The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-04-22

homo government Of the parishes. cities and
municipalities. the government Of the State
proper. and The more expensive government q
Init Ynl must 81 no whether
three or more times that rate. -,
preclude me from participation In general DE-
bate now ask your indulgence while present
few briet suggestions for which may find no
you at the outset that It will be wholly possible
for this Convention to fulfill the too sanguine
expectations of large portion Of the peoplIe.
the instrument Of government which you are
empowered to frame should prove to be as
assembled patriots. there are thousands who
viii believe "a, pretend that 1t has conspicuous
daiects II ail Up provisions Ct your new Con
mony and consistency is preserved In all its
parts. If Its declarations embody all the cher
lshed max1ms and principles OF political
and sufficient government at the lowest posi-
PIE cost to taxpayers. Il II confines LEGISLATION
ecutive and Judicial trusts with ample and APP
propriate guards and restrictions, II It embodies
all the excellence II modern constitutions with
ou their die s u i vii n9t
satisfy the unreasonable demands OF agitatOrs
nor meet the vain hopes OF that numerous class
a rem edy for ali that is defective in the social
system. It is in vain to remind them that
State constitutions cannot heal the wounds Of
make good the losses by fires and floods. nor
uproot the pre1udices OF enemies. nor stay the
progress Of commercial reynlsions. nor create
rooted habits and hereditary customs Of the
people. They will stil look to the trainers of
constitutions and the makers OF laws for the
fruits WDlch can come only from temperance
industry. enterprise. frugality. forethought
and economy.
But. while yon are liable TO censures from the
preludiced, and ignorant. the more rational
classes will expect no miracles at your hands.
nor look to law makers for q magical cure for
the evils which fnhere In all communities and
sured that such classes will approve appreciate
ana applaud oil that you may see fit to do in q
We as representatives with plenary authority
and with. power delegated directly from the
people. who are the fountain head of all law and
part to the. new agency Ut the people NJ pow
ers not strictly needed to constitute an efficient
govern nent. To this end IT becomes us. to re-
State and In other States. and especially to
those Conventions which rose up from the
bosom q the revolutionary commemorative
whose liberties were hen newly won By bloody
raised n defense Ct political liberty. how, jeal
OF
4shed the Independence of the State. Let
" turn to the present constitution Of
old and Over s Jill q rghs n Which
is asserted that the people Of New Hampshire
have the sole and exclusive right OF governing
dent Stat1. and do and forever hereafter shall
exercise and enjoy every power. jurisdiction
and right pertaining thereto. which ID not Or
gated to the United States SOL Of America IN Con-
zress assembled" Let US learn anew +. ON that
resdes IN he peepe .n ana
derived only from them; that AL magistrates |
md officers OF government are their substitutes |
hem Il" that the doctrine Of non.resisfapce
'ard savsh and destructive q The s good i and md
ants 81 state are not controiiable By a any
,ther laws than those to which they or their rep
'esentative body have given their consent"
,husetts. let US heed the teachings of document
ordained before the close Of the war of the revo-
ution. and still the fundamental law Of the
men Of that revered commonwealth asserted
heir rights and gave forth solemn declarations
which b, | l. hold as worthy Of being recited here
i State government. They said: The end Of
ne institution, maintenance and admipistra--
lon OF government is to secure the existence OF
he body polite to protect 1t, to furnish the In
iiyiduas who compose It with the power Of en-.
10 sas a and ~ their natural
hese great objec 9 are not obtained the people
lave right to alter the government and to
axe measures necessary for their safety, pros
The body Uolitic Is formed by voluntary as
ociation Of individuals: it Is q social compact
,itizen. and each citizen with the whole people.
hat all shall be governed by certain laws for
he common good. 1t Is the duty Of the people.
nent, to provide for an equitable mode Of max
ng laws. as well az for an impartial inter-
'retation and faithful execution Of them; that
n n limo Ind do 1r,ciA,
We. therefore. the people Of Massachusetts,.
cknoWledging with grateful hearts the good
Hording us IN the course OF His Providence an
opportunity deliberately and peaceaby. with
ut fraud Violence or surprise, Of entering
ompact W til each other and OF formine
new constitution Of civil government
BIS are n ana s
ign, do agree upon, ordain and establish the ,
blowing declaration Of rights and ,raue OF
lonweallh IT Massachusetts. {
The people alone have an incontestible, in {
lienable and indefeasibe right to institute
hange the same when their protection safety,
rosperity and happiness require It,
Inc people OF this commonwealth are not .
hich their constitutional Representative BODY !
ave given th ir consent" t
Turning thence to the original constitution y
4 This convention. in the name and by the .
lthority Of the good people of this State doth :
rda1n determine and declare that no authority :
lall, on any, pretence whatever. be exercised !
YER the people or members of this State but !
lch as shall be driyed from and granted by I
lam.n
Turning thence to the original constitutions t
Pennsylyania and other old States We j
10 IN az OF them similar declarations. each
or ought to be exercised over their citizens. =
except such as fs or shall be derived from and :
er."
These declarations. retained In the modern 2
institutions of many of the older States. have q
St no none 1 Of Dr. their deep Significance They teach
zee and State sovereignty as the strong for 6
ess 81 political liberty. and at the same time
9 only sure guarantee of a stable union Of
n States, These ancestral assertions will
yer be without their good effect whenever and
lereyer the free people of a free State are as
mbled to frame government,
these a, ut ntteTances were made BY men who
ally mportant. 1t was to guard a treasure so
acred and glorious" They felt that it was nee
mkn m "a nj oil sttl,,