The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1881-09-01

Ills useieSss 70 attempts any con
cealment Of the fact that the great
mass Of the people Of this State are
dissatisfied with the present condi-
ton of local governmental affairs.
The discomfort arises from the man.
fold and palpable defects in the new
Constitution, which in the short time
it has been on trial has developed an
inherent weakness and ineniclency
that completely destroys its purpos.
es and usefulness as the organic law
OF the State. Out of its many in
congruities aud conflicts with the
Constitution of the United States a
vast amount of litigation has sprung
up to vez the people and impede the
working of the government; while the
legislation based upon its provisions
and had in obedience to it's man.
dates has only served to complicate
the situation and to bring about
state Of legal complexity nearly ap-
preaching chaos. The defect inthe
revenue law; the cumbersome judi.
ciary system; the imperative adjust
ment of the debt; the lack of the
necessary appropriations for the
conduct of the government; the I'M
satisfactory administration of many
of the public Offices are daily i'm.
pressing the people and convincing
them that the new Constitution and
all subsequent legislation are COM
plete and utter failures and so seri-
GUS in their damaging effects as to
necessitate an early and radical
change.
Frequently we see such utterances |
as the following from the Monroe
Bulletin finding place in the columns
of our country contemporaries:
" The shortest and cheapest way
out of our difficulties will be for the
next Legislature to adopt resolu-
ton submitting to the people at the
general election the propriety of cali
ing new constitutional convention.
The present fundamental law ran SO
much into compromise, and is so
cumbersome as to make it almost de-
void of single redeeming virtue.
The plea give it trial. is no longer
senahle. It has been cried and found
'otally wanting. Experience was
without merit, and the object of it
gnored in its conception. It is an
admitted retrograde instead of an
upon the constitution J
# 1868. The losses more than over
balance the gains. The majority of
he delegates were opposed to the j
demands of the people. Instead of /
icing reformers they proved them
elves to be anti reformers. !
There is no grant that is not hedg- '
d in with provisos so as to destroy 9
IS efficacy, and scarcely any article 2
mt what is SO clumsily worded as i
OF to require hair splitting judicial
Interpretation to know whatit might,
onld would or should mean. The :
legislature cannot act on it, lawyers
annot advise upon it, and courts
IN only interpretit by virtue of their !
osition. If an article escapes an !, L
Imitation by conflict with the con- E
tuition of the United States then n
annihilates the rights Of some D
onest man by being in conflict with B
'mmon sense and natural right. G
"Our whole machinery is ont Of 3
der. Courts rail at the Legislature
T transgressing its bounds, the B
ress at the Executive for usurping al
IS powers; litigants and lawyers at E
'e Judiciary for making instead Of Sc Sc
terpreting the law, and the people
all the departments for ring rule :
their ruin and the States dishon.
:. Matters grow worse. Nobody :
es light through the darkness Z
emigration is an obsolete word di
U condition is too we'll known 70