The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-06-12

ished the roll call; we are not positive about
this. III general way, we will say that IL
was quite early In the days proceedings, be-
fore any one had become excited, and that two
well known members from upper wards oil
thB city, whose sentiments In regard to the
State debt and towards the holders OF It are
not OF the tenderest kind, were seen to enter
the bar Of the Convention. They were pre-
coded and followed by policemen, and there
were, besides, policemen to the right Of them
and policemen to the left Of them.
| The larger Of the members, who, when he
| uncovered his head as the decorum enforced
in the Convention requires, disclosed himself
strawberry blonde Of the purest ray and of
unusually bright and magnificent develop
ments, held against his bosom, his strong
arms folded firmly but affectionately about
1t, box-yes, q box. Or the younger and
smaller member, 1t was only observable that
ne attended the larger and gaudier member
whom, judging from his trimmings, nature
mad Intended for the artillery branch
OF the service. This unusual demon.
stration,, It 10 needless to record, attracted at
tention. In fact, before the gentleman from
the Sixth Senatorial District, attended by the
the central aisle Of the hall, considerable ex-
element was perceptible throughout the en-
tire Convention.
Speculation was rife as to what was con-
tanned In the box they 80 carefully guarded.
One very young member from an extremely
rural parish, who had been reading OF Grants
travels abroad, volunteered the surmise
that 1t contained the freedom
OF the city" A learned, legal
light from the third ward, who Is strong on
the honor Of the State and unlimited juris-
diction Of the Federal judiciary, smiled
as the bright vision passed through his
brain that perhaps that box might con-
tain the ashes OF DIR. Tebault, or some other
political M. d. Another member, however,
and with the tone OF one who
spoke by the card, that q raid had been made
on Carondelet street and the entire Issue
Of State consols captured, and that
they were in that mysterious box
This rumor spread like wlldfire and
when the gentleman with the cardinal trim
mings rose, holding the casket in his hands,
The universal expectation was that the whole
Of the State bonds would be produced and a |
motion made to cancel them on the spot
The surprise and disappointment that fol- |
owed cannot be described. when the gentle
nan drew out d lot Of foolscap and stated to |
,he Convention that 1t was a petition signed |
~ 6492 citizens. appealing to the Convention |
20 adopt the majority report OF the Commit
zee on the State Debt But this 1t. was and
nothing more, and the Convention had to
console itself as best 1t could.
We have now merely to suggest that the
signatures to this petition be not overlooked.
Ne are admonished of the advsabilty OF this
,recaution by celebrated historical instance.
When the reform bill. which agitated the
eign Of William ~ Of England was pending
monster petition In favor OF 1t was got up
y the friends or the measure. This petition
to be signed by 100000 citizens of
England, and 1t was accepted and filed away
mong the archives OF Parliament for what
purported to be- Unfortunately, however,
ONE curious member concluded to overlook
his monster petition, to see IL he could find
mong the names signed to 1t any Of "his sis
ers, or his cousins or his aunts." He may
ave found some of these family names, but
Q also discovered that column after column
what purported to be signatures Of free
len OF England were simply such Ie-
ends as this: "Wipe off your chin"
Pull down your vest" whoa! Emman
r words which expressed similar senti-
lents of that historical era. The Convention
hould remember that it has solemn and mo-
lentous duties to perform. and that 1t should
Ike every precaution to avoid being imposed
pom by a similar deception.