The Opelousas courier., 1882-06-03
The Movement for a New Consti-
tuition,

ures therein mentioned and an early
adjournment of the legislature, to con-
demn the bill for the calling of another
convention to frame a new constitution,
which Senator Ably gave notice he
would offer in the Senate. Since that
time the senator has offered his bill
We have not seen any synopsis of it
and therefore know nothing of its de-
tails. But it is, We presume, such a
bill as he gave notice Of. It's purpose
is the calling of conven tion to estab-
lish new constitution and, as we said
last week, we hope that the legislature
will promptly and effectually stifle it.
We consider it an unwise and unneces-
sary msasure-ene that can DO no good
and may do much harm.
The present constitution is demo
cratic measure. It was established by
convention composed principally of
the representatives Of democratic con-
stituencies. After it was formed and
submitted to the people for ratification,
and before the day of election arrived,
strenuous efforts were made, through
the press and printed circulars, which
were industriously distributed among
the people, by republicans and some
discontented democrats, to bring the
work of the convention into disrepute
and prevent its ratification. The dis.
contented and the hypercritical exposed
to public view all the faults and defects
that they had found in it, condemning
them with severity. and calling upon
the people to reject it at the ballot box.
The people did not heed this clamor,
and the constitution was adopted by a
large majority. Few democrats, we APP
prehend, voted against its adoption.
There are provisions in the constitu-
tien which, we believe, would have
been somewhat different from what they
are, had not certain combinations been
effected 10 the convention by which the
views of a majority of the democratic
members were in measure thwarted.
But the instrument as whole was ac-
ceptable to the great mass of the democ-
racy of Louisiana, and is so to day. The
new constitution had not been in opera
tion more than year lawyers, judges
of the courts, much less the people, were
not familiar with its various provis-
ions; the Legislature had done very
little towards carrying out those pro-
visions, when schemes began to be
formed by few discontents for the
calling of another convention to form a
new one. About that time, we have
heard, the work was attempted in New
Orleans of organizing throughout the
State a movement fer such conven-
ton. The sehemers did not succeed,
and to all appearances the scheme
seemed to be abandoned.
A number of objections have been
urged against tho new constitution.
Some of these apply to the legislation
of the Legislature elected under that in
strument. and not to it. But whilst
few newspaper writer's have made a few
specific objections, the most of them
deal in general dennnciation of the con-
stitution, on account of faults and de-
fects which they fail to point out.
The truth is that the constitution of
1879 contains too many restrictions up
on some of the branches Of the govern
n,ent to suit the purposes of IA class of
hn fr thS \ "A Il
exercise of power heretofore granted to
the legislati We branch of tile govern
ment. The approaches to tile treasury
of the State have been too strongly
guarded by it to make it acceptable to
such men. To confine the government
within the legitimate purpose and OBJ
ject of it's creation, as has been done by
the new constipation, is, in their opin-
ion, an anomaly jim the science of gov
ernment, a stupid blunder that should
be gotten rid of at any cost
We should like to see these advocates
of II new constitution give us critical
analysis of the present one, indicating
clearly the great defects therein which
nothing but new organic law can rem
! edy. We have not, so far. been favored
WItH SuGI q pfouuCtIUH. LII HAS OeeA
charged by these reformers that the
constitution is too voluminous But
how this veluminoasness is injurious
to the people, or why it is defect, we
have not been informed. It has been
charged that it is difficult to interpret,
but its various provisions seem to be
written in plain English, and the courts
of the country. whenever called on for
an interpretation thereof, seem to have
been equal to the task. 1t has been
said that it is impractieable. When
ever the legislature has attempted to
carry out it's provisions by proper legis-
lation, it seems TO us that it has sue
ceeded. The deraBgementi in the State
finances has been attributed to the new
constitution. We can trace that evil
to Its proper source without much eff
fort. It is to be found in the constitn-
ton of 1868 and the government exist
ing Hereunder If there is deficit in
the revenues of 1880 and 1881, the con-
stitution of 1879 is not responsible for
it. That instrument has given the fegis
latnre ample power to raise and collect
a revenue sufficient for the legitimate
purposes Of the governments. Let that
body give Us a full, well digested and
stringent revenue law, and there need
be no deficit in our revenue. The gov
ernment established by the constitution
of 1879 is, to all intents and purposes.
not a costly one. It is cheap one and
strong enc, possessing power and