The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-01-05
THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
VIEWS ExPHEssED BY THE MEMBEna
OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY,.

discussed by the various papers through0ub tha
State, representative Of the DEMOCRAT yesser-
day sought some OF the members OF lhe General
Assembly,
TO LEARN THEIR VIEWS,
representing 40 they do tn, opinions OF the peo-
pie in the city and country.
Senator w. A. Robertson. OF the Tenth Sens
torlal District, comprising the parishes OF Gam
sron, Calcaseu, st. Landry and Lafayette, WAS
the first member met
Rep.-What is your opinoin regarding the con-
stitutional convention2
Senator RI came to this city warmly In
favor OF convention, but since my arrival, and
after consultation with representative men OF the
Democratic party In the city and from the coun-
try, am satisfied that cali for convention st
the present time would be impolitic. believe
that my constituents In the Tenth Senatorial Dis
trict recognize the
IMPORTANCE on CHANGES
in the constitution that would allow the General
Assembly to reduce taxation; but while they de-
mand these reforms. do not believe that they are
particular as to the manner In which they sre 10
be brought about, and believe that they would
prefer that they should be brought about by
amendments proposed by the General Assembly.
rather than by constitutional convention.
Should there be any doubt Of the result Of an
election for said convention. which. from con-
sultation with prominent members of our party.
have
COME TO THE CONCLUSION
there would be, then would 60 with my party.
ASenator L. E. Texada, Of the Twenty-tLird
Senatorial District comprising the parishes OF
Rapides and Vernon, was the first gentleman
spoken to upon the subject, he being decidedly
opposed to q convention, stating that he Thought
the people Of the country were much opposed to
the calling Of constitutional convention at this
time-ndt that they do not recognize the necss-
sity Of framing amendments to that fundamental
law, but that they do not think tho present IN
opportuns time to bring on political campaign.
'To tell you the truth, SIR" said he. sour peo-
PIE, after the past harassing campsigns, want
political rest. They have had surfeit Of excits~
ment, and what We need now is time to dsyote
ourselves TO other pursuits" He did not think
that an election for members Of convention at
this time would work anything but harm to the
State. The election Of 1873 for State Treasurer
is not far distant, and another election before IL
would be
INJURIOUS TO QUE PEOPLE.
When asked whether or not 1t would be the
most expedient course to have the amendments
passed by the Legislature, and then submitted
t, the people at theielecsion for the Treasurer.
be said that he thought. possibly, tha4 would b
the better course, as 1t would save the peopls
from the excitement incidental TO m additional
campsign.
However, IL the party decided TO hold con-
vention, he would support the measure, but, indt-
vidualy, he was opposed to it, as were ths think
ing men of his constituents.
There were too many idle people in the State
now, he thought, to agitate such measure. and
until they could be provided with employment IL
would be better not to disturb the people Of the
State. %
Senator A. s. Dumont fcolored), representing
the Fifth District, comprising the fifteenth
Ward Of the city and the parish Of Plaquemines.
was next waited upon and his opinion asked as to
the question OF convention, he replying that
HE WAS OPPOSED TO II.
'For what reason2" queried our reporter.
"Well," said he, 'T believe that there is now in
the State something Of race feeling, and to cali
convention now would only make that feeling
stronger-that is, the white against the coioYed
race. That is the principal objection have, and
sll necessary amendments might be made by the
General Assembly, and be then submitted to thA
people for their approval or disapproval st the
next general election. The members Of the Leg
islature, having themselves been elected by tho
people, are supposed to represent the opinions Of
their constituents, and think them
FULLY ABLE TO DETERMINE
what amendments are necessary and what would
suit the views Of the people. For thas reason, =
said he, 81 would prefer. to see ths amendments
first suggested by the Legislature.
''Another reason is that . convention would cost
the State from s250,00 to $500 900, and that sx-
pense would necessarily compel
AN INCREASE IN TAXATION,
and that the people could not well Afford"
Senator a. G.. Mitchell OF the Twentieth Ben-
asorisl District, comprising the parishes Of Bos-
sier, Bienville, Claiborne and Webster, had very
decided views IN opposition to convention.
There were questions that could not be discussed
in . convention. and, besides, 1t was BY no means
an assured fact that the better element would
control its action in framing . constitution.
For these reasons he opposed . convention and
would do so were the question brought up in the
Senator James Fl. Grover, OF the First District
First, Second and Third Wards), being spoken
to on the subject, said he was in favor OF con-
sttutional convention immediately, il it did NOT
interfere with State finances and she present pol
icy of the State.
Senator Cornelius O,DonneI, OF the Fourth
Senatorial District, comprising the Tenth and
Eleventh Wards, being interviewed on the same
subject, expressed the opinion that he was IN
favor OF a constitutional convention. but not at
the present time that he did not believe In two
elections coming together.
Senator j. q. Burch tcolored) was interogated
upon the convention question, but had not yet
made up his mind. ''ln fact, he didn't know,
he said, what to think of it, he had not talked
much about the matter"
Representative Geo. T. Pitts, Of De Soto par
isb, was in favor Of revision Of the constitutions
He thought the people Of De Soto would favor
such plan, but they would oppose any conven-
ton that necessitated an eleclion Of delegates
The people did not want an election, with ifs ex-
citement and expense. They were also emphati-
caIly opposed to
DISTURBING THE PRESENT kDMIsIsTRATIoHs
and would consent to nothing that would 0ust