The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-07-10
THE CONVENTION ADVOCATES,

| H.. It'd
islature from the parish of West Feliciana,
we assume, has written q series OF articles to
show why the late Legislature refused to call
a constitutional convention. In his Number 8
r. H. r. gets down to the merits Of
the question and gives us two OF the motives
which influenced him and his fellow MEM
bers in violating the specific pledges Of the
Democratic party.
/ r. H. r. informs his constituents that. in
the first place, the impression prevailed that
the convention advocates" were influenced
by desire to get rid of Gov. Nichols, and In
the second place that these agitators were
bent upon either repudlating the State
debt or demonstrating 1t, and eliminating the
dishonest portion thereof r. III. r. comedies
that the convention advocates disclaimed
these ends; but at the same time he gives
us to understand that neither he nor his anti
convention associates believed the disclaimers
of the convention men.
What reason this gentleman or his associ-
ates had to discredit the full and earnest pro-
testations of the advocates Of a constitutional
convention at the last session Of the Legisla-
ture we cannot divine. Certainly those of us
who were advocating the convention were as
honorable men as he and the other anti-con-
yentonists, and certainly the political his
tory of the State during the past ten years
will prove that the convention advocates"
did fully as much as any other class Of men
to destroy the Radical party and redeem
the State. Why the anti-convention men
referred to disbelieved our protestations we are
unable to say. But II r. FL. r. may charge
that the convention men were aotuated by
purpose to GUST Gov. Nichols and attack
the State debt, we may as freely charge that
the anti-convention men were actuated by
subservienoy to the State administration and
devotion to the rings, monopolies and bond
holders as against the people.
But far be it from us TO make any such
charge or intimation. We know that q num-
ber of the members of the Legislature who
opposed the call for a constitutional conven-
ton we're actuated by high ard patriotic
motives, and amongst this class of the anti
conventionists we number the author of the
articles in the Felioiana Sentinel.
Yet II this gentleman has correctly inter-
preted the motives which influenced the OPP
position to a constitutional convention 1t is
high time that the people aroused them
selves TO the Importance of sending
men of different views to the Legisla-
ture. We yield to no one in respect and adj
miration of Gov. Nichols, and the files of
this paper will show that it has been the
earnest and firm advocate of the payment
of the State debt as it now stands. But we
can never Concede that the maintenance of
Gov. Nichols or any other man in office for
any term of years is of such Importance that,
| 4 10 trI hal
the people Of the State under the crushing
influences OF a constitution conceived in in
| iquty and destructive of our best interests.
And neither will we admit staunch support
ers of the State debt that we are, that the in
! terests of the great mass of the people are to
be subordtnated to the et5tardly and selfish
apprehensions Of the holders of State bonds.
It Is arguments just such as II. FL. r. pre-
sents against constitutional convention
which excites the wrath of the people and
tend to array them against the administra-
ton and the State debt This is a free
country; this is a free people. The people
must be trusted or they must be suppressed,
and the form and character OF the govern
ment changed. Is this latter alternative nee
essary? We believe not. Then let the people be
heard and obeyed. All that the convention adj
vocates asked in the last session was, that the
question as to whether q constitutional con-
yention should be held or not be submitted to
the people at the coming election. r. Ell. r..
and his anti-convention associates voted
down that proposition, Why2 The present
constitution was formed by convention
assembled by military order, and 1t was ac-
cepted after nearly every decent man In the
DA ID Lo., - Aha
people OF Louisiana have vt least the right
to say, through the bailot-box, whether or
not it was their purpose to acquiesce in that
most damnable imposition2 1t would seem
so; and yet a faction of the Demo-
Gratis in the Legislature united with
the Radicals, black and white,
declared that the bayonet edict of 1868 was a
good enough constitution for Louisiana, and
that the people of this State should not have
an opportunity to officially say whether or
not they wanted to frame q constitution of
their own. This was perhaps the most ex-
traordinary proceeding of any Legislative body
In free country on record. Did the monopo-
lies. the office-holders and the stock gamblers
have nothing to do with it?
The business interests of this city never
committed greater error than in giving aid
} and comfort to this combination against the
people. They cannot do wiser thing than
to abandon it, and join with the convention
advocates" and give their influence to
| the good men who are In the movement to
J control it in the interest Of the commerce and
agriculture of the State. We do not accept
; the proposition that the continuance OF Gov.
} Nichols or of any other man In office Is OF
/ paramount importance to this State
But we do say, and we know that we
represent the views of three-fourths OF the
conventionists of the State, that we believe
it would be unjust, impolitic and unwise to
disturb the present State government. We
honor and respect the Governor OF Louisiana
as much as any anti-conventionist in the
State, and we desire that he should serve out
the full term of his Office convention or no con,
yention. Upon some questions of public and
nartv noIfcy we have differed with him, but