Le Louisianais. [volume] (Convent, La.) 1865-1883, 1879-10-18

rule, to law and to order, the suborlina-
bounds. and the preservation Oftlc rights
Of the States within the limits appointed
by tho constitution of the United-States, l
can have little, if any, doubt that the pre-.
sent choice of the Convention, coming, rs
it does, with the force of SO large and flat
tering a vote, and from the first represen-
tative men of the State, is designed to ex-
press approval for my past adherence tothe
principles tO which 1 ave referred and con
fidence that will persist in my devotion
to them in the future. 1t being my jnlg-
inent that parties are necessary to free
governments and that the best results are
apt to foil, wv from til. collisions to which
party contests give rise, it may not be out
of place for me t"say that it is my belief thai
the suffering fortunes ofLonisiana are like
ly by a return to the cheap, honest and
simple manner OF government which is
connected if rot identified with the fathers
Of Democracy, and that, l trust, practical
benefits may be derived by borrowing con-
stantly from the examples set by their cx-
pcrience, wisdom and patriotism and
that it Will be the effort of the alministra-
ton to which your favor will have been
chiefly instrumental in calling me, to show
how much good, how much progress, how
perfect All administration Of public Justice
toward all men, and what entire security
to life, liberty and property everywhere
throughout the State can be effected by
Democratic government.
The present is an suspicious period. 1t
IS destined to be an epoch IN the history
Of Louisiana. a new constitution is about
to h" adopted, and the blessings of we'll
regulated liberty will be rapidly ditfnscd
a ~, tta ,,.,,,i. IrL,a Constellation.
Convention was composed Of true and
able men. There have not been better
men ever assembled for a similar purpose
i'll the State. A constitution was prepa-
red, the spirit Of which looks always to
the best interests of Louisiana. 1t is diff
cult TO do justice to the labors of the Com
s%ention. They were COZ scientious, dilli-
gent and protracted. Every article OF the
constitution and every paragraph, | ought
to say every sentence, every llne, was eX-
aminct, discussed and weighed all united
III al effort for the good of all, and con
tempnraneous history was ransackrd for
just such prccedents and safeguards. The
result achieved is, | believe, the best or
game instrument Of government which
has b"c,l presented to the people of amy
State for RATIFICATION. Public approval has
already made itself manifest in favor of it.
uii't ~ 10 N''J W ~ iupo w
The duty naturally dcvolves upon us, as
faithful representatives of the people, to
aid and assist the popular determination
t" prove before the world, by securing ior
the constitution u vast ~prcponderancc of
votes, that it is really the people of ,Loul-
siana who pronounce tor IL government
of tlisir own choice, and who assert, with
settled and patriotic purpose natural to q
proud aud free commonwealth, the right
to disown aud discard forever and ON
sign to oblivion the so-cllltd constitution
of lS6S us Il relic of past disorder, wrong
and military oppression. When the on
sti,ut.ion will have been adopted, it will
naturally become our duty to put it into
successful, practical operation. 1T Will be
necessary to adapt the stalntary law OF
the State to the great changes which will
have been effected to pass new laws up
Z, II the various subjects indicated i'll the
constitution and to MAINTAIN aud advance
the general reform which the instrument
designed to set tn foot. Certainly this will
he II great work, worthy OF most devoted
laburs.
1t is scarcely necessary, however, for Inc
to add that it cannot prosper unicss FAITH
iul and capable men are brought forward,
and assume the cares OF legislative, MA
gistrrial and judicial position. Never he
fore has the state made "A more urgent
demand. Lee, it be our duty to see that it
il, answered. To have called ont suitable
before the people. t" nave the
legislature pad properly and to seat upon
the beucl; those who are learned AMI Wise
enough to interpret, and ut the same time
brave to intorce the law. In Il
word. let MS put trust i'll those only who
are really patriots, and see to it that our
,,,n.l.,l constitution, ts administered Inv n
government! itself Il model. ! postpon" for
such occasion rs may appear suitable, and
such us will hr proper to the grave respon-
a,bi,lties which seem to await HE. as the
principal chosen representative OF the pc
litical party, possessing AN ~nnbnundch ma
iority of the voters, further expression re-
latiis to public affairs.
Rornin Louisiana and descended from
parents themselves natives, ! am identi-
he'd with IL whole people by every lnlc-
rest Of my existence. have spent within
this State the yearsol my youth and man
hood, and contracted here all the ties
" hirll are most cHdcarlng to man. Having
engaged actively in public life, | have APP
pied myself TO the study Of the public
men Of the times. the resources and pros
poets, the c1lsbarrass,ncnts, the difficult
ties aud dangers which surround the sta
trs. | have pond.rc,l the great problems,
tho solution Of which will d.volse upon
the administration which, according 10
every probability, it viii become my duty
to direct, and have Determined TO meet
them with >anglenrss of purpose and to
call TO my assistance the good aud pure,
CONSCIOUS of HE ree,ituhe OF my inten-
,ions and filled with devoted attachment
tn Louisiana, | invoke, ut the OUTSET, the
favorable considerations otmY tcllDW-citi-
Gems of every condition, 1T Ao,nc and
1 lluuIu nAut 4ur Enll luAn I,uultrN