The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-11-11

questions, evidently for the purpose OF
answering them In turn. The point IL
very properly made that there ID moth
Ing In our new State constitution which IN
anyway enlarges o. extends the powers
already vested in the State by the constltu-
ton Of the United States. 1t is beyond argu-
ment that the State Legislatures have The
right to provide for the choosing OF preslden-
tial electors. and that no special clause In
State constitutions could add to the discre-
ton and authority they already possess.
All this requires no discussion, ana
amounts, In fact, to platltude' but
the Times is either unaware Of the
purposes OF the people 1t pretends
20 loudly to represent, or 1t is endeavortng TO
convey the impression TINT departure IRON
the plan Of choosing electors by the popular
vote will be peculiar and, therefore, suspt-
ctous. We do not trouble ourselves to con-
lecture as to the probabilities in this case of
course we understand that the Times cannot
be acquainted with the sentiment Of tho DEM
oeratic people Of the State except by guess
work, and equally, we understand that,
whether II has hit upon the truth or not. the
Times would prefer TO DO little furtive mis-
chief-making as II goes along.
The purpose OF our people In this matter
Ia we'll known to all who have any means
Of knowing their sentiments upon public
questions In fact 1t has already been pro-
claimed by the DEMOCRAT as long as eight or
nine weeks ago, and In these words:
The General assembly mill hereafter elect Tho
presidential electors aud thus remove the alles-
ttDu from the yiPigattI11Ap of general oil 9g-
ton. Upon this point we have thought 1t best
to entrench behind tha decision of the Electoral
Commission. and the stRlwart opinien oil 1877,
During the, year, 1880 we hope to have our
house In order. with all Of our local political
Questions and our constitutional privilege
the electoral vote TO-
fore the presidential election at which. ol
course. our congressman will be elected.
dispassionate test Of party strength can DO had
unembarrRssed by tue complications of local
offices on the one side and freed from the temp
tations attending an electoral contest.
The people who believe that the election Of
Democratic congressman from this State will
be conducive to tho best interests OF the general
party zeal and state prIdt', rail- y to the polls In
behalf Of their candidates. and rice versa.
There ID no secret about all this. The minds
OF our people are made up and. In our
opinion, wisely SO. They would remove at
least this much from the influence OF the
bayonet and SO secure 1t to the people. The
Times need not 70 through the masquerade
Of specializing upon o question which Ii al
ready determined upon by the people Itrep.
resents no respectable sentiment among re-
spectacle people In affecting to entertain
doubts, either rs TO the nature or the propri-
ETY. Of the decision which has been arrived at.
Louisiana has made her choice In this mat
ter, and she has no desire to conceal 1t from
the world. II the Times occupied any real
relations Of sympathy toward the people. 1t
would not have found 1t necessary to deal In
meaningless generalties Saturday morning.