The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1879-03-22
TO the Members OF the Constitutional
Convention.

oklll ana k0OWIeOe0 70 PrOP05Ay SOu
cider and intelligently determine
We have for tho past nineteen year
wandered far from those filndamen
] tai truths to which frequent recur
renee 10 necessary in order to preserve
free government and the blessings o
liberty. We have seen with sorrow
precepts Departed from which cost q
blood and treasure to secure, and i
has been our pain to behold the gov
erument Of Sovereign Common
wealths, wisely founded BY our fore
fathers, we'll nigh swallowed 3p 10 q,
awful, . tyranlcal Capitalization
From THE 70 arc to be delivered, Il
10 hoped, BY tho Convention shortly {,
assemble 10 this State. At least, y.
look confidently for % enunciation o.
such principles, and their ENGRAVING
In our fundamental laws, AZ will rem.
der oil future attempts to override
individual liberty, abortive and dan.
gerous.
We beg those, who have boon 90.
lected to represent the people in
their imperial capacity, to guard well
tho rights and liberties inherent 10
The sovereign. Lot it be clearly nm
derstood and expressly defined that
Constitutions arc tho Instruments BY
which tho powers Of tho people are
delegated to their representatives.
that powers not especially granted
are retained by the people, and shall
remain forever inviolate. Lot your
legislative mcjestraey fully under-
stand that their duties must be strict.
" confined to tho letter Of their
enumerated authority; and all laws
which in tho least cpcroach upon
those sacred rights and privileges,
which You retain, must lie null and
void.
Perpetuities, exclusive privileges
and monopolies, are glazing iucon.
sistencies 10 Democracies they are
at war with tho genius Of Republic,
and should be struck dead BY your
virtuous hand.
Excessive taxation, alike vexatious
aud ruioous to . people, should be
guarded against. 10 considering THE,
tho public debt most be tho subject Of
your earnest and most solicitous
thought. The frat care Of the Con.
vention must be for tho PRoPLE-
their rights, welfare and happiness
are paramount tn all other consider.
atoms. The Bondholder has no rights
in equity or law which effect or i'm
pair tho public veal, and the infa.
nous elaine contracted BY tho vicious
aliens, Warmotb and Kellogg, most
b treated with the contempt they
deserve. O
Let thu powers Of your Executive
Uasssersey b eustailsd. We have
sesn under our present Coustito.iop
Governors clothed with each gisao-
tic authority % to osershadow and
tho power Of tho people, and
nolliiy their will and il 10 q uotori.
QUE fact that even tho present ad-
mioistratioo, tho effort of our own
hands, has succeeded in defying fl,
nearly three years tho universal de.
maud Of tho citizens Of this coa,mou.
wealth for q change Of their fanda-
mental law; . change which they
had the right At al times to require
without let or hindrance.
Lot oil our officials, who arc public
seIvauts sud responsible alone to the
people, DO elective. Tho argument
that ono man possesses superior in.
telligeoce to the mass Of meo 10 no
Isss vicious than false. II has been
ased 10 the appointment Of . Judi.
eiary With signal failure; It 10 con.
trary to the principles Of Democracy
and repagnant to the philosophy Of
tho sovereignty Of tho people. A
fountain can discharge no higher
than Ito source. If tho people As q
mass be Incapable Of tho selectioo Of
honest and efficient meo for Official
then no man they may %.
|ect can possess tho virtue required
for such . task. Aud besides, tho
10 to tho public and
they ars ioexorsbls 10 their punisb-
ment Of those who are recreaut to
public trosts.
Every Sood political iustitutiop
nust have preventative operation %
wsll - . remedial. Lot 90 trust the
ei,isso to ssIset meo for position who
have obtained sueh degrees of esti>
nation - may be pledge and secu.
rity to tho public that they viii nat
abuse those honors; and 10 contend
lhat Il IL no mean security, nay II is
noe 10 should b wall satisfied With
hat a nArann haa ahnvn hv fha a. "a.