neY consiiu
ton. The present constitution contains more
sonabe ealculation) that forty amendments,
some of them of considerable length would
suffice Print al these with the words tn, For
each, together with The names ef all the candi-
dates for Office with spaces left for opposing
names, and you will at once perceive what a
1t would be necessary to print 1t like the fraud
ulent tape worm ticket" that was once voted
oato4s n,ssbs Ths HFe or W"s bs SO s%a vns
to "' tell eli witch " side he W was '' support
ing. Besides, many voters will, not see the
sS t until ada hey bs sbS ,S 93 T a bs
time They will be pulled and hauled about by
dendidates for office and their friends until the
amendments will be finally lost sight of, and,
| like those recently submitted, none can tell
what will be heir fate.
1t is objected to a constitutional convention
| that the expense will be too great. This argu-
ment fs fully met by the CONSIDERS ion that one
| years existence under properly altered con
stitution will more than COMPENSATE Tor AZ the
| our emancipation has been too recent, aed that
we should not risk the political excitement hat
would be engende9red by an eleei2n f4r dele,
| recent is as complete and enduring as that OF
Texas. Arkansas mississippi or Alabama. The
carpet bag element has more power in the
| pragnnt ippiSlnttI than III Will enjoy
again. It died with the Returning
Board. -, Let US not be fri ,htenei at it's
Honest reform is the watchwari all over the
State and the crushed carpet-bagger will have
no heart to make fight over this issue: The
own ranks who do not desire their salaries re-
duced or their soft places interrupted. AS to
where their true interest lies, and are not apt
to get excited over a question where q re- uc
ton of taxa ion and the leasening Of their bur
they have control | hope they will send dele
gates from the b st and least partisan of their
race. They should be fully and ruly represent
| ed and all their interests properly cared for.
| A convention elected under the reform idea
| that now absorbs the attention OF the State and
at time when the carbet bagger has not been
able TO recover from ths shock Of last spring,
will be far less partisan than the present
General Assembly; An election under such cir
chosen will have but little of the elements of
excitement about it. This idea of political ex-
| element is u lifeless scare-crow. 1t did not
| frig,ten our sister Srates why should it
Louisiana? l fear, fellow citizens, that
we have grown into such habit Of
trucking to the censorious criticism of
the Northern press and Northern people.
that we are wanting in that dep ndence in the
control of our own aftai rs that should mark the
l. time that we should rid ourselves Of this
nightmare and assume wise and iudicious
control of our State affairs, without refereD 20 to
any outside sentiment whatever. Let us not be
rash but by all means Independent.
| I repeat. gentlemen. that after mature con-
sideration 1 shall at the next meeting Of the
General Assembly support call for q constitu-
| tional convention. Let the people themselves
| select the men who are to frame their constitu-
| tiOn.