The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-02-09
THE CONVENTION AND THE PROSE
BUTTONS.

UUIlUNS.
The people OF Louisiana are to-day prepar-
Ing for an election for delegates to constitu-
tionai convention. From every parish In the
State. from every ward Of the city. we hear Of
active, earnest steps to select men OF ability
and high character to compose this body. The
newspapers and the people generally are dis
Gus sing the measures OF reform and retrepeh-
ment which the proposed new constitution
should embody and the relief to the material
interests OF the State 1t should provide.
But, after all, Is this convention business
not most solemn farcef Is 1t not poor
frail toy with which we are amusing our
selves2 Are we not a race OF miserable slaves
blindly the shadow Of constitutional
government while the substance Is being taken
from us2 While we are discussing the merits
OF candidates for this convention and the
principles 1t should establish, we are quietly
looking upon q so.ne In the Custom House
which In England or France. or In any other
State In the Union. would arouse the peo-
pie to the highest pitch of indignation
and precipitate revolution. We are talk
ing loudly about q constitutional conven-
ton, and yet we are witnessing, with
out protest or resentment Of any kind, the
Iawless arrest and persecution Of scores OF
our fellow-citizens for the crime Of being
Democrats and working to elect a Democratic
legislature. More than one hundred and
fifty citizens Of this State, farmers, lawyers,
merchants and mechanics, have been arrested,
forced away from their families and their
business, and brought to this city to be tried.
And for what2 Why for exerting themselves
In an election to prevent the control Of public
affairs and the representation Of their par
ishes from falling into the hands Of ignorant
negroes and dishonest white men.
1t was difficult for the people at first to
comprehend the real meaning Of these extra
ordinary and atrocious proceedings. Such a
thing might have occurred In Russia or Tur-
key without exciting special wonder; but that
1t should be possible In free America. I'M
der constitutional government, amongst a
people trained for hundred years to regard
the personal liberty of the citizen and the
And yet 1t has occurred right here. For being
Democrats, and for defending their interests
against the aggressive movements OF igno-
rance and rapacity, many OF the best citizens
OF our parishes have been indicted by packed
grand jury, Oh worthless testimony, and they
are now being prosecuted before a partisan
court, organized to convict them.
And while this Is going on we are talking
about holding q constitutional convention, as
IL, while such things are possible, constitu-
lions or laws mounted to anything. We are
busy with measures of retrenchment; with
discussions Of the principles which should
underlie the organic law Of free State; with
denunciations OF the bayonet edict Of 1868;
with the merits OF the men who are to repre-
sent us and frame this great law. But at the
same time, under our very eyes, the Federal
officials and the Federal courts, without a
word of protestation from our people, almost
without a rebuke from our press, are ruth
lessly violating rights of our fellow citizens
which are fundamental and sacred which are
higher than constitutions; on which In fact
constitutions are built, and which, destroyed
render all constitutions, all so-called free gov
eminent miserable and contemplate farce.
For two years the DEMOCRAT has fought
for a constitutional convention, and Ii such a
body Is now about to assemble In Louisiana,
it Is due to our efforts aided by the country
press. We fully understand the Importance
of such body to free people, and we have
looked to its assembling with confidence and
hope. But If the arm of the Federal govern
ment may reach out and destroy the most
sacred rights of the people OF this State
rights not only inherent but recognized and
guaranteed by the constitution Of the United
States, what Is the use of State constitution
Of any character? Ii the civic spirit Of the
country Is so dead that neither the nat
ural rights Of the people, nor the rights of
Magma Charter, nor the rights secured by
the constitution of the United States, nor the
rights protected even by the Infamous edict
of 1868, are inviolable by partisan courts
organized for party purposes and to perse-
cute political opponents, what Is constitu-
tional convention but a wretched farce, toy
for slaves, plaything to amuse people who
have lost their manhood and their honor, and
who are no more fit to be citizens OF free
country or to frame free constitution thar
are the serfs OF Russia or the subjects Of
Turkey.
The constitutional convention Is OF vast
Importance to this State; but the protec'
ton Of our fellow-citizens against the
scandalous and villainous prosecutions Of
the Federal authorities Is OF infinitely
! greater importance. II these prosecutions