The Opelousas courier., 1882-05-20
The Governors Message.

W. hoFS ACSbA thV OOFOidVa AhSs
sage with care. We approve of much
that he says, and think that he ex
presses himself in clear and good style.
But we differ with him in some of his
views, and de not approve of some of
his suggestions. He is very emphatic in
the expression of his views respecting
the constitution of 1879 He pronounces
it failure, and states that it has dis
appointed its trainers. He thinks that
" q new constitution would be bless
ing" and hopes to see the State under
" an organic law suitable to our wants
and in harmony with our laws" He
makes, besides general objection,
some specific objections, which we will
notice further on.
We are at a loss to know exactly
what the Governor means when he
speaks of " an organic law in harmony
with our laws and suitable to our
wants" We have always thought that
the laws of State should be made to
harmonize with the constitution there
of. We have thought that it was almost
universally admitted to be true and cor
rect doctrine,' that the constitution of
State was the paramount law thereof,
and that all statutory law should be
based thereon and made to conferm
thereto. The most delicate and impor
tant questions that courts of justice are
called upon to examine and determine,
are these arising from the alleged non
conformity of legislative enactmsnts to
the organic law of the State
We do not believe that the imperfec-
tiops of the new constitution are SO
great, so radical, as to have disappoint-
ed its trainers generally, in its opera
tisn, and to render it inefficient in ac-
complishing the good that it was in.
tended to do That there are imperfec-
tions in the instrument, we concede.
But what creation of the human intel
lect is without imperfections These
imperfectious, however, are not so great
or of such Importance as to justify aspi-
ratioDs fer another constitutional. con-
veution. They can be made to disap-
pear by a few well-timed amendments.
The Governor finds the new consti-
tuition too volnminous. We do not con-
slider this a grave objection. It is some
what more yeluminous than those
which preceded it; and we presume
that the convention, in making it thus
full. was governed by desire to cover
fully the whole legitimate ground of
their labors, and to render evasion or
miscenstrnction of its provisions diff
cult If not impossible. 1t is less volum-
ineus, however, than the constitutions
of other States that are looked upon as
excellent productions of craftsmanship.
He objects that many provisions Of
the constitution were borrowed frem
other States. It is true that some of it's
provisions were borrowed frum such
States as Georgia and Pennsylvania
But he fails to point cut wherein these
provisions are unwise or defective, or
are not applicable TO our system of laws
or to our condition.
We believe that it is generally admit
ted, by those who have given this mat
ter proper thought, that the constitu-
tions of both Georgia aud Pennsylva-
nia are the best that have been estab-
lished among the States of late years.
They are looked upon asmodels of their
kind--the work Of wise, progressive
and patriotic statesmen The conven
tiou that framed the constitution of
Pennsylvania was composed of some of
her very best men-men such as Jere S.
Black, Waynea MaeVeagh and many
others eminent bari isdon, ability and
experience. Il 4 sention of Georgia
was also compeseuof some of its most
able aud progressive statesmen-sneh
men Ms Tooinbs. Jenkins and many 9th
ers Georgia is a southern state and
stands to day the foremost in the front
rank of southern states in financial and
Industrial prosperity. Law aud order
prevail there, and all classes of society
feel the happy effects of the prevailing
state of things. And this is 50 notwith-
standing the fact that the enormous
public debt of that state, created In
large part, as that Of Louisiana was
created, through fraud and corruption,
has been reduced within reasonable
proportions by reputation Now. what
have We borrowed from Georgia that is
not as good for us as for her-that Ia
not applicable to eur system of laws
and to eur coadition-We should like
to knew!
The Governor objects to the Judiciary
system. 1t seems TO us to be a coed
one It is simple--more so thar that
of many ether states that are noted for
the excellence of their Judiciary The
feature in the system adopted by our
constitution, with which Lanisianians
are not familiar, is the court of appeals
Just such court as the UaiEed States
Congress is about introducing into the
federal judiciary. The only objection,
we think. that can be reasonably urged
to this court in LouisiaHa, ia that its
jurisdiction is too limited. We agree
with the Governor In this. and thiuk
with him that it should be increased.
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