The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1878-01-11

the State, retard her progress, destroy,
her internal improvements, blight her
and destroy her peace and
"., ~. z
He respectfully asks that these rea-
sons he entered upon the journal OF the!
convention. r. 8. CRAWFORD, &
go. i'i'E4 OF Caldwell and Ouachita. s.
The protest Of Judge Ludeling and
Mr.. Barrett is in these words a
The undersigned members of the
convention Of the State
OF Louisiana respectfully submit the
as some Of the reasons which
impel them to refuse to sign the consti-
tuition which the convention has
framed: Sd
LIST. Because, In the bill Of rights,
social equality is attempted to be en-
forced, and the right Of citizens to con-
troll their own property is attempted to
be taken from them for the benefit OF
the colored race.
been adopted which is radically defec-
tive, which renders uncertain aud in
secure the rights to property and the
liberties Of the people. ,-..-..
Sd. Because the proposed constitution
q large, influential and
Intelligent class of citizens of the State.
This Is impOlitic, dangerous and unjust.
and Is opposed to republican principles.
4th. Because q system Of public t:tlu-
cation is forced upon the people, where
by the whites, who are to support the
by taxes levied on their proper
ty, will be practically debarred OF the
of the public schools. Mixed
will not elevate the negroes,
but will debase the whites. Another
enect OF this system will be the neglect
OF the education of the colored children.
9th. The oath Of Office is Inconsistent
with the disfranchising clause of the
constitution, and is absurd. ..
9Th. The direct tendency of the con-
as a whole, is to establish
negro supremacy in the State.
The undersigned believe that the
adoption of the constitution will drive
many citizens from and will prevent
to the State, retard her
progress, destroy her internal improve
ments and blight her prosperity.
They, therefore, respectfully ask that
these reasons may be entered upon the
Journal of the convention.
JNO. T. LUDELING,
r. . OF Ouachita and Caldwell
80. ...s JNo. l.. harriet,
..s .es -.. -...-.. -..... Of Union.
Judge Ludeling and Judge Crawford
were both Union men and Republi-
cans, sat In the convention Of '6s, favor
ed speedy reconstruction. but neither
are signers Of the Constitution.
0 The idea prevails, as indicated by
the Democrat, with the members OF
the legislature that the Constitution
can be amended sufficiently to answer
present purposes. At the last election
four amendments were submitted to
the people aud voted on. What has
become Of them !? Speaker Bush in
forms us that, one of these amend
ments was certainly adopted, but the
vote was in such confusion that a for
NAL announcement of the result could
not be made. Fifty amendments will
not suffice to change the Constitution
rs it should be. The ballot boxes
would have to be made about the size
Of q pulpit and the tickets as large as
the New York Herald, and not one
man In twenty would know for what
he was voting. is .'
But can the Democrats in the legis-
ature do AS they please in proposing
II they will consult the
itself they will find that a
Of the two houses, acting sep
can call convention, but that
% propose amendments twu-tIairds of
zach house must agree. We quote
Title TX: a'a T'7' y' t.HN'.
NODE OF REVISING THE CONSTITUTION.
f Art. 147.-Any amedment or amend
ments to this Constitution may be pro-
posed In the Senate or House of Rep
and il the same shall be
agreed to by two-thirds of the
members elected to each house
such proposed amendment or a.
amendments shall be entered on
sneir respective Journals, with the
yeas and nays taken thereon; md the
secretary of State shall cause the same
TO be published three months before the
next general election for Representa-
uves to the General Assembly. In at
least one newspaper In every parish of
the State in which NEWSPAPER shall