The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1877-09-08

On the Constitutional Convention.

MA,kSville Eu!'etM: The Wop'l'|I
of holding constitutional r"n'th-
t,oo in this State has at last been
taken up 10y the Press, and "" are
clad to note The carnrSlne:S an" ans
eliminating appreciation with W''l'h
the entire question has been discus
scd. With scarcely 1iSSrnt'n"
voice, SO far as we have been able to
discover, the measure appears TO
have met the cordial and approving
COMMUNICATION Of journals OF every,
variety and shade Of opinion. All
concur in the urgent necessity OF a
thorough aud Immediate revision OF
the present organic law, and where
differences in views have d'v""pr"
themselves they have related rather
to the mode than to the necessity OF
prnplicty Of such revision.
Boten Rouge Adrocatc: The Shlcvc-
port Times says that the Alexandria
prmor,ut is the only paper it has
seen that opposes tn" calling OF il
Constitutional Convention. 1he rra-
son given by the NrmorJ"t is, that
convention viii !c too expensive and
that the Legislature can pass amend
mcnts just as well and submit them
to be ratified by the people. The
general sentiment is in favor OF
new deal. A patched mp constitution
is as bad as no constitution at ALL
and the only safe and economical way
to remedy the defects Of the present
instrument is to construct new one
and lay the old one aside.
Shreveport Times Many of our
contemporaries in different parts OF
the State have commenced aSlta'1nS
the question of a Constitutional Con-
vcntion. Although agreeing with
them fully we have hith,rt" refrain
ell from discussing the subject, for tie
reason that we deemed Il discussion
premature until Just before the meet
ing of the general Assembly next
January. But, from the unan'n''ty
of the press, and of the people, too,
80 far as we have been able to gather
their opinions, Il discussion, rs 1t
should seem, is unnecessary. All
seem to be agreed that Il Convention
is absolutely necessary at as early Il
day as it can he called.
1t ,houll be remembered that the
miserable abortion, in the shape of a
tate constitution under which we
live. is the offspring of Radical seal
away and carpet bag domination:
fit were uneXceptionably good, still
every line of it wouIl stink of its
paternity and should be ob|'tc'ated.
But it is not only not exception
ably good bat it is ontlaye"n>Iy bad.
Every vcStlgc of it must be wiped
ont, so tlat we may be able to COM
mence anew.
Franklin SIN We can onl y speak
generally upon the subject; nor d"
we deem it necessary to point out,
specially the defects in the Constltu.
ton of lS(;S. We are perfectly we'll
satisfied that one could be framed
that wouAl much better meet the lr-
qurements Of The times. A pure
stream cannot he expected to flow from
a muddy source. We believe that a
Convention, composed of pure, pa
triotic, enlightened and intelligent
citizens, could he assembled in our
State; men who have felt and de-
plored the evil effects of bad govern
ment and unjust and oppressive laws
men who would DC actuatcd 10y pure
and proper motives, and would exert
their best energies to frame a Con-
stitution that would secure equal
rights and privileges to all, and bring
about a general reform in lhe expo
stiOn and administration OF our laws
We therefore favor Il Constitution
Convention.
New Orleans Delta: Among th(
reasons given for Louisiana state
Convention, to readjust and ament
the Constitution, is the importan
one that the present judiciary sys
TEN is much too expensive and cum
brous. The Judicial Districts, it il
claimed, are too numerous. Unde
the old system, the parishes of Ouach
tia, Morchouse, Caldwell, Catahoula
Franklin and the larger part of Rich
land, composed the Twelfth Judicial
District. The Judges salary was
$4,000 that of the District Attorney
s6OO--making a total Of $4,000
These parishes now form two dis
tricts, with the following scale of ex
penditure Two Districts Judges
10000; two Districts Attorneys 81,
600, and six Parish Judges, about 80,
COO making total Of $4,000
Whilst reduction of the parish
courts is not asked for, it is arguet
that fewer Districts Courts would no
enly he more economical but w0ult
amply answer all the demands of Law
and justice.
9Too many legislators, and two
much law-tinking and law making
nave been among the most grievou
of the plaques Of Egypt that have at
tlicted Louisiana since tho close o
the war. a constitutional couven
ton would give a fair opportunit.
for a thorough revision of this mas
"f crude, iIl.digested matter, most o
it the compound of corruption AM
ignorance. Then, with restricted
number of legislators, biennial SEES
sion of the Legislature, abolition o
all official fees, and a clause compel
ling every voter to show his poll-ta
and other tax receipts, ere depositin
his ballot in the ballot-60x, we.mi Oh
hope tor more efficient and economi
cal laws and greater purity in cleo
tons two grand desiderata in til
reconstructed South,