The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1878-10-19
Amendments 70 the Csnstita-
ti0m.
IFrom one Sabine Bouthron.l

The iconrse of the General AS
semblyin 187Bin proposing amend
ments to the present constitution,
instead OF calling u convention to
frame new constitution, has been
extensively discussed and criticised
nv the press and the people gem
sernlly ii the whole Suite
IA convention WAS held At Baton
Rouge, an the 9th of August last,
by the democratic party, IN which
lit was decided flo sbe the sense OF
the people that the Legislature, ut
its next session, should provide for
the calling and assembling uf q
convention ut the earliest practlca-
bic time TO frame and establish ~
new constitution for the State sOf
Lnnisiana.
Notwithstanding this clear and
emphatic expressionso of the people,
through their delegates in c0usen-I
tion assembled, we find that sDme
are advocating the postponemsnt
of the time till the year 1880; and
they advise the adoption uf the
amendments proposed by the last
Legislature, which are 10 he sub
united for their approval Or rt1ec-
ton ut the November election.
We ho.d that this position rs
clearly nntenabie, Tor the reason
that it would be impracticable to
atinpt the amendments and carry
them into effect before the time
which they propose TO luld the
convention for framing the new
constitution. Itwould necessarily
require d great deal Of time, %
wellas expense to the State, to re-
construct the different branches OF
the government, especially that OF
the Judiciary, as contemplated by
those amendments, which could
mot be done iii time to reuIize any
advantages from the change pro
posed by the amendments.
1t was evidently intended by the
c0nveDsion, As ills the desire OF
the people of the State, that no
delay should be made In the time
sof holding the convention TOR fram-
ing the new constitution, aud 10
stllisendit would unnecessarily fellow,
that the people would make M ,an-
qualified rejection OF the proposed
amendments at the November
election.
Mould it not be absurd TO adopt
1.-The amendments and, at the same
time, require the Legislature TO call
a conveutis,n las soon as practical
lille to naEe new constitution.
This wonld involve double trouble
md expense to no valuable pur-
pose Whatever. Then asst is tine
clearly expressed desire of the
people to have o new constitution,
~ soon sss practicable. let The
amendments be stjsctsd Mt the
November election, and our repre-
lsentatiyes to tile Legislature be 10
quired 40 order the convention 40
be held immediately, without do
lIay, and retnrnlhome without vast
ling the time and money If the
people in frnitl.ss attempts at ley
islution under the old proscriptiyt
and rotten constitution If 1868
which has 90 long lisgraced the
rscutcIleon of our beloved StHte
The peopleSeqnire, asa sine qasiaaoa
of their candidates for tho IIeGisln'
fnre, an unconditional pledge its
lthis line II policy. IN order ~ com
tnand Itheirisuppor. 10 this election
The REJECTION IF tile oonstitu
tional amendments ii foregont
conclusion and their ,death knel
4 will El,e sounded at the ballot4bo,
tin November next, and d constitn
1 tional eonvention demanded NJ ths
earliest practicable time after III
meeting of tile Legislature 10 Ian
Elsnary next, 1879. without furtlle|
Legislation till said constitution \
named.
4 "a yankse once stated to an En-
glishnlan EthHt ne had 4onGe, whAi
IIIiannfinr. shot 900 SHINE III, m hour