Feliciana sentinel. [volume] (St. Francisville, La.) 1877-1892, 1878-06-29

earnest convention man reported favor |
ably on the resolution, and Mr. Lea NOV
ed the adoption of the report. Judge
prominent in the politics of the state for
years past, moved to amend the resolu-
ton by adding after the word g successa
ry; the following words.
" TO enable The General Assembly to
determine whether the evils can be reme-
died by constitutional amendments, or
only by calling Il state convention, or by
Il commission for the purpose of framing
u constitutions" The resolution thus
mended was adopted without opposi-
ton, no one in the house seeming to
think it worth while even to call the yeas
and nays. l do not wish to be under
stood as saying that there was no MEM
bcr Of the house who was not OPP oscd to
this plan of amending the constitution.
There were numbers who favored u
convention first, last and all time but at
this time the feeling of the house was, as
it appeared to me, one of Indifference on
| the subject, and the resolution passed
| without attracting any very marked at
tention, or opposition.
| On the ninth day Of the session the
speaker appointed the committee from
the house with MIR. Lyons, of East Fellci-
ana as chairman, and such democrats as
| B. T.. Jonas and Albert Voorllies as mem
bers.
| The joint committee went earnestly to
work and on the twcnty-ffth day of the
session the majority of the committee
made their report recommending seven
! teen arncnlmc, is to the constitution, and
on the next day the minority report no
opposition to the amendments signed by
two republicans was presented to the
house. Up to this date. strange as it may
appear when we read the daily utter
anccs of the New Orleans Democrat, re-
echoed by some Of the country press to
the effect that the people Of the STATE de-
man'led and expected the Legislature to
call a convention, only two petitions on
the subject were received by the lcSlSla-
turc; one from citizens of tho parish OF
EauIo, in favor of 4 convention, and the
other signed by 500 Of the most prominent
business men of New Orleans, requesting
the legislature not to call IL convention
One other attempt to bring public sch
timcnt to bear upon the Legislature wa:
: heard of in private. circles from on
ncigliboring parish of East Felic'ana (
mass meeting WAS called of those t9v"r
ing Il convention when so few ATTENDED
that the meeting was postponed for
few days. At the next meeting it wa
; found that Il majority of those prcsen
were opposed to a convention, and tn
II meeting adjourned without acti II.
l mention these facts to show that 1t
- ', a mistake to say that the legislature act
. ed with Il willful disregard Of the pop,
> lar sentiment on this subject; but on til
" contrary, that there was not one wOr
said about Il convention i'll the platforl
> adopted ut Baton Rouge in July 1S7t
not u word in the exciting campaiS
~ which followed; nothing from the da
Gov. Nichols took his seat up to the 23t
- day of the session of 1873, with tie c:
ceptons above mentioned, which can
construc into the expression of popul
>" wish on th> subject of calling Il cunstit
=, tional convention by the legislatu
~ which was elected in 1876 upon this su
iect. believe there was an honest pu
-, pose on the part of the Democratic al
Conservative members of the leglslatu
-: to do what appeared to them to DC bc
:. for the people Of the state, after hearll
all the arguments pro and con wh
=, could be brought forward for their co
-. sidcration. And for my part after ha
ing read all that the convention adv
- Gates have to say 1 have not changed I
~, opinion, but still believe that tic high.
~ and best interests of the whole people
~ the state will be subservcd by the adol
~, ion Of the amcndmets as proposed.
:" X. II. X