Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-11-26
WHAT Do THE RuRALs SAY.
where's tho Capitol .

terances from our country contempt
raries regarding the retention Of the
Capital at New Orleans, in contra
vention with the dictates OF the Con.
stitution. 1t will be seen that these
opponents Of public opinion favor ODE,
dience to the law from the head Of
the government down to the tail end
Point Coupee Banner: Several o.
our exchanges, and prominently among
them the CAiIToLIAN and Advocate, OF
Baton Rouge, seriously contend thai
the Legislature cannot be legally con-
vened to meet at any other place thar
the State Capitol when is Baton Rouge
except in the case ofinvasion or epidem.
ic, as provided by the constitution. And
holding this opinion they assert that
any act which may be BASED by the
General Assembly at the extra session tc
be held in New Orleans will be uncon.
stitutional, null and void. We are dis.
posed to agree with this view of the
question, although we confess that we
have not given 1T very serious considera.
alton. If there IS any doubt about the
legality of the session to be held at New
Orleans, we suggest that as soon as the
legislature assemblies, in obedience to
the Governors proclamation, at New Or
leans, it Immediately adjourn to Baton
Rouge, the constitutional seat of gov
eminent.
Claiborne Guardian: We were not
among those who advocated the calling
of an extra session, but as il has been
called it had as we'll be held as the law
directs, as in violation of law The Con
stitution provides that the sessions Of
the Legislature, both regular and spe-
cial, shall be convened at the seat of
government. The same instrument al
SO declares that Baton Rouge is the seat
of government. The condition of any
public building can surely have nothing
to do in determining the location of the
Capitol of the state. Baton Rouge is as
much the Capitol to-day as it will be
when the last touch is placed Oh the
State House. We believe that under
the plain provisions of the Constitution
the extra session should DO convened at
Baton Rouge. To violate the require
ments of the Constitution in converting
the Legislature might, and very prob
ably would, nullify the entire proceed
ings Of that body. The State is in no
condition for any such thing to happen
just now. If we are to bear the burden
of an extra session, we want no donbt
to be left about the benefits we are to
receive from it. We believe the Govern
or to be wise and patriotic man, with
the interest of the whole State at heart,
but we fear be has made a mistake in
converting the extra session in New Or
leans, instead of Baton Rouge.
Clinton Patriot Democrat: Baton
Rouge, and not New Orleans, is the Cap
ital of the State of Louisiana, and Gov.
McEnery made a sad blunder when he
issued his proclamation converting
the extra session of the Legislature
in the latter city. He had no more
constitutional right to locate the
next sitting Of our law makers where
he has, that he would to have designa-
ted Clinton or Jackson, for this purpose
The mere fact that the State House
will not be sufficiently completed for the
December meeting, is no reason why
the constitution should be violated
The Y. S. Barracks could have been
made to answer the purpose, or the extra
session might have been called for Jan
uary, and the Capitol sufficiently COM
pleted to have held the sess ion therein.
The close proximity of the Penitentiary,
might have had beneficial effect upon
some of the recreantmembers ofthe Cen
eral Assembly. We advise the Governor
to reconsider the matter, and give Ba-
ton Rouge and the constitution what both
are Justly entitled to. Will he do it, or
will he not We shall see.
Monroe Bulletin: The country pa
pers have generally expressed good
wishes for the McEnery administration,
and are, as far as our observation goes,
generally panied at what they believe
to he very grievous mistake. The
session should have been at Baton Rouge
to avoid any question of its legality. 1t
is true that the constitution is as muddy
on that as any other subject in it, aud
may be interpreted rightly according to
the wishes of the authority who has it
in hand. 1t virtually makes the Su-
preme Court the Constitution of the
State.
Morgan City Free Press: Article num-
Der $50, Of the constitution, desig-
mates the city of Baton Rouge, as
the seat of Government of the State.