The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1879-04-30
THE CONVENTION.
LIEUT.. GOVERNOR Witt Ef,Ec.
TED IT'S PRESIDENT.
HIS ADDRESS.

N''1s' '-i,aHt< oR Aas SVSfENffON --f OF
the honor conferred upon me by your
partial SURFACES l return to you my
most cordial thanks. In making me
tile presiding officer of this body you
have confided to me an important trust
and imposed upon ME onerous duties.
am fattercd by your confidence, which
hope to deserve, and l shall try to full
fill as many of the duties of this labori-
Gus position as my strength and ability
may permit. Even with your good
will and cooperation, and with all the
incid ,ntal aid rendered by competent
officers aud assistants, the task will be
difficult; but any sacrifice of personal
comfort the toll may demand wifi be-
cheerfully made in the service of this
body of representative citizens, and in
that of the people whom you worthily
represent.
| While anxious, as your presiding off
Ger. to act with strict and impartial
Justice in all respects and at all times.
am still conscious that neither this ca
ger desire, nor present pains, nor past
experience, can insure me against err
rors, for which / ask in advance your
generous indulgence. While shall
try to abide by and obey tho wifi of the
| Convention rs expressed in its rules,
votes and resolutions, may at times
err as to the true inter probation and
construction OF the Conventions will
and acts. In such cases it will be 4
kindness on the part of delegates TO
note the errors promptly, and on every
questioned or doubtful point that may
arise shall most cheerfully call upoir
the Convention for its good Judgment
in the premises. There are certain
rules Of dec0rum common to'aII deiibe-
rative bodies, and in their enforcement
anticipate no difficulty. They are
merely the rules Of good breeding ~
adapted to the exigencies Of such boz
dies, and are spontaneously practiced
at all times, and by an instinct common
to all who combine good will with In
telligence.
In this connection Let me advise and
urge strict adherence to the estah-
lished order Of business. Those among
the honorable delegates around me who
have had experience in legislative bo-
dies are we'll aware Of the enormous
waste Of time that results from the ha~
bitual disregard Of the rules Of debate,
the maxims Of parliamentary law snd
the customary order in which business
should be considered. These rules,
maxims and customs are all founded on
reason, and are matured by the expert
ence OF successive generations Of law
makers. They are the concentrated 70.
| suits Of the wisdom Of results Of the
| wisdom Of centuries, and are to be
found In all authorities on parliament
AIRY law and usage. They are embodied
| ia the constitutions and laws Of tho
States, rs we'll ~ in the rules Of Con-
gress and State Legislatures. I sxr-
nestly recommend constant and strict
conformity to common and accepted
customs, and especially 70 such rules -
the Convention may establish for ito
own guidance. Let their operation b.
suspended only In cases OF emergency.
Let no anxiety or Partially for special
subjects induce members to cali them
up ont Of their regular order and suc-
cession. There are no motions whirh
| shall put with more reluctance than
motions to suspend our rules, motions
to take up busin OUT Of It's time AMI
place, and TO assign designated bnsi-
ness, by special order. to iix d days ami
hours. Dissatisfaction, delay aud cosi-
fusion are the too common result of
THESE motioms. ihey are only proper
on extraordinary OecasfOns. fermtt
the, furthermore, tN -alvisc you TO disc
card all partisanship, and to e1cln.Ie
tnoli,icai. SECTIONAL. social and ethn,cni
prejudices. Your mission 10 to sstsb.
| iish government aud M the ruler 81
which it shall be guided and checked.
until the people Of the State see 6t to
reassume their power and sovereignty
for the purpose Of delegating II to All
other convention. That government
musI 70 lot tne EoOu u AL she peop.e
IN al secI,ohs, Of AZ occaps.ons. os az
nvs, " h.a. e1, ~ ~ cSn.,Cns -
;ts hssr,nm 'I !. ' n...s. s nn. .ah..s ..a
, least narcsntih,a hias.in favor - . .r
sect ~ nartv The sd;elce vom .rs
/ about to bniid shonid have its Pounds.
tions deeply grounded in Justice, AMI
to all Its walls the plumb Hue Of Impair
TALLY should be applied, that they may
lean neither 70 the right nor 70 the left.
Al At this the beginning Of your pro-
ceedinps I am profoundly improssed
with the Importance Of the task which
5 we have undertaken, The sovsreirn
/, constituents of the common wealth have
delegated to us ont Of their inherent
power and sovereign preroeatives pIs-
7 nary and un0uoationed authority In
! frame q constitution which shall b )
covenans.,d leavna and ,,er,,e4nal co,n