Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1879-03-08
THE STATE CAPITAL.


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For the guidance Of the delegates
to the Constitutional Conventicn, xse
deem Il appropriate to publish IT., !!
opinions Of the talented and worta
representatives Of our State, who, IN.
the year 1s45, gave to our common
wealth a government such as the peo-
pie are seeking to re-establish IN Lou
isiana.
Mr.. Kenncr said:
Ivote aye, because ce hare established
universal suffrage.
/ vote aye, because ,ce haze ertendsd
and equalised representation.
I vote aye, because ave hare Get a limit
to legislation, madiminished crecutiue
patronage.
Irote aye, because we hare reformed
thejudiciary.
iuote aye, because we haze ordered
the legislature to establish a gloriogs
system Of free public schools.
I uote aye, because ace haze ren.orotl
the seat Of government from the city Of
New Orleans.
Mr.. Miles Taylor, q Assumption,
said:
have as much rightias any men,
Der OH this floor to assert that have
no prejudices against the city Of New
Orleans. When q question Of vital
Importance to her interests - one
which involved her dearest rights,
was before the Convention Il refer to
the proposition to deprive her Of
her equal representation in the popu-
lar branch Of the Legislature, l raised
my voice against it, and when her
own delegates tainted in the contest,
and were disposed to abandon it in
despair, still stood by her, and
yielded not one inch Of ground. And
now am told that / am prescribing
the city, and putting her to the ban,
because am Of opinion that a pOpu-
lous city ought not to be the seat Of
goyernment7 think it injurious to
the public interest that it should be
there and am persuaded that the
correctness of that opinion is estab-
lished by all experience.
There are many causes Mt work in
great commercial capital, which must
inevitably disturb legislation. The
attractions Of pleasure and the calls Of
business, withdraw members Of the
Legislature too frequently from their
seats +; and it happens again and again
that large numbers Of both repre-
sentatives and senators are absent
when the most important votes are
taken. There are conupting infu-
ences too, which tend to divert them
from.the path Of duty, which are more
easily brought to bear upon them
when they are mingledup, and almost
lost in crowds, influenced by interest
and the hope Of gain, than when they
are ut distance from the seats o.
extravagant speculation and excited
enterprise.
The cityis as much interested il
the removal of the seat Of government
as the country. It's population mus
have the same object that of secur
ing good legislation. And if her citi
zcns will examine the facts, they mus
be convinced. The session Of thil
body will furnish many illustration
of the correctness Of this position.
will only mention one. In proportion
to their numbers, the city delegate
were more frequently absent iron
their seats than those coming from
the country. When the details of tin
senatorial apportionmcnt were unde
consideration, a great proportion o
them were absent. BY dint Of exer.
ton the presence Of the most Of then
we're procured at the final vote on it
adoption as a whole, and it was re
.jected by Il small majority. 1t the1
took the house II week or ten days t
modify it in such a manner as to Ell
sure its adoption. 1t is hardly neces
sary to add that if they had ATTENDED
before this would not have takel
place.
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