St. Landry democrat., 1883-08-11
Sometimes robbery is committed un-

| oOmeJliueS IODDcTy Is CoHIlitttu I'LL
der the forms of law. Sometimes good
acts are done without the forms of law.
But neither is to be recommended, in
affairs of government. Therecentlevee
convention was called by the Governor
for the purpose of authorizing him to
use the $166,S55.37 lying in the treasury
to build the lcyees. The money was
for that purpose, but an appropriation
by the legislature was necessary to make
/ it's use legal: but while awaiting the
appropriation there would be no work
done on the levees. The convention
recommended that the Governor should
| do good act in an illegal manner. 1t
| is a bad precedent. Public funds should
not be tempered with. The gentlemen
| who composed the levee convention
may be able, by their influence, to elect
a legislature who will make the &c post
facto appropriation, but such leglsla-
ture, will represent them, not the people,
and will act in violation of the constitu-
ton. Besides, in the same way, a legis-
lature might be elected to plumber the
treasury outright. The building of the
levees should not be at the expense OF
violated constitution. Judge w. b.
Robertson of this State, has published
| some extracts from the constitution,
| which fit this case exactly. We append
them, with hiscomments. The Govern
| or has no right to use the levee money
| on the recommendation of a convention;
and it will be seen by Act 46, below,
that the General Assembly cannot le-
galize his action, if he should use it:
Act 43.-No money shall be drawn
from the Treasury, except in pursuance
OF specific appropriations, made by law,
etc.
Act 44.-The General Assembly shall
have no power to contract or to author
ize the contracting of any debt Or liabil-
ity on behalf OF the State, OF to issue
any bonds or other evidence of indebt-
edness thereof, except for the purpose
of repelling invasion or for the suppress
sion of Instruction.
Act 45.-The General Assembly shall
have no power to grant or to authorize
any parish or municipal authority TO
grant any extra compensation, Zee or al
lowance to public officer, agent, SER
want or contractor, nor pay nor author
ize the payment of any claim against
the State, or any parish or municipality
of,the State, under any agreement or
contract made without express authority
of law and all such authorized agree
ments or contracts shall be null and
void.
Act 46.-The General Assembly shall
not pass any local or special law on the
following specific objects:
Legalizing the unauthorized or inval- |
id acts OF any officer, servant or agent
of the State, or any parish OF municipal
ity thereof.
Act 5G.-The funds, credit, property, |
or things o1 value OF the State or of any |
political corporation thereof shall not |
be loaned, pledged or granted to or for |
any person or persons, association OF
corporation, public or private.
Mr.. Editor, it is dangerous to have
such n large sum OF money as as $780, |
s55.37 lying idle in the Treasury and |
more coming from time to time. Every /
tax payer and other parts of the State |
are interested in this fund, and would |
be glad to see what the Democratic par
ty and the Democratic press have to say |
on the subject, as these articles of the |
Constitution cover the whole ground of |
these resolutions, (of the Leyee conyen-
tion).
WIN. B. ROBERTSON.