The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1881-02-25
TIRE REASON why.

TIRE REASON why.
from the Alexandria (La.) Dcmocrat.l
Public optnion has condemned the
present Constitution of this State with
a unaninity rarely attained on any
other question. There are some whe
would hesitate to call another Conven
ton to make another Constitution
would be done no bc better than I,
was done In 1879. These are the eort
who naturally look with dtsfavor up
on q change because 1t would disturb
the occupants of place. But there are
none who pretend that the present Con.
Stltutfon does or can subSerVe the pur-
poses of good government. Ha
1t ought always to be borne in mind
that criticism of the work of the Con-
ventton does not necessarily imply q
reflection upon the character and abil-
ity Of members. So far as tho personnel
of that body is concerned, it will com.
pare favorably with any previous as
semblage of men In this State. There
were many distinguished lawyers, ply
sicians, merchants ana planters ON Its
roll. There were members who are
justly held In high esteem In their
N&A 3OSAS NOSSSSAOAAcs AAoW uSsEk0tASA ~
that the outcome Of their work was
found to be practically q mass of blum.
ders, of which tyros In political science
should be ashamed?
But one satisfactory answer can be
given, and that is, the Convention was
called at an unpropitious time, and
sat under unpropitious circumstances.
The time was unfavorable. Mems
minds had not recovered from the con-
fusion and disorganization consequent
upon the protracted rule of the Radi.
Gals. The people of Louisiana had
been for years in a state of chronic re-
volt-in an attitude of hostility to the
government imposed upon them first
by fraud and then by force. When
delfverance came, every man had his
panacea for each of the ills that af-
fiicted the body polite. Crude theories
renee of the grievances Of years must
be prevented by specific constitutional
provisions, and hence from this incu-
batton sprung monstrosity that
through two hundred, andsixty eight
articles undertakes to regulate minutioe
that appertatn to ordinary legislation.
The circumstances of the time were
not more favorable to the sway of dis
passionate judgment than was the
time. The public mind had been pro-
foundly agitated by appeals for the
Reputation of q part of what was
called the public debt. The uncheck-
ed profigate expenditures of an alien
government had augmented that debt
to proportions that startled even the
plunderers, who demanded and OBJ
tained a reduction of forty per cent. OF
its principal, and by II refinement OF
will nj of 70 1VNvN Ia
adopts, adroitly prevented future dis
elimination between the just and the
fraudulent part of tho debt by COM
mingling the whole ineXtricably.
There was Il strong feeling among
tho people to tear this device asunder,
and ascertain tho true public debt, nc-
knowledge it, and disown all else. It
was natural, and when viewed from
the standpoint of moral obligation
alone, it was proper. No people, nur-
turetl In and by self-government feels
under any moral obligation to pay
debts contracted for, or during, their
enslavement. Considerations of policy
may and do intervene, and prompt to
the recognition Of an unjust debt.
That was the effect produced upon
the subject had absorbed the allotted
time for its sitting, and even an ex-
tension of three weeks gave to thc
members, weary with wrangling and
oppressed by heat, neagre opportunity
to frame an organic law, and adjust its
various mechanism for smooth work
ing.
But whether these causes of the un-
satisfactory work of the late Convcn
ton be accepted in mitigation of
the condemnation of that work,
is not matter of practical con-
corn. The great need Is to have the
work done over. Any suggestion of
partial amendment will be hooted at.
There is too much to amend.
Gath, in tho Cincinnati Enquirer,
says:
It seems to be clear that tho Pennsyl-
vania Railroad Company was the pur-
chaser recently of the Atlantic and
Ohio railroad, and, as I suggested to
you some time ago, the business of that
railroad has become too large for its
double track and on account of the