The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-01-12
THE CONVENTION.

THE CONVENTION.
The New Orleans Times has for two or three
weeks been engaged In the work Of opposing
~ passage Of bill by the present Legisla-
nmro to call constitutional convention For
he past three days the Hcarlne has feebly
followed the course Of the Times. Members Of
the Le9isIature are told thh tho convention
= not only Unnecessary, but that II would
prove hurtful In tho extreme to the vital In
1orests Of the State, depreciate her credit and
ruin her standing In the financial world.
Much more 10 the same purpose ID urged. but
not single substantial, logical argument "
advanced TO show that convention should
not be held.
Such twaddle AZ this is inspired BY certain
ring interests In the city, too well known
require designation at this time. It is NJ
the sentiment Of the people Of New Oriean
NOR do these journals In any manner refie
ahe popular voice upon this question. II
large commercial interests Of the city fave
q convention, as we'll as the industrf4
CLASSES. Its opponents here are to be foun
among the monopolies, the stock gamblef
and the holders Of State and city bonds, IN
Che latter are divided upon the subject. 81
strong is tho feeling In It's favor that no can
tlidate had the bar,lihood to openly declare hil
opposition to II before the late election. I'd
have done 90 would have resulted In defeat
The people Of the city are III line with thd
people Of the country upon this question. aa
their representatives In the Legislature we'll
know.
The question Of q constitutional convention
hAs been agltated in the State since bayone(
rule was inaugurated In 1868. The burdens Of
The present instrument have been borne until
now only because they could not be throw1|
on before. The people Of Louisiana have del
termined 10 boar them no longer. The DEMO-
cratic convention at Baton Rouge recognized
this fact and made the question direct
Issue In the late canvass, pledging itself I'd
call convention II the people gave 1t the
power TO do TO-. The aprty candidates In the
various parishes OF the State were instructed
to vote for the measure as soon after the|
Legislature assembled rs possible. TheI
sentiment throughout the State was over-|
whelming In It's favor. Even In sectlonsI
where some opposition was manifested last
year, the popular feeling has undergone al
complete change, and we find to-day many
rood men, both In the Senate and House,
who were, ut the last session OF the Legisla-
ture, not satisfied Of the expediency OF call
ing convention, and who voted against thel
bill for that purpose last winter. now among
its most earnest and devoted advocates.
~ thu v,oCv,ln II,
ishes that this Legislature shall call con-
vention, must not be opposed. The inhu-
ences now at work against 1t are not aware
Of the deep feeling among all classes that
the present obnoxious constitu tion shall be
destroyed. and new one--a constitution for
tho government Of Louisiana, framed by the
people OF the State-substituted for It, The
DEMOCRAT desires to warn the business in
terests of the city Of New Orleans. as well
90 the rings and monopolles, that any oppo-
sition to convention would prove extremely
damaging to the welfare Of the city. The
people In the country are In no humor to
brook such opposition. They lock- upon q
convention as their political hope and mate
rial salvation, and will regard those who
should defeat IL as common enemies TO be
treated accordingly. Such feeling Is to be
deprecated at any time; but, just at this juno
ture, when the welfare Of both city and ooun-
try require that the utmost harmony. good
feeling and reciprocity Of interests should
prevail, 1t would be deplorable In It's conse-
Quences upon our political and commercial
systems.
But the convention will not fail. The weak
opposition Of the Times and RcdYsne, and
the small ooterie they represent, will not be
felt In the Legislature, except to quicken
favorable action upon the bill now pending.
The members from the parishes we're sent TO
the city for this purpose, and they cannot be
driven from II by the dwellings Of the jour
mails mentioned, or by any consideration
whatever. And the city members unite with
them. Their convictions, their pledges and
their votes are with them. Tho Democratic
party ID In full accord upon this subject and
will remain 30.
The DEMOCRAT has already given abundant
reasons why 1t regarded q conversation abso-
iutely and imperatively demanded by the
highest interests Of the State. The fight was
made during the canvass and the victory was
won in November. 1t only remains for the
Legislature to complete the work the people
have sent them to do; to give form and sub
stance to their demands, and call q conven-
ton. There Ia NO disposition anywhere mani
tested to betray this duty. The course OF
events In the Legislature already shows what
the final result will be. This will be reached
40 the House tomorrow morning. Every
Democrat Is expected to be In his seat to vote
Ior the measure when his name is called
That the bill will pass the lower branch by an
immense majority Is certain. That the Demo-
cratic Senators will be equally true to party
demands and the public veal when the bill
comes before that body for action. Is also
certain.
!heconvention bill, contrary to expectation.
0id not pass the Hous0 yesterdav II WAS