St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1882-08-26
EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENT OF 20.
LICE JURORS.

lClIiHS joNCi upOu lIiC VONCIIOl W
appoint the Police Jurors throughout
the State was incidentally alluded to.
A brief history Of recent legislation on
this important subject will be useful
and suggestive.
La the spring of 1877, the Nichols
government, then engaged in a despe-
rate and doubtful struggle to establish
itself, thought it necessary to place I'M
der democratic control the police juries
OF the republican parishes. Hence, on
the 10th OF April, 1871 the legislature,
by act No. 81, gave the governor an-
thority to appoint five additional po-
lice jurors III each parish. This was an
extreme measure, so admitted at the
time, but justified on the ground of ex-
listing political necessity. The same
act, however, recognized the right of
the people to elect these officials, and
providing for it thereafter, by declar-
ing, section 3, THAT the election for
and Constables shall be held in each
ward, at the same time as the general
election, etc.
1t was the entering wedge, and like
all usurpation Of the peoples rights,
under the plea OF necessity, it has been
followed by other acts, in the same di-
rection, not defensible upon any honest
plea whatever.
On the 18th March, 1880, the Wilt ad-
ADMINISTRATION, having in the mean time
succeeded that Of Governor Nichols,
the legislature passed act No. 81, which
provided THAT the term OF Office of all
police jurors in this State, shall termi-
nate on the first Monday of April, eigh-
teen hundred and eighty and that it shall
be the duty OF the Governor Immediate
fn at ta, thk, ,1r1r of cf h,
appoint their successors by and with
the advice and consent of the SEN
ate and then, as if to apologize for the
unwarrantable act, the Legislature
again admitted the right of the people
to elect these officers az future, by pro-
viding, THAT the police jurors appoint
ted III pursuance with the provisions of
the foregoing section shall hold their
offices until the next general eection.n
The ring that had formed around
Wilt and that unfortunately con-
trolled him, intending to have the full
benefit OF the local patronage, which
these appointments would give to its
members personally, dictated the ap-
pointments, the Governor, even had he |
been disposed to do SO, having been cut |
off from all opportunity to consult with |
the wishes OF the people Of the parishes,
NY VIC requirement. tHdC 1iC SuUuiu dp-
point immediately. The writer does not
know what personal benefits the other
constitutional advisers of the executive
reaped. In this parish, Senator Rob-
ertsOn has secured the office of Parish |
Treasurer from the police jury so ab-
pointed, and doubtless will hold it until |
the year 1888, under the new police-ju-
Ty-tenure OF Office -perpetuating-
act, just freshly promulgated as law,
and which is given in full, so that the
people of this parish who take this pa
per, may have in their possession for
future reference and use.
No. 94.]
ANACT
Relative to police juries and to the
appointment of police Jurors until the
general election of 1888.
Section 1. Be it enacted by tile Gene
raj Assembly OF the State OF Louisiana.
That it shall be the duty of the Cover
Office Of police jurors appointed under
act No. 80 Of the General Assembly of
1880, Improved March II, 1880, to APP
point their successors by and with the
advice and consent of the Senate.
Sec. 2. Be it further enacted, etc,
That the police jurors appointed in pur-
suance with the provisions of the fore
going section, shall hold their offices
until the general election Of 1883. In
case any police juror shall remove from
the ward from which he may have been
appointed, his Office shall be ipso tacto
vacant, and the Governor shall be, and
is hereby authorized to fill any vacancy
that may occur from death, resignation
or other cause.
(Signed) r. N. OGDEN,
Snoo lyap nf+ h< ,f |
GEO. L. WALTON,
President Pro TEN. of the Senate.
5. D. MCENERY,
Governor of the State of Louisiana.
APPROVED July 5, 1852.
mus 1t appears, that the promise
made by the Nichols administration
was deliberately broken by the Wilt
and that the renewed
pledges given by that government for
a respectful treatment Of the people in
the future, have been deliberately vio- |.
lated by the McEnery government.
But the last offense is the most fragrant
and offensive of all. 1t is more. 1t sets
at defiance not only the fundamental
principles OF democratic government
with which every intelligent boy ought
to be familiar, but it overrides contemp-
tuOusly the letter and spirit of the con-
itself. This aspect of the
question, and the remedy reserved to
the people, will be treated in a subse-
Iuent number.
In concluding this paper it is prop
or to observe, that the question is not
effected by the quality OF the executive
made, and to be made.
So tar as this parish is concerned, gen.
tlen,an have been appointed with whom
l' fault is to be found. They are in
] ltial and representative citizens.
principal involved is, that it
gighto of the people to elect their
&c jurors, and to take away from
the right and confer it upon
governor, is an assumption that