Feliciana sentinel. [volume] (St. Francisville, La.) 1877-1892, 1879-11-29
ADDRESS TO THE PEOPLE OF LOU
ISIANA,


campaign to express your opinion upon
the abrogation of the constitution foisted
upon this State under the reconstruction
policy of the Federal Congress and the
adoption Of a new constitution, prepared
by a convention of your own free choice,
and by it submitted to your ratification.
At the same time, considering the atlop-
ton foregone conclusion, that conven-
ton has ordered the simultaneous election
| of State officers and of the General As
sembly under that constitution
Such are the grave and all-important
issues of this political campaign.
For ten years have the Democratic-
Conservative people of this State, in
State conventions, assembled at different
times and places, denounced the so call
ed constitution of 1868, net only for it's
dement's and internal defects, but also
for its vice of origin. Considering it as
badge of servituds, they have demand
ed it's abrogation, and pledged themselves
to lend a willing aid to repeal it at the
first Opportune moment.
Fellow-citizens, that moment has ar
rived.
In the winter of 1876 and 1877, under
the leadership of those distin guished sons
of Louisiana, f. T. Nichols and Louis
Aired Wilt, the Democratic-C onserva-
tive masses of our people overturned the
usurpation and established tie first gov.
ernment of their choice since the advent
of the reconstruction laws of Congress.
Your State government, supported and
prompted by public opinion, assidously
set to work to redeem the solemn pledges
proclaimed by its people. AS it was next
to impossible just after emerging from a
dircful conflict to rush into another by
the immediate abrogation of the recon
structiOn constitution, our State govern
ment proceeded at first, but vigorously,
with the important reforms necessary to
alleviate the burdens of our taxation.
Having discharged this mission the other
pledge by which our final redemption as
Il State is to he cOnsumated was crap
pied and for that sole purpose you have
witnessed the spectacle ola General AS
sembly just elected and installed in pow
sion, consccratcd to the call of Il consti-
tutional convention.
The convention composed of the best
elements of our people, and thoroughly
representing all their interests, material,
social and political, has, after an ardu
Gus session of three months. proposed for
your adoption the constitution Of 1879
The question is whether you will vote
to ratify that constitution. or signify
your willingness to live under that of
1868. There is no other alterna i've
To vote against the adoption is to de-
eide that the constitution of 1868 is the
best constitution, despite it's concealed
intrinsic vices and defects and its orig
inal sin.
In other words, the two constitutions
arc candidates before the people. And is it
possible, after mature reflection and con-
sideriug the is~ita in its true light, that
we should hesitate ? Our State nomina-
ting convention at Baton Rouge did not
hesitate but speaking the voice Of the
Democratic Conservative masses, advo-
Gated and proclaimed our advocacy Of
the adoption of the new constitution.
The Republican party, assembled i'll
convention in tie city of New Orleans,
declared =: (" THAT as the adoption Of tie
constitution ace recognize an honcstand tcJit-
imatc sphere for difference Of opinion, and
recommend Mat the question Of adoption or
rejection Of tie proposed Instrument be left to
tie indiridual convictions Of the roters.'
The position thus taken by them is on
the one hand, tribute to tho merits of
the constitution Of 1879, while on the
other it is n tacit submission to public
opinion, which has consigned to public
obloqny the constitution of 1868.
Rcmcmber-and the official records
exhibit-that under the constitution of
1865, and the legislation under it the OK
penses of the Stute government, and of
the government of the city of New Or
leans averaged ($5,355,43 ~ eight mil
lions three Auna,'ed and eightyJire thousand
four 4und,ed and thirty Jour dollars and
seren teen cents per amman; while under
the new constitution, tho expenses of
both State and city governments cannot
exceed ($2, 623, 694, BOY two millions sir
Annd,ed aud wcnty-three thousand sic han.
red and ninety-tmo dollars aud thirty cents
per amman, upon the basis of the assess
mert of 1879.
A difference in favor of the Democrat
ic-Conservative party of fire millions SEE
en- hundred and sirty-one MoHSGad scrtn
Aundred and forty one dollars and eighty
sercn cents per amman (S5,761, al ST.
The ordinary expenses of the State
government for four years of Republican
rule prior to the inauguration of the
Nichols government, averaged three nil