The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1885-10-17
THR SEVEN CONSTITUTIONS or LOUISIANA.
THE ONE OF 1868.

The State and Municipal govern.
ments established by the Oonstitu-
tons of 1861 and 1864 were Of
precarious character; each depend
ing entirely upon power the Federal
and Confederate governments tosuS
tam them. the extent of their
respective territorial Jurisdictions
changed with the hae separating
the opposing armies.
The authority OF the Constitution
OF 1861, of course, ceased With the
collapse Of the Confederate govern
meut in 1865. During;its existence,
it's validity received full recognition
Ivy the Richmond government.
Under it, representative aud
senators were chosen IaIa admitted
to the GoHfederategCon
Tire government established by
! the Constitution of 1864, was not
so fortunate. While congressman,
elected from the Isl and 2na Con
gresSional Districts, under the proc
lamation OF Geo, +. Shipley, Military
i Governor OF Louisiana, ordering an
election to be held on he Sd Deoen
Der, 1852, according to the existing
laws and the Constitution OF 1862,
were admitted by the House OF
Representatives oEthe Uiited5tate&,
lihe ,Constitui !on of 1854, and the
COVE lment- ablishea hereunder,
were never fully rcc9g nztd by any
iDepariulent oil the Federal govern
meitt. (.
Tbe Senator's. Charles iSmi,h,
| r.. K. Odiler) chosen at its first Sc
| sion, (Noy. 1864, as those, Ran
dan, Hunt and Henry Boyer, chosen
| 1t The extra session OF December
,llS65) were refused admission by tlie
Senate OF the United Sites. In
dseti, though The proclamation Of
tPresident JOHNSON of tho 2nd Apr
l1966, declared that! s'the insurrecIiol
{ which heretofore existed in thu
State of Louspina,n and other lebe
. States, is at an end and is hetice
3 forth to be SO. re sa1ded," yet, even
0 subsequently,, it was expressly de
{ clared and reiterated by Congress
in the several acts known AS th'
4 Reconstruction acts, aud as TIL
main grounds 1tlleret0r, that 'li'
legal State governments OF adequate
= lprOteclion for. life or property nov
/, lexiSt In the State of Louisiana" ant
: other rebel States. (''Act to prd
i vide for more efficient government
of the rebel States, approved Marcl
2, 1867, and act supplemental.
$ thereto of March %, 1859 AM
q by another supplementary act G
July 10, 1867, 1t twas declared t
have been the true intent and meaT
- ing Of" those acts 'tthat the govern
= ments then existing in" LouiSian
and the other rebel States were nO
% legal governments, and that there
3 after said governments, itcontinuet
were to be continued subject III a
respects to the military cummanC
% ers of the respective districts, All
le to the paramount authority of Con
Ie gress.'
Under this authority the GovernO
n elected under, the constitution {
a 1864, was, in 1867 removed by til
IF commanding general; and ahotbt
Ie appointed in his place; and Who'll
turn and like manner, was replace
by another.
r Tie constitution of 1864 neve
~ especially after its jurisdiction e>
Is tended throughout the State, ms
rs with popular favor
The Legislature, at its session {
1867, first declaring, by preamble
VI as constitutional right, that ''th
"a people. have right to asS,mble i
81 Convention whenever they. ma
IL deem Convention to be uecessar
to remodel their organic law
IN nassrd an act, so take the sens
o. of the people on the expectancy I
II, calling Convention to torn
y. Constitution, and to provide for I'll
10 election of Delegates, and for til
holding of the Convention"
The act provided for all electio
OF on the second Monday OF April 1856
~ ''fOr the purpose of receiving Il
81 votes of the qualified voters OF I'll
US State for or against the calling Of
", Convention to form a Constitute
oi for this State, and for Il
election of delegates to silt
ut Convention Ii the majority
We votes should be in favor OF 500
u vention," the delegates, so chose
at were to meet in New Orleans OH ii
90 Isl Monday of May following. Til
IN act was vetoad by the governC
lly and, on. the q Feo. 1857, was pass,
over his veto by the constitution
majority of two.thirds Of the nuI
nv bel OF the Senate and House. A0
m' ever, this act was repealed by !
Tic act approved the 2Sth March f,
lei lowing. This repeal Was owing
~ the passage of the RESPONSIVENESS
~ Acts OF Congress OF t.e Dad and =
SlA Of March, by which the exiStil
les State government WAS declared
be mot a legal government
~ 1.