The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-02-13

arguments used, and they were dishonest ones.
He then read the protest Of Judge Crawford
that passed the present constitution against
its pr omu CATION.
Mr. Brdger said that the objections. set forth
in the protest were as true as If they had been
written now by the light of experience Had
not every prediction made beenJ fulfilled ? ,
syr h9 Wss mos q the Il Is pro
posed to abolish, the parish courts which do
seven tenths of The h, civil business. aud not sup
year, and their time is taken up in the trial of
such miserable. poor men rs haye no money to
never new through the dishonesty Of
the courts, but bye reason of eontinuances.
which oput off trials for years. The same de-
evil demands correction, but these amendments
do not afford it. o
MIR. McCehee spoke In favor of the amend
mens. The people wanted rest, and to preelp-
tate the political excitement of campaign be-
fore our material interests are developed would
| be most disastrous.
| Gen Young opposed the idea of a convention
y had been gravely doubted by Mr.. Leonard. in
his minority eport. ether the General Assem-
bly, had the right to make such changes in. The
| constitution. He found the authority specially
delegated in an article. of tho constitution, and
he thought It very Wise one He was tod hat
own making They would vote upon each Of
these amendments separately, while, in case of
submitted as whole. He then went on to dis
cuss the court system proposed by the amend
ments, approving 1t.
Those opposing these amendments put them,
selves, in the attitude OF refusing 9, partial
benefit because they could not gel. all. They
called. In the matter Of calling a convention,
he thought the people should have say, and he
was satisfied II the question were properly can
convention. The speaker then drifted into
Vested rights and sid t fiat the prohibition et
ana no OF hs W5 e paas e aWs S ya
lating contracts, and the convention would have
no more right to get rid of monopoles than
| the Legislature.
committee was to submit such amendments rs
were absolutely requisite and would satisfy
the clamor Of the people. He should by no
means regard the instrument as perfect, even
with these amendments Incorporated in it.
When we remember how it was thrust upon us.
by the bayonet and against our will, there are
none but must revolt against it and desire to
seei burned. II was the offspring of an un,
hallowed union between military power and
civil despotism. Yet for ali this was 1t not the
| duty of this assembly. in the interest of the
people, TO do what they can to amend lt2
out q eon also
the bitter memories associated with it,. he
should be the first to vote for that eonyention.
more did not believe convention could be
called by this Legislature. and for this reason
favored the at because they can
To vote for them certainly precludes no one
from voting for convention. Let that pr9po-
these amenmens. He had heard from 1.-THE the o ps
| ponents of these measures' learned DIS
QUESTIONS on the science of government and
| a great deal of sentiment: but those who most
earnestlyspoke for u convention had nothing to
say in opposition to the amendments. These
merely proposed practical reforms which the
people could understand They went through
every department of the government-begin
ming with the Governor and going through the
Legislative ana Judiciary departments. He hoped
M Mr.. Vance said said some ridieue had been cast
pp6a he d nS AIR.
favored q convention. wishout having been In
stmeted by his constituents. but believing that
He would read an editorial from his parish
paper, the Bossier Banner. whose editor is
| most conserva i've man. because 1t expressed
fnll Of private letters. demanding a oonvention.
He then read the editorial from the Banney. de.
wanted It. and would foot the bii7 Mr.. Leon
ard had express I'd the whole necessity in one
sentence. when he, said that what was needed
was strong constitutions one that would pro-
| tect the people under all contingencies. and
without reference to what party was in power.
Mr.. Kelly favored o. convention. because he
| believed in 50 doing he. was carrying out the
wishes, OF his people. He would not assume to
speak for tho 1872 600 people of the State, as the
member from Pauuemines tWafmoth) has
| done.
| views, but he would, and they were that these
| amendments should be passed. He might not
suit his constituency, but he would not be CON
recognize the right OF the press to instruct him
He was the representative OF the parish of
Webster and was responsible to it's people.
Mr. pinkgrave rose to answer the arguments
Of gentlemen made yesterday. He reproved
Mr. Leonards protest against Capitalization.
That question had been settled by the last ar
that it should be raised Mr. Lea had Reproduced
Republicans for inconsistency in supporting
these amendments. yet with the oath he had
&,I,. ,hI,s hit
state that he would vote for n convention only
in case he believed the Democratic party would
carry the State: otherwise he would not vote
Mr. Young, of Baton Rouge, desired to put
himself on record as opposed to convention
| under any and all circumstances. whether these
amendments were carried or not
:, Mr. Lea rose to reply TO remarks OF Mr..
ately and after reflection. He would vote for o
constitution under no circumstances If he had
ing the election and CONTROLLING the convention.
He believed it was the highest duty he owed the
people and himself, his family and his God to
fight Radicalism wherever he saw it. and to
keep the State out of the hands of that party.
DR.. Rylaud argued against the convention
Mr.. Newsom said no member could say what
his constituents wanted. for they did not know
themselves. He repeated tho stale imputation
favored the convention because 1t would put
money in their pockets. They were parties in
interest. as Hln0St everybody else WIS VINO
favored the convention.
Mr., Kidd said he had neyer risen to speak on
a subject under SO many difficulties: the House
was weared and upon his side the question had
been exhausted Among the many curious
and strange things that had made up
the recent political history of Louisiana
age OF these amendments by the Senate
without discussion or dissent. Only less re-
markable would be the passage of them at all
by this House. How soon. do men forget What
curses had been heaped upon this instrument
Who can forget the means by which it was
thrust upon an unwilling and DISTINGUISHED
people2
The second clause of this instrument utters
the doctrine of consolidation and contradiction
to which the Democratic sentiment of Louis
lana could not give it's assent. For the benefit
! OF those who thought this question settled, he
| would tell them what State sovereignty meant
Paramount allegiance belonged to paramount
authority. and that resided in the State; and
| always will so long as the Demoera c pc, =
lives. The mere fact that this a,tict, of she
constitution has not been abrogitt Il ls alone
sufficient to call q convention.
| But he would come to practical uuestio $.
How often had the Democratic 0, ato PROMISED
the amendment of the constitutional require
ment for q registration of voters. He is told
that legislation has reduced the cost OF the sy1-
| tenn Perhaps so: but it has not made it inlpus-