The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1882-05-17
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE.

Readers of Gov. McEnery's me-
sage will recognise in it the qualitie
that have attracted to him the conf
dence and admiration of the peopl
of Observation-Disclosures, straightfol
wardness, perfect integrity of pul
pose AS we'll as act, and manly indie
pendence. His transparent cando
shows that he has no purpose to sub
serve, no end to attain, but the pub
lie good. Will the body to which
is addressed permit any good to b
accomplished for the public2 Is i
capable Of accomplishing any2
The New Orleans States call.
aloud for it to redeem it's reputation
and its article is reprinted entire by
the Baton Rouge Capitolian Advo'
cate, official journal of the State
"Tbe Legislature is execrated from
one end Of the State to the other; it
has accomplished nothing and has
lost the confidence Of the people; it
is not uncommon to hear it compared
with Radical Legislators of the past. !"
ave say this" continues the States,
sin the last session of this now obi
Gus body"
The public may be assured that
this "odious body" cares very little
for the odium that newspapers or
the public may fling at it. Under
the Constitution it lasts until 1884.
and instead of this being its last ses-
sion, it may and probably will have
two more. 1t has not yet done all
the harm it is capable of doing, and
it is incapable of doing the only good
really in it's power, and that is to
hari-kari by calling Con-
'.itutional Convention.
The Governors message is full of
suggestions of the need of a new
Constitution, suggestions more pow
'rfnl than recommendations because
hey point out long list Of needful
changes, and yet the list is barely
In closing this admir-
'ble paper the Governor pithily SAYS:
CONSTITUTION OF 1879.
Much was expected from the adoption
u the present Constitution of Louisi-
ma, but in its operations it has disan-
'ointed the hopes Of its trainers, The
instrument is voluminous and contains
many provisions, borrowed from other
tates, not applicable to our system of
Avs or to- our condition.
The appointing power of the Execu-
we IS too great, and it is not we'll dis
rlDuted. With an immense patronage
9 has no power and his efforts to exc
ute the law result in recommendations
nd remonstrances.
with less patronage and more An
iorlty the Executive department Of
10 government could be more advan-
'geously administered. The system of
'moving officers for delinquencies, in
and corruption, without
10 power of suspension, is too compli-
lted. The result is that a judicial con-
So Is equivalent to the prosecuted Off
n serving out his term and enioyinp
70 emoluments of office.
The judiciary system is unsatisfacto.
and 1t has been the cause of much
'mplaint. 'A
Ihe restrictions upon legislative &C. ,
On are unwise and exclude from the
ntrol Of the Legislature many sub
Gus which should demand its atten- i
IN.
The Limitation on taxation is unfortu- T
re and the financial system under It t
confused and embarrassed. The Gem y
al assembly can be liberal in its an
operations, but it is limited in the Ii
cation to meet them. :,
ihs Constitution declares GAMBLING
De vice, yet it encourages that vice b
lts worst forms, not only melting to II,
caches Of faith and embezzlement in "
effort to get rich in the turn of a ii
leel, but demoralizing society, cor f,
p'lng politics and impeding legisla- =
me Constitution was intended TO az. b
nate judicial inquiries and to cheaD- .
litigation, but it has crowded the o.
,Kets OF courts and increased the Of
Us TO such an extent that manv are -,
aid 10 venture within the halls of ~
tice. -' VI n,
he instrument is difficult to inter- .,
't and impracticable in its execn- "
a. Many articles could, with adyan. b
e, be abolished and amendments 10
De; but l doubt the expediency of
uniting many amendments at one W
e, for fear of confusion, w.
! new Constitution would he b]es. !"
3, and | hope to see the State under hs
organic law. suitable to our wants and r.
harmony with our laws. =.
% which hope all Louisianians -
desire only the public good res. W
d, so mote it be. ~
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