New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1878-11-03
CoNsrrrUTIoNAL AMENDMENTS,
Opinion Of Hen. NJ, Hahn.
From the St. Charles Herald.l


Hahn, in answer TO request from some
prominent citizens for his opinion on the
Constitutional Amendments, viii be read
with interest
/ HAHNv11LE, La, October IS, 1873.
Gentlemen Your kind letter, asking
INV views on the proposed amendments
10 the State Constitution, which are to be
voted on by the people at the approach
inc election. is received. The subject is
one of great importance and it is well that
the people are giving it a full share OF at
tention. The limited time allowed for an
examinations of the subject, and the neces-
sity of being brief in order to have ones
opinions read, are sufficient reasons for
this hasty manner of complying with your
wishes. ii ra 4u
Theindications throughout the State are
that the next Legislature will at its first
session callla convention for framing .
.new eonstltutiom. II this should be the
csaa. Ne viii urobablg have new cont
stitutior in a year from this date, and the
adoption of the proposed amendments, or
most of them at this time, will be cheng-
ING our organic Law only for short time,
and necessarily lead to much confusion
and perplexity. But as they are submit
ted to MS for vote it is our duty to act
conscientiously, consider each one dis
pessionately, and vote on each as it may
seem to MS OF most benefit TO all the peo-
pie of the State.
The first amendment, in reference
TO a change of the Capital from New
Orleans to Baton Rouge, involves no
question of principle and will probably
be controlled by geographical or sectional
influences. We, in st. Charles parish,
within easy and rapid communication
with New Orleans, prefer that city as the
Capital, and will be apt to vote against
| the amendment.
Q. The second amendment fixes bien-
NAL, instead of annual sessions of the
| Legislature. With the varied agrieul-
tural and commercial interests OF this
| State, and the increasing spirit OF prog
ress among the people, the Legislature
| should meet oftener than once in two
years, and hence advise against TINS
change.
3. The third amendment, limits the
! rate of State. parish and municipal taxa
tion, to figure which might in cases Of
emergency, such as epidemics or crevas-
ses. proye insufficient; and the last part
ia too discriminating in favor Of present
bondholders. We should vote against it.
a. The fourth amendment, like the
second. has reference to biennial sessions
of the Legislature, and should be re-
iected.
S. The fifth amendment covers too
much ground, and the last three lines
will give rise to too much uncertainty
and litigation to be of any benefit to the
people. 1t should be rejected.
| q dFnaDk nalxng a QllOhf
decrease in the salary of Governor. There
can be no reasonable objection to this
amendment.
T. The seventh amendment hxes the
nav of Lieutenant Governor at reason
able figure, and should be adopted. g.
8. The eighth amendment does away
with the "pocket veto" of the Governor
and his capacity to sign bills the who'll
wear, and allows the veto to act on part
of an appropriation bill instead OF tn
whole. This is good amendment
8. The ninth amendment does away
with fees of Office where there is regula
) salary. 1t should be adopted.
= 10, The tenth amendment does ava.
with the parish courts, and greatl
changes our Judicial system. 1t is calcu
lated to produce much confusion AM
: should be rejected. RI
! IL. NThs eleventh amendment makes
/ diminution in the salary of our Suprem
Judges. 1t should be ratified.
10 The twelfth amendment, like tn
tenth, relates to our judicial system, an
: ia calculated to do much mischief
e should be rejected.
9 l3. The thirteenth amendment also n
lates to the Judiciary, and allows salarle
to the Judges in New Orleans much large
j than those in the country. 1t should 3
# rejected.
Ia, The fourteenth amendment relate
to parish attorneys, and is too trivial
9 its features to merit place in th
Constitution. q.
Q Is. The fifteenth amendment, aboI
the recusation OF judges, is unnecessar,
Is. The sixteenth amendment, Is
sort of ordinance connected with tt
newly proposed judicial system, and
that system is not approved, this amen
ment should also be rejected.
II. The seventeenth amendment, Ii
tended to abrogate article one hundre
n and thirty-tRo of the present Constit
i. ion-(which requires all lands sold
= pursuance of DEGREES of courts to be
! Yided into tracts of from ten to tif
|, acres)-is, in my opinion, q good amen
"a menk. / had much to do with lncorp
q rating the present article in our Constit
: iton, believing at the time, that it wou
:, prove beneficial to the poor men of Il
2 State; but experience has taught me tn
y the original intention of the article b
y proved impracticable. zu
Is. The eighteenth amendment,
,. ducing the salary Of the Superintendel
:. of Public Education, is in accordan
i with ths prevailing spirit Of economy al
: retrenchment, and should be adopted.
10. The nineteenth amendment, i
4 tended to encourage trades and man
- factures, should be adopted. .ae
"a 20. The twentieth amendment, givil
Il the Legislature discretion rs TO exemptit
= from taxes on 1--WE hundred dollars Wor
"a of household goods, ETC., should
n adopted. L........
2i. The twenty.fr amendment is i
tended TO divide the State University in
la different parts and locate the parts
y different sections Of the State The Vi
n vetsity should be one efficient and sol
q institution and located in one plac
This amendment should be rejected.
i. Very respectfully,
- i-s-5 Ea-iia MICHAEL HAHN.
ID THR ENDORSEMENT.
The Resolatioas Adopted By the Repub
can Parish Committee.