The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-08-23
CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES.

Our country contemporaries, whilst
united in the great need Of amending
our State constitution, do not fail to ap-
preciate the dangers and embarrass-
ments Of holding q convention for that
purpose. On the other hand, certain
of the journals present serious obiec-
tions to the mode Of amendment by
legislative acts. These are issues which
demand very thorough discussion and
calm elaboration. They should, in
their consideration. be elevated above
mere partisan influences. The de-
mand for change of temporary Off
Gals in the State or parish offices
would be an insufficient reason In
favor Of convention. Far higher
objects aud motives should be held
in view in the advocacy OF that
measure. The changes demanded are
Of fundamental character and should
not be belittled by associating them
with subordinate and inferior ones, such
as relate more to matters OF admins
tration, to local interests and the selec-
ton of the persons to administer the
Offices.
These cardinal changes In the consti-
tuition are required to impose upon the
administrators of the political power
of the State, constitutional restrictions
and barriers which will be found far
more effective to prevent the abuses
and complaints that have SO oppressed
and disgraced our people and State,
than will be found In the partisan or
personal character of the persons who
may command the suffrages of the
people.
Such restraints will operate to pre-
vent even incompetent and ill-selected
persons-and such are not infrequently
chosen by the most honest and we'll
intentioned of parties-from all kinds Of
malfeasance or misfeasance, and will
protect all from the allurements and in
iuences that too often corrupt and
mislead men of originally honest pur-
poses and ambitions.
This is our great necessity. Constitu-
tional restraints which will guard and
environ all officials and representa-
tives against the approaches and
assaults Of corruption, the temptation
TO abuse power delegated by the people,
for their own benefit, to mere selfish
ends and emoluments. How is this to
be done, unless the fundamental law i'm
poses such restrictions as not only do
not exist in our constitution, but are ac-
tually condemned by it's express encour-
agements OF the abuses which should
be guarded against, or by its silence
are promoted and encouraged.
Thus the Legislature, which has been
the source, the cause, the agent, from
and through which all the corruption,
mismanagement and plumbers OF the
last ten years have been accomplished.
has been left with omnipotent powers,
and without those restrictions which
have been hitherto regarded as essen
tial to preserve the reserved rights and
liberties OF the people.
Under judicial decision, the wisdom
and policy Of which we have always
had our doubts, the Legislatures OF the
States are regarded as having all pow
ers not forbidden or prohibited by the
Federal or State constitutions.
Hence the necessity of additional
constitutional restrictions and prohibit
tions to those which have failed hith-
erto to check or prevent the great ex-
cesses and abuses OF our Legislatures.
It was with this view that the late State
Convention OF Pennsylvania was held.
That body embraced the ablest talent
and largest experience OF the State.
Politics were excluded from its deliber-
ations, and the main object was kept
steadily in view Of imposing restric-
lions upon the legislative and executive
powers, and thereby Of guarding against
the abuses and corruption which had
produced such enormous evils and made
the government OF the State q by word
for venality and corruption.
This convention produced constitu-
ton, the careful reading and study Of
which will demonstrate to our own peo-
pie the urgent need and wisdom OF
similar changes in our own constitution.
We propose hereafter to refer to and
elaborate the argument in favor OF
these changes. For the present we
must be content with copy Of the pro-
visions OF the new constitution Of Penn
sylvania relative to the powers OF the
r oo;,lo+,,ra md the rastricticng tharaOf
SEC. 7. The General Assembly shall not
pass any local or special law authorizing the
creation, extension or impairing of liens;
regulating the affairs of counties, cities, town
ships, wards, boroughs or school districts
changing the names Of persons or places
changing the venue in civil or criminal cases
authorizing the laying out, opening, altering
or maintaining roads, highways, streets or
alleys; relating to ferries or bridges, or incor-
porating ferry or bridge companies, except
for the erection of bridges crossing streams
which form boundaries between this and any
other State;. vacating roads, town plats,
streets or alleys, relating to cemeteries,
graveyards or public grounds, not Of the
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