The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1881-02-02
TIE REASON WHY.

Public opinion has condemned the
present Constitution Of this State
with a unanimity rarely attained on
any other question. There are some
who would hesitate to call another
c. Invention to make another Consti.
tuition from an apprehension that Its
work would be done no better than
it was done in 1879. There are 9th
ers who naturally look with dlsfayor
upon a change because 1t would dis.
turb the occupants of place. But
there are none who pretend that the
present Constitution does or can
subserve the purposes of good gov
eminent.
1t ought always to be borne in
mind that criticism Of the work of
the Convention does not necessarily
imply a reflection upon the character
and ability of its members. So far
as the personnel of that Body is con-
cerned, it will compare favorably
with any previous assemblage of men
in this State. There were many dis.
tinguished lawyers, physicians, mer'
chants and planters on its roll.-
There were members who are justly
held in high esteem in their various
vocations. How happened it that
the outcome of their work was found
to be practically a mass Of blunders,
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 circum-
stances. The time was unfavorable.
Mems minds had not recovered from
the confusion and Reorganization
consequent upon the %protracted rule
of the Radicals. The people of-Lou-
~isiana had been for years in a state
of chronic revolt-in an attitude of
hostility to the government imposed
upon them first by fraud and then by
force. When de%liverance came, eve
~ man had his panacea for each of
the ills that afflicted the body po-
little. Crude theories dominated
mems judgments. A recurrence of
the grievances of years must be
prevented by specific constitutional
provisions, and hence from this in
cubation sprung a monstrosity that
through two hundred sixty eight ar
ticles undertakes to regulate minu-
tie that appertain to ordinary legis-
lation.
The circumstances Of the time
were not more favorable to the sway
Of dispassionate judgment than was
the time. The public mind had been
profoundly agitated by appeals for
the Reputation of part of what
was called the public debt. The un.
checked proaiga,e expenditures Of
an alien government had augmented
that debt to proportions that star.
tied even the plunderers, who demand.
ed anil obtained a reduction of forty
per cent. of its principal, and ~ q
refinement Of villainy seldom attain.
ed only by adopts, ad1oitly prevented
future discrimination between the
just and the fraudulent part Of the
debt by commingling the whole in.
e%xtricably.
There was a strong feeling among
the people to tear this device asun
der, and ascertain the true public
debt, acknowledge it, and disown all
else. 1t was natural, and when view.
cd from the standpoint of moral OBJ
legation alone, it was proper. Nc
! people, nurtured in and by self-gov.
eminent feels under any moral obi
CATION to pay debts contracted for,
or during, their enslavemeat Con,
~siderations of policy may and do in.
tervene, and prompt to the recogni.
ton of an unjust debt That was
the effect produced upon the Con.
%vention, but the struggle over the
subject had absorbed the allotted
time for it's sitting, and even an ex.
tension of three weeks gave to the
members, weary with wrangling and
oppressed by heat, meagre opportu.
nifty to frame an organic law, and ad.
just it's various mechanism fol
smooth working.
But whether these causes OF thu
unsatisfactory work of the late Con
vention be accepted in mitigation o
the condemnation of that work, il
not matter of practical concern. Til,
great need is to have the work don,
over. Any suggestion Of partia
amendment will be booted at. Their,
is too much to amend.
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