St. Landry democrat., 1879-10-18
Speeches Of WiBtZ and OgdcM
before the Convention.

i4otilS1tllltg VI I4ttsHo wye ~
the soldier and hero, Gen. FrcdN. Ogden,
Gov. Wilt addressed the Convention
rs follows:
EeIIou-ciH>enx otIhc Vrmocr0l" Ifh'-
jY-T accept the nomination to be Cover
nor Of Louisiana with profound ac
acknowledgement for the manifestation OF
confidence extended to me in confer
ring it on me. 1t happens, for the first
time in the history OF the party in this
state, that its choice for the office OF
Chief Magistrate has fallen upon Il citl-
zen of its chief city. The consideration
of this fact enhances, If that were posi-
bic, the ms | must entertain Oh the
great honor it does me. 1t IS not my
purpose to dispute the right to select
candidates for the party from Whatever
place within the borders OF the state.
Party strength and harmony alc to he
preferred to mere sectional claims, and
fitness for public place and merit are
the true considerations upon which I'LL
appointments to public place ought TO
depend. Happy it is for the republic
that ! am able to add that the Demo-
cratic party has constantly sought the
best intertstOf the entire people, without
regard to mere locality. In Louisiana
il is Il lust source OF graduation that the
Democracy can refer to mcnnhcrS of It's
organization all w the State, in the
sladcs of Carroll. on the shores Of the
lakes OF Caddo, beneath the groves of
st. Tammany on the plains OF the At
takapas, among the hills OF the North,
on the wooded banks Of the Ouaclita
and Atclafalaya, in the fertile valley Of
the Red river, on the farms nf the South
east, on the banks Of the Mississippi,
and OH the coast OF the restless Gulf,
everywhere, arc to be found tcllOWcltl-
zens of our common political associations;
men of courage, character, patriotism
and talents worthy OF the highest dig
nifty of the State.
Fully sensible, therefore, OF the situa-
ton in which | stand, it would he highly
unbccominG i'll me TO assume that per
sonal considerations only have induced
the choice You have made OF me us Il
candidate for Governor. Known by my
share in the public history of the State
and time as IL friend Of good government,
as the promoter Of internal improve
meuts, au advocate for the education Of
all us a firm believer in popular rights,
and the authority OF the body OF the
people to. control the policy and dcsti-
MES of the State, having constantly
insisted upon the duty OF obedience to
civil rule, to law and to order, the sub
ordination of military authority within
its true bounds, and the preservation Of
the rights of the States within the limits
appointed by the constitution OF the
United States, | can have little, it any,
doubt that tue present choice OF the
Convention, coming, as 1t does, with the
force OF SO large and tiattering a vote,
and from the first representative men OF
the State, is designed to express appro-
val for my past adherence to the priu-
ciples to which | have referred and can
fidencc that ] will persist III my devo-
ton to them in the future. 1t being my
judgement that parties are necessary to
free governments, and that the best
results are apt to follow from the COLI
sions to which party contests give rise,
it NAV not be ont of place for me 10 SAY
that it is my belief that the suffering
fortunes OF Louisiana are likely to be
restored by Il vetllrn to the cheap, hon
est and simple manner OF government
which is connected il not identified with
the fathers of Democracy. and that, |
trust. practical benefits may be derived
by borrowing constantly from the eX-
amples set by their experience, wisdom
and patriotism and that it will be the
effort of the Notwithstanding which
your favor will have been Nie,iy in
strumental III calling l,.c, 10 show how
much gGGG, now much progress, how
perfect an 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 auspiclNUs period.
1t is destined to he an epoch III the his
tory OF Louisiana, A new constitution
is about to be adopted, and the bless
iDgS OF well-regulated liberty will be
rapidly 1iffil>ed among the people.
The Constitutional Convention was
| composed of true aud able men. There
! have not been better men cEe9 assem-
bled for a similar purpose ill the State.
4 constitutlGa vas prepared, the spirit
Of which looks always to the best inter
ests of Louisiana. 1t is difficult to do
JUSTICE to the laboreres of the convention.
They were conscientious. Gi3ige4s and
protracted. Every article OF Che consti-
tuition ard q7ply paragraph, | ought to
| say every sentence, every line, was eN-
amined, discussed ana weighed; all
united in an effort Tor the good Of all,
and contemporaries history was ran
sacked for just such precedents an0
| safeguards. The result achieved is,
believe, the best organic instrument 81
government which has been presented tt
the people of any ssato for ratification
! Public approval has already made it's
self in favor Of it, and it is soon to g
into active operation. The duty .natu'
rally devolves upon us, as faithful rep.
resentatives of the people, to aid aHt
assist the popular determination t,
prove before the world, by securing to-
| the constitution a vast preponderancc O
votes, that it is really the people o
Louisiana who pronounce fortt govern
ment Of their own choice, and who as
sert, with settled and patriotic purpos,
natural to a proud apa free conlmon
wealth, the right 20 dlsown and discar,
forever and CQnsign to Oblivion the so
called substitution OF 1868 as Il relic 0
past disorder, wrong and military op
preston when the c"r,.stitution will hav'
been ad"".sccuu, it will naturally hecom
- orr duty to put if into successful, p}a1
teal .opeation. 1t will be necessary t
adapt the statutory law % ths Stat
to the great changes which Will liav
hccn effected 20 pass new laws ul'o
the various subjects indicated III tn
constitution, and to maintain and ad
vance the general reforms which til
instrument designed IL set on TOO
Certainly this will be q great work wol
thv of most devoted labors.
ii is scarcely necessary, however, &c
80 ~