Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1878-07-13
CORRESPONDENCE for the Beacon

recently held in this parish, nor in
the corrected statement made by you
in the las, issue of the BEACON, has
Justice been done 10 the views expressed
Convention For TIN, reason ASK To he per
United space IL enlarge upon the objections
| that day held, and continue to hold against
tie immediate call for Il convention. | leave
il 10 ADLER pens 10 give tile reasons ,nsii:yiny
those Of our representatives, who opposed tie
calling of a convention. and preferred! 10 sub
NIT amendments, 80 as 10 make the present
Constitution less Objectionable. lie, us not
condemn these representatives unheard.
They are men Of updoulned integrity and
ability. and are well worthy of the confidence
and resi- rci of our entire people.
The objections set forth below, you will
find, fully accord with those urged by me BE-
tore the mass meeting.
The first objection TO winch | wonld call
attention Is, that II - too expensive AN eX~
pertinent ~ reform, even If the attempt should
lie successful IN Offering to the people a wise
and liberal constitution. Our State Is gruan-
ing now beneath the burden of taXa,nn
We, as Democrats, have promised reIiei to
an oppressed people. W"uid II he carrying
ont faithfully these pledges to make the load
greater under Democratic, than under Rad.
ical rulet The entire expense To The Stale OF
holding two elections, one for delegates, an
other to vote on the proposed constitution flor
take II for granted that the most Jealous con
veLriunst does not wish this issue To be
brought INTO the genera. election of 1850 to-
gctIiet with the mileage and per diem o.
members. and the incidental expenses Of the
convention, could not fall short Of quarter
OF million Of dollars, would probably be
greater. To NEE, tins great expense there
mus, be levied Il special tax of at least lLree
mills on the dollar upon al! taxable property
in the State. Now, the people OF Richland,
III their zeal, may be wiling 10 submit -
this additional taxation. but they must rcmeu-
Der that they are more fortunate III soil and
resources than those Of many other parishes
have seen it stated, IN an able letter pub-
llshed in the New Orleans Democrat, that IN
the parish of TangiPahoa, alone, several
hundred farms were, last year. sold at tax
sale, for non payment of taxes. This parish
Is not isolated in lis condition. With VIVA,
grace could Democrats 90 before the people
Of such parishes and ask their support, it, IN
stead of relief and refrrm, they, as "A party,
had al led TO the burdens they have already
To bear! Would they not be net with the
cry, THAT from our enemies we expected OPP
preston. but from our friends, mercy and
justice, forbearauce and sympathy, and We
refuse To be longer duped by a namo.'
Grea, as this tax would be upon TIE State.
i, is small as compared with the loss 10 he
sustained by our agricultural inteies;s-an in
terest to which all other interests are subordi-
nate. Our planters generally think that we
are blessed with elections too frequently
Planters, think of it. If the policy Of the ex-
trcme and immediate convenriOnisrs is
adopted, you are 10 have an election this year,
two next year, and general election the year
following. Can you stand i,t Those of you
who are not aspiran,s for office, will calculate
the loss To yonr crops from labor demoralized
by Attendance at political meetings, and the
desperate remedies tina, may be resorted 10
for political purposes in some sections and
will pause before resor!ing to such costly ex-
perimcnts.
The next objection is, that if it is decided
as party measure TO cal! convention at
done too hastily; before the people have had
lime TO calmly select their best men as dele
gate! And will not the people be forced 10
vote upon this hastily prepared instrument
submitted to them, without that careful con-
sideration II should receive: Is il at all prob-
able, that, under the feelings at present gov
erning many of those termed conven,ionists-
for of such alone the convention would be
forned-that they would give to MS a const:>
tuition that would please the majority of voters
throughout the State? | think not. Then, if
the proposed constitution is adopted. ii must
result from violence, not persuasion. Ii de-
tea,ed it is Il defeat Of the Democratic party.
and We must enter into the campaign OF 1880
disorsanized and dispirited. Would it not be
extreme folly to throw away our present
chances and TO take so great risk! | ask
the question with all difference to the views
of those who oppose me. To think of a re-
turn To GraniiSm III tins State may well cause
tue bodest man TO ,remhle for the dire eonse>
quences. Then, by all that is sacred and dear
10 us as great people, let us hold fast to the
victories so hardly won. Let us sacrifice, for
a while some of our cherished views
Our friends who favor the immediate call
Tor convention, argue that there has been
no attempt made. neither to amend, nor 70
abroSate the two most objectionable clauses
OF the present constitution. ! find nothing to
in these articles but rather all TO
condemn. But obnoxious as they are to every
true man, is II not the policy of our party To
leave them untouched for the present! Does
not every man know that they are and have
ever been as dead letters in the practical
operation OF our laws! Can not any one see
That The agitation OF their repeal would give
10 our common enemy great lever, terrible
club with which to break our own heads? Does
any man of reiiec lion expect within Two, OF
even four years. 10 eradicate all the evils
under which we have 50 long suffered! Time,
anu an honest and prudent administration of
Inc affairs OF State, will bring about all needs
'ui changes, and many Of our people, Of all
classes, must be gradually educated to a lib.
erai and equitable idea for the government of
The entire population
LASTLY, object 10 the immediate calling of
a convention, because, honestly believe that
u Is an attempt upon the par, of tue leaders
VINO favor tins movement, to break down the
NICHOLS government know that the New
orleans Democrat, as the exponent of the
views OF the conventoni,,s. denies this. I
10 not beive that single man in Richland
has such aims or des:res--but | know tina,