The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1878-01-04

MONROE. LA, JANUARY 4. 1873.
TO the General Assembly and tlae
state AAminissraaAon Of the un."f
RSesleoanesa Atnae Of A.0saisiana. .
sz stlt li ~S ifsa #
The formation Of new constitution
for this State was the very essence OF
the reform begun with the inaugura-
ton of the present State government.
1t ia now question of the highest
privilege-the only question unsettled,
and, strange as il may appear, to few
a question which may be safely put
aside, Notwithstanding q thoroughly
renovated constitution for Louisiana is
just as essential for her redemption and
prosperity as solid foundation is for
the granite walls of the custom house
in New Orleans. The ceremonies,
gewgaws and pastry Of rehabiiitated
State we have had and In superabun-
dance. Qualifications, hand-shakings
and all the formal procedures have
been indulged in. Neighbor has
smiled upon neighbor, this leading
man has grasped the hand of the other,
lations upon the change wrought, the
Legislature has met and iucubated, and
the suffering people of Louisiana
long the bondsmen of piunderers aud
mendicants-have caiIuty settled down,
we are asked to believe, in repose,
tiattering themselves that Radicafism
is extinct and nisrule undone forever
The glare of. temporary SUGGESTIVE
Incidence that follows u Iong-sustaincd
etfOrt-the' stupOr of -intOxicatiOn-att
have combined to stifie the vigilance
Of the sentinels on the watchtOwer, aud
the drowsy, stupetied guardians Of the
States veal tell us that all is we'll.
And yet there exists to-day as the
organic law of LOuisiana--Of Louisiana
getleemed-the ubiquitous Constitution
of 1868, framed by plunderers and enc
mics for the express purpose Of plumber
and disfranchisement, under which
the people are living and which all tue
courts and officials Of the State are
sworn to obey and respect. DO they
obey it? How can they respect it
1t is the badge of servitude-the last
relic Of bondage. Framed by bad men
who were never elected, damned with
Determinations against intelligence
and property, the Constitution of 1868
met with rebuke from prominent Re-
publicans at tho start, and was fastened
upon the people of Louisiana without
even the forms of un honest expression
of popular preference. It has not, nor
has it ever had any vital force, and it
now claims our respect only because
it is so odious in form and substance
that it has kept alive the spirit of re-
sistance to Radical oppression and by
lis iniquity has helped to overthrow
it's maIevolent builders.
We turn with loathing from this bad
instrument. 1t lies before us as we
write, just as it came from the hands
of the builders, and turn to what Ar
ticle we may we are reminded of the
iron hand of the Radical tasklnasters
who ruled Louisiana as they saw fit
and grew rich by theft and oppression.
We call to mind the lordly carpet
baggers and scalawags who framed
this instrument and vaulted into high
places-most of them beggars or con-
victed felons now-and by that So me
token, the souvenir of the peoples
grief and poverty, we can easily conjure
up IL second visitation Of these same
devouring locusts.
But we are told that the Legislature
is soon to assemble, and the Constitu-
ton will be amended. So it is, the
Legislature is about to meet. To meet
for what? To stitle the voice of the
people? To say that the people who
graciously sent them to the Legislature,
little thinking they would be per-
mitted to enact a single law, shall not
exercise their sovereignty in the max
ing of an organic law suited to their
wants and to the changed condition of
affairs in this State since New Years
day of last year: Who aud what is
the Legislature that it should absorb
all the rights aud prerogatives of IL SOW