The Ouachita telegraph., 1878-02-08
CAUCUS VS.. COMMONWEALTH.
shall We Have Caucus aud Patchwork
Constitution, or a New Ones


shall We Have Caucus aud Patchwork
| Constitution, or a New Ones
| Editor Ne,c Orleaas Picauxac.
The constitution OF 1865 and the
Warmothean laws under it, were IN
tended to chain the commonwealth,
and perpetuate the ssdevil-fish' that
held it and sucked its vital fluids SO
long. The whole system Is alike per-
nicfous and Infamous.
Reform by piecemeal, In the funda-
mental law, is bad In principle, and IL
will be found so in economy. 1t is
like patching up an old house, defec-
tive in architecture and materials,
which was constructed for a den of
thieves and made unfit for honest pur-
poses, while 1t is really hurtful and
dangerous to its inmates. In nine
cases out of ten, we go at such house
without knowing what is detective or
unfit for the renewed structure we con-
template; and we may and probably
will find entire replacement needed.
No mixture of bad and good material
or defective architecture should be
allowed, either in dwelling or constitu-
ton. And as to the latter, everything
should be shaped to sspreserve" the
and it's vital character
istics; sdefend" us, the people; spro-
mote" our stwelfare;" conserve our
ssblessings of liberty, ,and secure our
isdomestic tranquility" and content
nent. S1,s
THE NODE PROPOSED uNREPuBL1cAN.
No constitution should be made for
the government Of the people that they
have not deliberated on and devised, ),
as well AS finally adopted. They are a
lself-eXistent, seif-organized and self
governing body. To remain II republic,
this body must govern itself. 1t has a
collective instinct of self-preservation,
and consequently right thereto. or
course the duty to exercise it is coupled
with the right. The commonwealth
acts accordingly, as u unit, in making
its constitution, which is its shield of
defense.
| 1t is "a nockery for politicians to
stcut and ory' amendments and put
them before the people to vote on. No
| collective action or decision can be had
| by the mere balloting of the people,
for the intellect necessary for govern
ment and which, to be efficient, must
/ act as u unit, is scattered into a hundred
thousand fragments at the polls. Poll
ticians forget that .the social instinct
causes men to form society, which is
as much bodily and mental unity as
man is, and that in such society reside
the collective instinct, right and duty
of Representation referred to. Neces-
sariiy there Is u collective and central
heart, operating through n collective
and central mind, to effect the purpose
Misrepresentation and self-government
of the commonwealth.
IL follows that it is the commons
wealth itself that has the only govern
L f,,x- ra- Ialf
, crate on, discuss and devise, as we'll az
adopt, its organic law. The sovereign
commonwealth should do such things
directly, through the usual organ fol
its highest functiOnS-a convention
The adoption Is the least importan,
part of the process Of making organic
law. ta rfft. ns5t
THE EFFECT Is TO DODGE THE PEOPLE.
The caucus method of devising, that
Isome of our friends now insist on, gives
the people no chance OF collective in
vestigation, through their wise aud
good men,. The collective mind, SEN
timent, moral force, judgment and con.
science of the State, are all set III
Z naught, and the people at a Thousand
polls practically exercise but little more
mind ON the subject than "the cattle
on a thousand hills" In fact, thei
, lconfidence is abused, and they divided
conqnered and put under the yoke of 4
caucus-made constitution, while virtu
. Tally commanded, "Put on this thing
Ior keep the poisoned shirt of 1861" -.
Il A general and deep feeling exists on
lthis subject and Is sure to show itSel
leverywhere in agitation, and rs 1t Is
1.-THE most momentous matterthe people
ever can consider, they should give
their hearts and minds to it, and force
their agents to- provide for the full ex'
ercise of the governing mind of this
commonwealth in the making Of its
organic law. 5Haf tp
II A State convention is wanted, few In
number, but composed of the wises
and best-the elders of the land each
parish sending one deputy, with al
, additional one for given amount o
, population, so that no one, except
, Orleans, shall have more than three
} The whole number should perhaps b.
|, lessa than one hundred. -a H..a. ...,.lt liE.