The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-05-10

the word ''insurrecton" the words Gin the
State" Lost.
The third article was then adopted.
Delegate Lagan's amendment to the pre-
amble Of the article was then considered and
voted down..
Delegate Semmes moved to amend the
preamble by inserting after Particle g. the
words "until the present State debt shall be
paid"
Delegate Semmes offered this amendment
with q view to testing the sense of the Con-
vention as to the future power Of the Legisa-
ture to create debt. He argued that d re-
could not last. He insisted that after the
present debt had been liquidated the LegisIa-
lure should have the power to dispose OF the
recuperated resources OF the State 50 as to
sary internal improvements. He believed
that the absolute restriction of such future
action would paralyze the Legislature and
the government Of the State. He was In favor
OF such restriction for the present, because. 1T
was necessary. There seemed to be O belief
prevailing here that this body contained all
the intelligence and honesty Of the State. and
that those who came after would not be
trustworthy.
was fair statement to say that the Conven-
ton believed 1t was superior In Intelligence
and honesty to any other body that could
assemble together. Experience showed that
1t would be unWlse to allow any ~. Department. NJ
unlimited credit was as dangerous power as
could be conferred. He should vote against
the amendment.
Delegate Cunningham opposed the amend
ment He did not believe It was, one Of the
functions OF government to build railroads.
He traced the beginning OF the bonded debt
TO this improper innovation. His principal
objection to the amendment was that IT re-
cognized the validity Of the present spurious
debt. It would virtually recognize the debt
as 1t stood should it be adopted. The. gentle
man from Orleans had not argued this reso-
luton from that point. He hoped the Con-
vention would vote down the amendment.
Delegate Semmes said 1t never occurred to-
him that his amendment bore upon the State
debt. He did not see that 1t did now. The
debt was q FACT whatever may be the action
of the Convention upon the subject, and his
amendment had nothing TO 90 With IL. As
would have hoped that 1t would be paid as 1t
stood If that were possible. The objection to
the debt created since the war was that many
OF us believed that no adequate compensation
his amendment to the attention OF the Con-
yention was that 1t should settle the question
as to future bonded bebt. II was matter
of indifference to him whether 1T was adopted
Or not. He did not expect to be living when
the present debt was extinguiShed
Delegate McGloin hoped the amendment
would be voted down. Gentlemen had stated
that the restrictions Of the constitution OF
1842 had so Gircumscribed the power OF Inc
Legislature that 1t became necessary to re-
move them In 1862 He desired. to say that
as long as those restrictions remained the
State was prosperous. When they were re-
moved the doors were opened by which q
Hood of Ills was poured upon the state. lie
Thought most OF the burdens which now OPP
pressed the people were traceable to the IN
wise removal OF these restrictions in 1862.
The question then required on the amend
ment proposed by Delegate Semmes, which
was voted down.
The article as amended was then adopted in
committee of the whole
The COMMITTEES then rose, reported progress
and asked permission TO sit again.
The Committee on Printing submitted re-
port on the bills submitted by the Convention
Printer, and requested that they be referred
to the Committee on Contingent Expenses,
and that said committee warrant Tor the pay
ment OF the same. Laid over
The Convention then adjourned until TO-
morrow at II o'clock.