The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1879-06-27
THE WAR PROGRESSES.

The Convention is the scene of lurid
battle. The Thermopoloe Of this peo'
pies relief is at the State House in
New Orleans. Able men, and men Of
fidelity are armed like Romans and
more vigilant than Trojans against re.
lief. They are doing battle worthy OF
any age in any cause to save the bond.
holders.
Millions and millions of dollars OF
this public debt is declared fraudulent
by an able and patiently investigating
committee. This report is now the
seige of Troy. Wise master-builders
in the temple of government say to the
people, you have no authority to in
vestigate this debt. 1t must 60 to the
courts. Others, drilled to the model
lawyer, and adroit with the Sword Of
State, utter their cries, rs II for destiny,
you have ratified these debts by consti-
tutioual amendment. And still other
champions for the bond-holders strenu-
ously maintain that the bonds are al
together legal and binding a6 i,sitio.
The patriots and faithful representa-
tives of an oppressed people stand on
the floor of that Convention, showing
that the bonds were many of them
issued in violation of the 11lth Article
1852. Here is where steel clashes with
din of battle, the rattle of the lnusketry,
as we'll as the booming of artillery, is
centered. Mr.. Todd, of Morehouse,
puts the matter in nutshell In his
speech before the Convention. He says:
Article III: "Whenever the Legis-
lature shall contract debt exceeding
in amount the sum of 800, 900, unless
in case of war to repel invasion or sup
press insurrection, they shall, in the
law creating the debt, provide adequate
ways and means for the payment of
the current interest and of the princi-
pal when the same shall become duo
and the said law shall be irrepealable
until principal and interest are fully
paid and discharged, or unless the
repeating law contains some other
adequate provision for the payment of
the principal and interest of the debt"
And this article Ill is identified with
article III of the constitution of 1868.
According to article 100, the Legis-
lature was empowered to subscribe for
stock in railroads, which stock they
could pay for either by cash or by the
bonds of the State, or could grant aid
by loan of its bonds. If the stock
loaned, then a debt was created, and if
fall under the provisions and require
ments of article Ill, which requirement
is: The law creating the debt must
provide adequate ways and means for
the payment of the current interest and
of the principal when the same shall
become due.
That no such provisions were made,
is the insurmountabIe defense the ma
jority com mittce have thrown around
their report. And if the action of the
Convention depends upon strict and
unyiclding Interpretation of the law
and q rigid application Of the facts
thereto, this majority report will be
adopted.
But as already said to our readers
t'Treason turks under many q table,
and, besides, some of the purest and
ablest men of the Convention are un.
bending in their determination to wal
to the hilt against the majority report.
Among other causes for such a course
they refer to the Democratic platforms
upon which our State elections have
been conducted, and swear that this
people are pledged and sworn against
reputation.
oot We Sfidh sooI see INC cul Oh thiS
engagement at Waterloo. Here falls
Napoleon, or he is the Emperor of all.
Here We are freed from the chains of
money tyrants, or bound forever. Let
us see. Let us count the votes of our
delegates as counting the strokes OF
destiny. We are looking for COM
promise.-Si1ortu Times.
WASHINGTON, June. 2l.-Thc MEM
bers from Louisiana were greatly pleas
ed to-day with the action OF the House
in agreeing to the Senate amendments