The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-07-05

amendments was acquiesced In by the Demo-
cratic party by a series OF acts upon the part
Of their chosen representatives In the legisla-
tive, executive and judicial departments and
In party conventions, which we recapitulate:
Act No approved May 1875 9pae snd
is provide for testing, at the instance Of any
Tux payer in the courts Of the State, the legality
ness. the legality and validity OF which may |
have been or may hereafter be questioned; to |
prohibit the Board Of. Liquidation. under said
act No 8 Of 1874, from funding the questionable |
and doubtful obligations Of the State named or
DESIGNATED IL this ast until ne sam En- H. nave
preme Court Of Louisiana.
This bill emanated from the Committee on
Ways and Means, Hon. James Jeffries, OF
Rapides. chairman, and Messrs. Bower, Ro
man, Beasley and Blaffer as members. The
measure was universally approved and appar-
emily passed the House with the unanimous
support of the Democratic members. Under
its provisions the Nichols Supreme Court have
finally decided about nine millions OF the
various issues of bonds and warrants as legal
and f,1adable in the following cases:
No. SOC -Levee bonds of 1867 and 1870.
No. e87a-Baton Rouge. Crosse Tete and Ope-
Nos 7o6s. tbs and sos- Consolidated Associa-
tion Of Planters, Of 1928.
No. 7O73-Seminary bonds OF 1857
Nos 7232 and 71es--New Orleans. Jackson and
Great Northern Railroad. OF 1858.
No. 7149Warrants OF 1879.
No, 7212-Warrants OF 1871-72.
No. 73D9-Warrants OF 1870 and 1873.
AS to the adoption OF the amendment en-
braced in act No. OF 1874 the Nichols Su-
preme Court decided that
This amendment has become a part OF the
constitution BY its subsequent ratification by
the voters at the polls. l27 A. 58a; % A., 5ll; 20
a.. 865; 80 A.. 981J
The Democratic Conservative Convention
OF 1876 assembled fourteen months after the
Dem House Of Representatives had
passed the supplemental bill. The fierce
hostility previously exhibited to the con-
golidated debt had been somewhat allayed by
the fact that the representation secured by
| the party upon the Funding Board, and the
scrutiny required Of these members and the
courts, was calculated to guard against dis
honest funding.
But another consideration prevailed In
framing the platform Of 1876. 1t was well
4 known that q determined and bitter
resistance would be made TO the
Democratic party securing ascendancy in
Louisiana, a close presidential contest was
1 x,
dent to avoid any declaration that would
drive away from the party, or array in fierce
hostility to 1t, the moneyed interests OF this
State and the whole country.
I The influence Of the money power OF the
North and East with President Grant was
duly considered, and the supreme necessity
OF the intelligent people OF this State secur-
Ing control of her affairs induced the Demo-
cratic convention to adopt platform indicat-
ing the determination of the party to pre-
serve the public faith
/ DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION or 1876-PLANK IN THE
PLATFORM ON STATE FINANCES.
Il We hereby pledge, our party to the sati 81
tion Of all legal obligations Issued by the stat
Of Louisiana; TO the most strenuous efforts In
the direction of reform and an economical adj
ministration Of he government aid peeaalll,5
"}1,ees: to tbs reduction Of FEES and salaries @
officers TO the standard Of q fair remuneration
and the consequent reduction ct taxes to the
preservation of the public faith.
And this platform was specifically reaffirmet
by the Democratic Convention of 1873.
Until recently no Democrat in the State hal
questioned the fact that the Legislature Q
1877-78 and the Nichols administration repre-
scented the Democratic sentiment OF thi
State, and yet we find that one of the frs
acts Of the Legislature Of 1877 specifically in
:. Dictated the acquiescence Of the Democrat
, party In recognizing the Consolidated Bonds
See act No IS, approved March IL, 1877
wherein the Nichols Legislature dnsende
and ye-enacted the funding act, known as &C
No. OF 1874 This act is signed by Loui
Bush, Speaker; Louis A. Witz, President {
the Senate and Francis 7. Nichols, Governor
An act to enforce effectually the constitutions
amendments propossa J h ~ Il tb sand
November, 1874. relative to the State debf an
| the funding thereof: to protect the interests
) the State and the holders OF the bonds issue
by virtue of said amendments; and Tor TN
: purpose, to amend and re-enact an act entitle
i An act to provide To- funding obligations
the State by exchanges of bonds: 70 provide fc
! principal and interest OF said bonds. etc"
why argue for days to prove that tt
Democratic party and the people Of Louisian
! are not bound by the acts Of 1874, when
7 Democratic Legislature of 1877 has formal
' passed, and Democratic Governor has dull
t sign,d an act specifically reciting the pr
!, visions of this same amendment When tn
d act was passed the Democratic press of tn
! State were clamorous In denouncing all pc
!. sons who dared to insinuate that the Nichols
/, Government or the people Of Louisial
o would think OF such a thing as repudiatio
!, OF any part Of the debt, and their file
: now before as, were full Of appeals to OF
g people to uphold the public faith and thu
Y give the lie to Republican Islander.
+ Again, when the demand was pressed for
) constitutional convention, two objection
/ found public expression. |. It was aliege
that the supporters Of the movement for
constitutional convention intended to rept
, date or adjust the public debt. Q. 1t was a
!. lodged that it was intended to disturb tn
i. Nichols administration. The Democrat
press supporting the call for constitutions