Feliciana sentinel. [volume] (St. Francisville, La.) 1877-1892, 1878-06-22
Communicated
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS.

So much has been said in the N. O. DEM
0c,ut, and in some of the country papers
about the amendments to tho constitu-
ton proposed by the last legislature, that
I have thought my fellowcitizens of
West Feliciaua would be interested in Il
short account of the events which attend
ed the Origin and progress of these
amendments through both branches of
| the Legislature, but more especially
| through the House Of Representatives.
And I am more disposed to furnish
these facts because it might be inferred
from the criticisms of those papers which
are opposed to the adoption of the amend
ments, that there wa; q division of par
| ties in the legislature on this question of
| constitution or amendments and that
the so called Conservatives with the aid of
the Republicans had carried the amend
ments through the Legislature III spite of
| the Democratic opposition.
think that Il correct knowledge of the
circumstances which attended the pas
sage of the amendments by the respect
i've branches of the Legislature will dissi-
| stop to discuss the question as to how ful
| ly the Press of the State represents pub
| lie sentiment on this or any other Ques-
| ton or to notice except y 18th regret the
| unjust and uncaled for thrusts made at
| the conservative win g Of the Democratic
| Conservative party by some editors who
it seems to me loose sight of the highest
INT E no f.,fn in hni fa,,
zeal for what they believe to be the in
terest of their party. The object of these
| articles is to harmOniZe the different ele-
| ments of the DemOcratic-Conserv
party, the necessity for which was never
| greater in my opinion than now; and to
! show that the adoption or rejection of
the amendments is a question of policy
and not one of principle, a question up
| on which men of the same. party may
! hold honest differences Of opinion.
1t may not be out of place in the very
| beginning to state that in my opinion
! the adoption of the amendments, and the
question of a convention to frame new
| constitution cannot, and do not conflict.
l can see very clearly how one might
vote for the amendments, and then vote
| for a convention whenever that question
| is before the people.
Again, each amendment is to be voted
for or against, independently of all the
others, some may think that all are good.
| and so vote tor all, Others will see good
in some of the amendments while they
| reject the rest. But each amendment
! should be considered without reference
| to ti'e others. It is an Inexpensive and
! altogether proper way by which each vo-
ter may say that he desires to see this or
that article in the fundamental law Of
| the state. If convention is to be held at
no distant day, and this is very probable,
| it will not cmbarrass that body, but on
| the contrary serve as II guide to it, to
| know that the people Of the state have
recently decided by their direct vote that
| these articles at least meet with their ap-
prevail. But I will not present those az
yuments in favor of the amendments
which influenced my own mind, till
have given us l proposed, Il brief history
of Their inception and final passage, and
this propose to do in my next article
Il. II. r.