St. Landry democrat., 1879-01-25
The constitutional Convention.


Legislature should meet every year, he
would bc surprised to find himself I'M
able to give reason. We doubt if nc
would not be troubled to find even u
plausible reason why it should meet
once in two years. The public have
taken it for granted that the object or
necessity OF these annual or bienuial
meetings is to make laws, but mo-
mcnt's reelection will convince them
that no such necessity exists. There
arc three great systems OF law, the civil,
Neither Of these systems were created
by legislative cnactments, but were
built I'D by the opinions of jurlsts. The
common and commercial law, by the
decisions of the courts and, perhaps,
the civil law in a similar manner, al
though reported as tho disestrd opin-
ions OF the most celebrated Of the Ro-
man jurists. IN England and in thie
country their opinions OF the bench are
often condensed iutu single lcgiSla-
tive enactment, and, independent Of
this mode, legislative enactment has
added almost nothing to the improve
mcnt of the law. We have pointed out
these facts to show how slow is the
growth of law, and, from the very ma
turc of things, it cannot be otherwise.
1t is equally evident that it is not nee
essary .hat the Legislature should meet
every two OF even three years to keep
pace with this slow growth. The slight
changes which have been made in The
last 25 wears, notwithstanding the in
ccssant legislation, iscGually corrobora-
tive OF this conclusion.
In what cause, then, did the frequent
meetings Of The Legislature take their
origin We think it can be distinctly
traced to the contest between the Eng
liSl Parliament and the Crown under
the STARTS. The meeting of Paala-
ment was considered az Il bulwark
against the cncloachmcnt OF the Grown.
We inherited This idea with the laws Of
England and it stands nut prominentlv
in the provisions Of the Federal Con-
Stitutinn. The majority Of it's trainers
were afraid of the cncroachmcuts of
the executive, General Washington, Mr..
Hamilton and Mr., Adams Of the en-
cruachmcnts of tie Legislatures. The
idea which ruled the majority has per
vatlcd the States, but tie fearful lcgis-
Iatiyc entertainments upun the excru-
tive, both federal and state, daring the
last fifteen years. have verified the fears
Of General Wash: n"ton and Mr.. Ham
ilton. During the last ten years the
!
surrendered n large share OF his ap-
pointing power to The Senate, by grant,
ing to each Senator the right OF select
Ing the appointecs to be made in his
district. There are other tyrannies of
the legislative department upon the
executive, equally ohjectlonabl but
our space fOrhidS us to dwell upon them,
These aggreSsions would cease with the
frequency OF the sessions. But the
argument is stronger than II mere mega
tive. The first is its enormous cost,
but a. strong as this is, it is perhaps not
the strongest. These frequent meetings
create an inccSsant tinkeriHg with the
laws, an evil which can hardly he over
estimated.
How often, thcn, ought the Gen cra}
Assembly to meet just often enough
to check executive aggression and to
conform the law to the necessities of
society which have been clearly pointed
ont. How often will it be necessary to
meet these demands We know. from
our experience under the Constitution
of 1882, that once in two years is not
too seldom, and we believe that once
in three will be found amply sufficient,
if not once in four. At all events, with
the power of the executive to call i'm
extra session when he thinks the nee
rssitv of the State requires, we will
incur no risk.
We have recently attempted Ia solve
tie problem why there should be a
House of Representatives and Il Senate,
and we confess that constituted as they
have been under all our Constitutions.
we have been unable 10 find a solution
The idea was evidently taken from the
Federal Constitution, but there is no
analogy in the representation of the
United States Senate and Our Senate.
The United States Senate represents
the equality Of sovereign States, but
our State Senate represents nothing of
the kind. That the Senator Of Caddo
represents nothing different from the
Representatives. Of Caddo. or the sena-
tor from the Parishes represents nothing
different from the members from those
Parishes, is evident. 1t has been u.s.
uaIly urged that the Senate is more
dignitied, more Intelligent and more
conservative. but t.is would prove that
there ought to be but one house, and
that should he the Senate. Although
no valid reason can be given for the
two houses, as at present constituted.
tnele rs a reason most cOycnt why these
should DC a House of Representatives
and a Senate, but it has never been en-
hraecl by any Of oUp Constitutions.
The two houses ought to represent
the two great conflicting interests Of
society, labor and capital, The adjust
ment of their respective rights is now
she great problem OF American states
manship. while ii is unjust that CAPT
tai shONld cypress labor, it is equally
unjust that labor should Cypress capital.
If it is unjust that the capitalist should
prescribe the hours and terms of labor.
it is equally unjust that tie 1abOrer
should tax the property of the capital
ist or property owner. We have seen
the frigltful evil of the latter in the
last ten years of spoilation and profit
gacy, of the universal sHtfragan plum
,lcrIng the property holder, and which
has resulted in as much oppression to
the poor and penniIess laborer as to the
plundcred property holder. Represent
tation is the safeguard WHICH our theory
and practice Of government has always
prescribed against oppression, and in
no application will it be found more
mutually beneficial than between labor
and capital. The representation could
be easily met by requiring property
ton for Senator. The South need never
cAptCt tHe coHHueuct ol capital anu
enterprise as long us they can be taxed
to contscation without their consent.
i.
Proceeding" of the Hoard OF Police Of
the Town Of Opelousns.
FRIDAY, January Sd. 1879.
The Board met pursuant to IL call of the
President.
Present nr. James Ray, President; Mcssrs.
4. y, EaIcr, p. j. Lffrbvre. f. Donate.
ON motion the Board ADJOURNED 10 meet on