St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1881-01-22
NUMBER |.
A New Constitution,
[Baton Rouge Capitoljsn.

Constitutional convention of 1874
through motives easily understood
we have, up to this moment, avoided
taking part in the discuss ion thai
has been going Oh for some time
among the newspapers of the State
relative to the subject. Of late
however, the criticisms applied to
the Constitution have become On
violent in their character that we
feel the time has arrived when tho
protective features of that much.
abused instrument should be made
known to the people ere they are
led tojoin in clamor that might in
time result in causing another con.
vention to be called, which would
frame a constitution that would
destroy the safeguards in the pres.
ent one and place the people at the
mercy of any corrupt majority that
might be organ zed in our General
Assemblies.
Have our contemporaries forgot.
ten the outrageous constitution Of
1868, with broad gap in almost
its every clause, through which our
Radical Legislators taxed the people
as high, at one time, as 215 mills ,
Have they forgotten that the time
of the General Assemblies was spent
in passing special acts to incorporate
this or that village; to frame or
al id the charter of this or that
tov to authorize the Police jury
of MS or that parish to do this
thi,.g or the other to incorporate
this or that wild cat railroad com.
p ny, and to issue millions upon
u, lllions of bonds to fiji the pockets
OF the swindlers; to authorize this
or that monopoly; to organize the
Metropolitan Police Militia at the
expense of the city of New Orleans
and the State; to organize con-
stabulary and compel the people of
the parishes to pay for the luxury ;
to abolish and create parishes to
suit the schemes of the robbers who
bore the title of Legislators-in a
word, to put Louisiana at the mercy
of the land pirates
Though the penalties on delin-
quents were removed and warrants
were received iii very great proper.
ton for the back taxes, have not
our people had a bitter after-taste.
lately, of the radical regime, under
the miserable constitution of 1868 ::
The present constitution forbids
the General Assembly from levying
a tax of more than six mills; and
the Police Juries and City Councils
more than ten mills.
Who has forgotten that the tax
of the Police Jury of this parish was
up to 144 mills, and might have
been more had they desired to make
it so
'Tis true that the present consti-
tuition provides for Circuit Courts
at a cost of $4,000 annually, which,
for the reason that thus far but a
limited number of cases appear
before theLl, some argue that they
should be abolished; whereas, by
an amendment extending the scope
of their Jurisdiction, these courts
would prove of great benefit in fa-
cilitating the prompt execution of
the laws.
It should not be forgotten that
the Circuit Courts have superseded
the costly Parish Judge system, at
the same time that the salaries CT
District Judges have been reduced
from five to three thousand dollars.
The abuse in popular suffrage
which allowed men to vote after a
residence of ten days in any parish
has been superseded by the require
ment in the present Constitution
that demands a residence of six
months, while in the interest of i'm
migration foreigner can vote after
two years residence in the State,
upon the declaration Of his inten.
ton to become a citizen.
The principle Of local self.govern-
ment has been recognized in the
constitution by ordaining that none
but general laws shall control the
chartering of towns and cities, al.
lowing thus the people themselves
to frame their charters.
Legislators can no longer fix their
per diem at will nor receive the
fancy mileage of old. The salaries
and commissions of officials have
been reduced and useless offices
abolished.
The Constitution of 1879, is a
bulwark for the protection of the
people. 1t means the State tax at
not more than six mills, the Parish
tax at not more than ten, and the
City at not more than ten mills,
also.
Compare that with the constitu
tion of 1868, which permitted d
State tax of 211 mills or more; and
then, who will say that the one Of
1879 ought to be changed
People of Louisiana, elect your
best men to the Legislature; and il
necessary, with great care amend
your constitution at the polls, but
do not consent to tear down tho
safeguards which your constitution
offers as a barrier against the ma
jorities In your General Assemblies