Louisiana capitolian., 1881-11-08
WHERE rs THE CAPITAL?

than the seat Of government, we pub
lish the several Articles of the Con-
stitution bearing on the subject; the
plain English of which certainly says
thGt Baton Rouge is the seat Of goD-
eYnment, where all sessions, regular
and extra, shall be held, with the
exception of the first session of the
General Assembly, which was con-
vened at New Orleans, as designated
in Article 1863:
Art. 70. He shall take care that
the laws be faithfully executed, and
he may, on extraordinary occasions,
convene the General Assembly at the
seat Of government, or, if that should
have become dangerous from an enc
my or from an epidemic, at differ
ent place. The power to legislate
shall be limited to the objects emu
merated specially in the proclamation
convening such an extraordinary
session; therein the Governor shall
also limit the time such session may
continue; provided, it shall not ex-
ceed twenty days. Any legislative
action had after the time SO limited,
or as to other objects than those emu
merated in said proclamation, shall
be null and void.
Art $50. The seatof goyernaent shall
be ard remain at The city Of Baton
Rouge.
The General Assembly, at it's first
session after the adoption of this con-
stitution, shall make the necessary
appropriations for the repair of the
State House and for the transfer of
the archives of the State to Baton
Rouge; and the city council of Baton
Rouge is hereby authorized to issue
certificates of Indebtedness, in such
manner and form as to cover the sub
seription of thirty live thousand dol
lars, rendered by the citizens and the
city council of said city to aid in re-
pairing the Capitol in said city !
proridcd, the city of Baton Rouge
shall pay into the State treasury said
amount of thirty-fye thousand dol
lars before the contraction the repairs
OF the State e-House be finally closed. |
Art. 263. The General Assembly |
tirst elected under this constitution
shall convene IN the city of New Or
leans upon the second Monday in |
January next, 1880, afterthe election,
and the Governor and Lieutenant
Governor elected shall be duly in
stalled in Office during the first week
of the session, and before it shall be
for the said General As
sembly to proceed with the transac-
ton OF business beyond their own
organization.
1t will be observed that Baton
Rouge, is designated as the seat ofl
government, also that the term seat of|
qorernme@t is used in decreeing that
the regular, as well as the extra ses-
sions, shall be held there.
A faithful observance of the provi-
sions OF the Constitution would have
led the Executive 10 have caused the
removal of the State Departments to
Baton Rouge, the seat of govern
ment, Immediately after the adjourn
ment OF the session held at New Or
leans, according to Article 263.
The construction placed on the
plain letter of the Constitution, by
Governor McEnery, cannot be .justi-
led forthe reason that the Capitol
cannot be plastered in time
% hold the extra session within its
walls.
The location of the seat of govern
nent does not depend upon the read
ness or unreadiness of any public
building.
The Constitution does not say that
he General Assembly, either in reg
liar or extra session, shall meet at
he State-House or Capitol.
Everybody remembers that until
ne swindle was perpetrated through
which the st. Louis Hotel became a
State House, the Assembly held it's
essiOns at the Mechanics Institute.
1t. Patrick's Hall, and one body eren
'cel' the Gem Saloon !,
Hence, we assert that no question
ould be raised as to the legality of !
n extla session held at Baton Rouge,
With one House meeting at Pixies
lall and the other at the Court +,
louise or the City Hall. !
The Capitol Building does not en-
Or into the question at all, if we con-