Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-08-27
THE NEW CONSTITUTION.

the Constitution OF 1879. While some
of our contemporaries take the reason
able ground that the instrument, like
every other, from the Constitution Of
the United States to that of a State,
can be perfected by the adoption Of
such amendments as the necessities Of
the times require, they oppose the ex-
IRENE view of others, who, because
some of the features of the Constitu-
ton of 1879, do not suit them, would
have aconvention called to frame an
! ether which, when completed, would
surely contain clauses that wouldneed
to be amended too.
If new Constitutions are to be
framed every year or two, we don't
see that any Constitution is needed at
all.
TO keep pace with the ever chang
ing demands of the people, set of
Representatives might be elected,
who would assume the sovereign pow
er and attempt to legislate along to
suit the fancied requirements of the
hour.
The millennium forlegislators would
then come. They could pass an ordi-
nance calling an election whenever
they pleased, or adopt.an act entitled
an act for the better government of
Sleepy Hollow or any other burg, or
to create a new parish here by abolish
ing another there. In short, the
curse DISQUALIFICATION would again
be in full blast, coupled with the I'M
limited taxation of the people. The
permanent convention could do, at
will, everything that is good and ev-
thing that is bad.
What does astonish us in this sweep
ing condemnation of the Constitution
which is INDUCED by a number of
journals, is, that the charge contains
but very few specifications.
If specifications were brought forth
the objections would then be open to
discussion and public opinion might
have a chance to sustain the objec-
tons or set them aside.
And, if public opinion should con-
clude that the objections to the new
Constitution are so numerous as to
render that instrument powerless for
good government of the people, then,
we imagine, everybody would favor
the call for another convention.
SO far, we have only seen the Ju-
dietary system attacked, and in our
opinion defended quite successfully.
We have also read, in the Monroe
Bulletin, communication signed
"Bena Vascum,0 which, during the
course of dissertation of two columns
and half, opened by a wholesale
condemnation of the Constitution, f.
nally resolves Itself in conceding that
the Bill of Rights is like the one of
almost every other State; and in ask
ing whether it would not be fair to
allow the foreigner-who is declared
an elector after a residence of two
years, preceding the declaration of
his intention to become citizen-to
be eligible to the. General Assem-
bly,, without being required as full
tledged citizens are, to have been
for FIVE years resident of the State?
Until better reasons are offered
than those we have seen advanced
thus far, we will consider it our duty
to counsel the people to oppose a
Constitutional Convention though we
will not oppose the submission of
amendments which could be fully
discussed before the bar of public
opinion, and then be either adopted
or rejected.
We see no clause in the Constitu-
ton that works such injury to the
commonwealth that cannot be en-
dured until the people will have had
time topass upon it's projected amend
ment.