The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1879-05-23

THE CoNvENTION..sLOw PROGRESS
AND POSSIBLE RECESS.
To-day ends the fourth week of the
session of the Constitutional ConVen-
ton. 10 those who had supposed,
from the short limit proposed in the
Legislature for its session, that much
would have been accomplished by this
time, the fact that comparatively moth
ing has as yet been done, is rather
puzzling. Up to this time not q single
article or clause, which is to take it's
place in the Constitution, has been put
in the shape that it is finally to assume.
Moreover, it is now given out that
some time will still elapse before much
work shall have been done; that the
session will run far into summer; and
even, according to the N. o. Times, a
recess until fall is seriously talked of.
All this may be a source of great
disappointment to the people, particu-
larly those who were so earnestly In
favor of the calling of a Convention,
but we fear that the people are little
unreasonable on the subject. So great
are the ills we have suffered under the
OXNl 81 6ACuI SAAO ASAASA
we shall experience from a new one,
that we are apt to get too impatient for
the happy moment of deliverance.
But the greatness of the change about
to be made only shows the magnitude
OF the work by which it is to be ac-
complishcd. Such q Constitution as
the people need cannot be made in
day. While all agree that radical
changes are to be made, no two men
are perfectly agreed as to what these
changes shall be, or the manner by
which they shall be brought about.
Every one of the 134 members of the
Convention has his opinion on every
point, and very naturally feels de-
sire to express it. Hence we see dele
gates, instead of combining themselves
to departments of which they are sup
posed to possess special knowledge,
launch forth their bills on every other
conceivable subject of conventional
legislation, and on many subjects that
do not fall within the scope of cOnven-
tional power or authority. There must
have been ten thousand of these Ordi-
nances offered and referred. All these
have to he digested by the committees.
Hence no committee has yet been able
to report anything. Moreover we cam
not afford much encouragement to
those who hope that when the commit
tees report, the work of the Convention
will be almost over, nothing being left
but to adopt the reports. 1t would be
we'll if such should be the case. But
every delegate whose pet ordinance
has not been adopted must be expected
to make an effort in it's behalf, and
must be heard on the question. In
other words every delegate Of the one
hundred and thirty -four must be borne
patiently with while he shows his con-
stitucnts that he tried to make the
whole constitution himself. Now, as
there cannot be one hundred and thirty
four constitutions, it must take time to
get the one hundred and thirty-four
boiled down into one. Patience, then,
is the one thing neetlful just now.
| The Constitutional Convention OF
Virginia of 1850 spent eight months in
the discussion of one question alone.
1t is true that it was a vital question,
which had been mooted for a great
many years and the discussion of which
had been tho cause of calling tho Con-
vention together. Not only one, but
several important questions are before
this Convention, and although no one
of them, or even all of them together,
ought to take eight months, or any,
thing like that much time, to decide
them, yet they will necessarily con-
sumo time if they are decided properly.
This time the people must not be-
grudge their delegates, nor do we be-
licve they will. On the other hand we
| would say to the members of the Con-
Vcntion that their constituents expect
them to execute their appointed work
| with as little delay AS is compatible
with thoroughness. We fear that the
| work will not be completed before the
sickly season shall have really caused
an adjournment. But such thing as
Il recess was never dreamed of when
the Convention was called. Every one
thought that the Constitution would be
framed before the sickly season should
neccssitatc one. We would, therefore,
remind the Convention how great would
be the disappointment Of the people at
Il contrary result.-J,ttlgc !Seuy in the
Shreveport Standard.
| THE CAPITAL.
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