The Ouachita telegraph., 1878-03-08
THE MASS MEETING AT LAFAYETTE
SQUARE.
Resolutions Read and Speeches De-
Iivercd.

Resolutions Read and Speeches De-
Hvercd.
New Orleans Democrat, 3d.
The mass meeting held in Lafayette
square last night for the purpose of
agitating before the people the question
Of constitutional convention, was caN-
ed to order at O'Clock. Mr.. s. r.
Southmayd read the following list of
gentlemen presiding at the meeting:
President-E. z. Kidd.
Vice Presidents-Dr. G. Beard. Hon.
John McEnery, DIS. .Bryon, and others.
Secretaries-Julien Michel, T. w.
Higginbotham.
Hon. E. F. Kidd, of jackson, spoke
first.
Mr.. Kidd said that although the pre-
sent assembly was not held in the halls
of Congress or in Legislature, yet the
voice of the people must be heard on
questions of vital importance. The issue
is plain: whether the people will stand
by constitution framed by corrupt
Radical Legislature upheld by the
force of bayonets. Though no orator
like Prentiss, Charles Dreux or Henry
Clay, yet he did not tremble to speak
before the assembled multitude, because
the course he pursued was just and
pIOPSI OHSs liz dOhlSu 1o 1dloS IlS 1AOtb
that the object of convention was to
get rid of the present State government,
| to cut off the rights of the colored peo-
pie and repudiate the honest debt of the
State.
The spectators in fraudulent bonds,
the monopolists, would rather see the
city in ashes than witness the calling
of a constitutional convention. He
made no personal remarks, but this in
famous constitution being legacy of
attempted degradation must be abrogat-
ed. The constitution of 1868 is built on
the rotten foundations ofother constitu-
tions.
Although the present Legislature is
influenced by a certain power which
the speaker was loath to mention, yet
the people by standing firm will sue
| ceed in sweeping away all monopolies
and vanquish the tyrannizing infiuen-
ces which crush the people of this
State.
| Mr.. Lea, of st. Helena, then stepped
forward and spoke as follows:
/ am. glad to see that you have assem-
bled tonight to discuss the propriety of
a convention. This question was
wrongly thought to be of purely To-
cal character, but the question not only
affects New Orleans, but the whole
State, high and low, rich and poor.
The Office holders oppose a conven-
ton. The State government need not
fear to be overthrown /; it will be MAIN
tanned by the people until its natural
dissolution. The bondholders and
monopolists oppose the convention, be-
cause they think that their so-called
rights will be taken away from them.
We want fair and impartial govern
/ n will I,n
wishes of the people; therefore we
ought to have a convention. The
amendments framed by the Legislature
do not answer the requirements of the
people.
Mr.. Lea retired, and Mr.. w. r.
Mills read the following resolutions ::
Believing that where sovereignty
rests in the people, they, and they
alone, should create and establish their
organic law, under which the powers
of their representatives are to be deter
mined and limited and admitted-as
it is by all men-that the present con-
stitution of Louisiana was not made by
the people of the State, nor ever met
their sanction, but, on the contrary has
been source of evil and oppression /;
therefore, be it
ResotUed, BY this mass meeting of
SAtiHShs VI ol
parties:
L. That we are in favor of a consti tu-
tional convention.
,. That we request of the Legislature
now in session the recognition of this
right of the people to form in it's en-
tirety their organic law by at once
passing the bill introduced by Hon. E.
I. Kidd, Representative of the parish
of jackson, having for its object the
expression of the will of the people, at
their next general election, for or
against constitutional convention and
the election Of delegates thereto.
After the resolutions had been unan-
imously adopted, Mr.. Mills said that
the people wanted a constitution framed
by men who should favor no particular
individuals or party. He spoke of the
Moffett register bill, and said that now
even the liquors we drink are to be
taxed, not to swell the school fund but
to pay the interest on bonds.
/ The orators were warmly applauded
by the large crowd present.