The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-02-18
WHO SHALL GO TO THE CONVENTION

IHe 4 eCHBnHe, correspondent WHITES u,
has taken a very firm stand against the can
didacy OF any State official or member Of the
Legislature for the convention, and desires
to know why the DEMOCRAT, which has led
the fight against rings, has said nothing on
this important matter. We think our CORE
spondent Is In error In regarding any question
which the Picdyuae ventures to discuss as OF
any Importance. That Journal systematically
avoids assuming any position on any ques-
ton OF real consequence to the people OF the
State or city.
As for our part, we hold that no citizen can
be excluded from the convention. A I'll
tutional convention represents the sover-
eighty Of the people of the State; and when
public exigency arises which requires such
convention every man In the State
whatever may be his position, whether he
be Governor or plain Citizen stands on
level. There Is no reason why the immediate
constituency OF the Governor should not
elect him to represent them In the conven-
ton, unless it be that his duties as a member
OF the convention might interfere with his
duties as chief magistrate of the State. But
that is question for him to determine, and
II his people elect him and he consents to
serve. no one has right to object.
It would be indeed remarkable thing were
1t to be established. that the men In v HON the
people OF the State and OF the several par
ishes have displayed their confidence by
electing them to State offices, and to repre-
sent them In the Legislature and the munich
pal governments, were excluded by that very
expression Of confidence from representing
them In constitutional convention. II such
policy be adopted, then must the parishes
ignore those whom In the past they have
most honored, and say because we have
tried you and because you have served us
faithfully, therefore you have lost your rights
and claims as a citizen, and are unfit to rep
resent us In this assembly" This Is simple
absurdity. The argument has nothing In it.
The people are sovereign and II there be any
State or municipal official, or any member OF
the Legislature, who holds their confidence
and who they desire to represent them In the
convention they have the right to elect him a
delegate.
A constitutional convention is representa-
tion Of the sovereignty Of the people, and no
citizen can be or ought to be excluded from it.
But II this ancient and honored Democratic
doctrine Is to be ignored and certain classes
OF the community are to be excluded from a
convention, let us single out
those classes for prescription who have in
terests at stake adverse to those OF the col
lective body of the people.
The individual representing his fellow
citizens in public Office. If he be an honest
man, has no interest antagonistic to that of
the people His official station means that
he has the confidence and affection OF the
people. That he has once been the recipient
Of the confidence Of his fellow citizens Is no
reason why he should not be the recipient OF
1t again, unless by his official conduct he has
forfeited bis claims upon 1t. The class to
be prescribed, Ii any class Is to be prescribed,
Which We deny, is the class who have inter-
ests antagonistfc to the taxpayers of the
State; and that class Is composed of the
oondholders and their representatives. We
10 not say that holders of bonds or represen-
,atives of bondholders should be prescribed |
md denied admission to the convention, be-
cause we believe that the people, In this mat
er, are sovereign, and that they have the
light to choose whomsoever they please
But we do say, before we prescribe the men
Who the majority Of the people have singled
'ut for State and parish officers and for men,
'ers OF the Legislature, and deny them right
i membership In the convention, we should
'roscribe the holders OF State bonds and
hose who represent them. We may oppose
man who Is public official for specific rea-
ons for office, but we can never consent to
he proposition that, because man has been
elected by the people for high public position,
le thereby becomes political pariah.