The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1879-04-25
THE CONVENTION.

THE CONVENTION.
Proceedings of the First Days Session.
The seventh Constitutional Conven-
ton of Louisiana assembled in the hall
of the House of Representatives shortly
after noon.
Gov. Nichols called the Convention
to order.
The Secretary of State called the roll
and 100 members answered to their
names.
Rev. Mr.. Percival invoked bless
ing upon the labors of the Convention.
At conclusion OF the prayer, Gov.
Nichols addressed the Convention in
the following terms:
Gentlemen of the ConventiOn-As
Executive of the State, the law has
made 1t my duty to preside over this
body until 1t shall have elected a per-
manent presiding officer. That special
and single duty performed my rela-
lions witt, this Convention will termin-
ate. 1t would be manifestly improper
for me under such circumstances to
refer, oven indirectly, to any of the
subjects which will have to be examin-
| ed and terminated by you. I congrat-
ulate the State and yourselves that
you have been selected at q period of
coEsplete political quiet, and that You
will bring to your deliberations minds
free from partisan excitement.
No convention has ever had more
serious and difficult questions to dispose
of than will he presented for your con-
sideratiOn, and certainly no State ever
more needed cool and judicious coun-
sells in the formation ofits organic law.
r CO. hof l,ol toll
the deepest interest in proceedings upon
which so much depends for good or evil.
God grant that your earnest efforts
will inure to the honor, welfare, happi-
ness and prosperity of our people.
Nominations for the presidency of this
Convention are now in order.
II. b. Stille, of Sabine, nominated
l.. A. Wilt, of the Ninth Ward of
Orleans. T. II. Allan nominated
Pierre Landry, of Ascension.
The roll was called with the follow
ing result: Witt 1902; Landry p.
| The nomination of Mr.. Wilt was
made unanimous on the motion of Mr..
Allan.
Gov. Nichols introduced Mr.. Wilt
to the Convention, and declared the
presiding officer.
In taking the chair, among other
things, Mr.. Wilt said:
In your deliberations upon the ways
and means by which the State Govern
ment is to be carried on, and in fixing
a just and necessary limit to the rate
of taxation, it must alway be first con-
sidered that the people of the State
must support three distinct govern
Enents-the home government of the
parishes, cities and municipalities, the
government of the State proper, and
the more expensive government of the
United States. In fixing the maxi
mum limit it must be determined, not
but whether it will bear three or more
times that rate.
| For the reason that the duties of the
chair will preclude me from par!icipa-
ton in general debate, now ask your
indulgence while present a few brief
suggestions for which L may find no
other suitable opportunity. Let me
admonish you at the outset that it will
be wholly impossible for this Conven-
ton to fulfill the too sanguine expecta-
tions of a large portion of the people
! whom you have undertaken to repre-
sent. If the instrument of government
which you are empowered to frame
should prove to be as nearly perfect as
0VeT CuL1c ClAC "a dSsoculOlCtl
patriots, there arc thousands who will
believe or pretend that it has conspicu-
Gus defects. II all the provisions of
your new constitution are wholesome
and wise, If just harmony and con-
sistency is preserved in all its parts, if
its declarations embody all the cher
ished maxims and principles of politi-
cal science, If it is wisely contrfved to
secure safe and sufficient government
at the lowest possible cost to taxpayers,
if it confines legislation strictly to its
proper sphere, il it surrounds cXecu-
tive and Judicial! trusts with ample and
appropriate guards and restrictions, it
it embodies all the excellence of mod
crn constitutions without their defects,
still it will not escape the censure AMI
criticism of chronic fault finders, nor
satisfy the unreasonable demands of
asitators, nor meet the vain hopes Of
that numerous class of citizens who
habitually look to legislation for a rem
edy for all that is defective in the So
cial system. 1t is in vain to remind
them that State constitutions cannot