The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-07-06
A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.
The Demand of the Country Press For "A
New Constitution.
[Natchitoches vindicator.l


We are led to believe that many friends of a
constitutional convention are mistaken in the
means we should employ to secure 1t, and
misunderstood the questions at issue between
the factions in our party on that particular
point. ,
Our opinion. of the contest Is one easily
stated. and we will do so in order to set at rest
the whole question, so far as we are concern
ed; and in order that in future, in discussing
its merits, the premises OF eaoh the conven-
zionist and antl-cOnventlonlSt, may not pc
misunderstood.
The demand for new constitution in LOU
isiana, and the abrogation OF the present so
called instrument, is based upon the 1ndis-
Dutable fact that the constitution OF 1868 Is
qtnrepabicun, both in its matter and in the
manner of its adoption. Constitutions, in
republican countries, are the concessions
made by the Individual as essential to, and
necessary for the government and well-being
of the whole. The right to frame or abrogate
the organic law, which has for its purpose the
objects Just stated, Is inherent IN the people
or the masses. No other power Is recognized
In democratic governments, and no other
power can or will exercise it, save through
force, which the people are certain, in time
and II imbued with the determined and re-
sistless spirit of liberty we are to overcome.
We ask, in all candor, IL the constitution OF
1868 is concession of the unrestrained will OF
the people of Louisiana? Was it not the work
of force applied by the fanatics at that time
in control of the national governments Was
1t not crammed down the Threats OF the people
with the bayonet point; and was not the
manner of its adoption and the men who
framed it utterly repugnant to every liberty
loving citizen in this commonwealth
We are aware that there are men in Louis
iana-thank God, however, they are but few
in number-vho contend that this manner is
an recruitment" and that if other than the
recognized power frame constitution which
is good in letter or in spirit, the people, il
they do not submit to it, are factious and
''don't know what they want. In this re.
public there is but one sovereign and that
sovereign is the people, and the danger tt
their inalienable prerogatlve lies IN pre-
cedent Once admit the power OF other thai
themselves to frame an organic law anc
the right follows. AS an evidence OF tht
unbending loyalty of the people OF Louisiana
to this doctrine we have only to refer to thell
patriotic resistance during eight years past
to the doctrinaires of centralism, the des
pots of radicalsm, the trainers of the organ
ic law Of 1865 which justice, reason, VIRTUE
and principle alike demand should be instant
~ abrogated.
In what does the manner of the adoption O
these amendments by the Legislature diffe
from the manner of the framing of the con
.stitution of 1868? In not one essential par
ticUlarl
The sovereign people demanded an asser
ton of their inalienable prerogat1ye; it wa
refused them by the Legislature their owl
creature-and lot OF amendments insteat
are insultngly given them to adopt or reject
as they may see fit. Tt is simply preposter
Gus that men claiming to be Democrats o.