The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1885-10-24
THR SEWN CONSTITUTIONS on LOUISIANA.
THE SEVENTH.

such amendments as Tie Legislature
might, by vote Of two thirds Ut ghe
members elected to both Houses,
with approval of the Governor,
lrecommeud, and submit each
amendment separately, 10 the eIec
Tors for approval or rejection at the
lnext general election.
Several amendments were SO
recommended by the Legislature,
land approved Of by the electors.
Iii 1879, however, the Legislature,
lat its extra session, passed an act,
! approved Jannar5 %, whiehenacted;
I"tbat i'm election OF delegates to
meet ii Convention 70 frame q new
4 Constitution Of The State shall be
held on Tuesday the 18Th March,
1892
| The act allowed the qualified
electors Of tho State no expression
Of their desire Or objection to such
Convention, through an election for
/ that purpose to be held, either
! previous tO The election d delegates,
4 as insthe instance OF The Convention
lcf 1852, on simultaneously, as in the
instances OF the onyentions OF 1864
band 1868. III this regard the Con
veAtion Of 1879 VAS convoked as
WAS that Of 1861.
i Apparently fearing las had the
Legislature Of 1922 that the Con
sututionality OF the act might be
questioned, its third section enacted
4 severe penalty foI 'any neglect
or refusal Of the Secretary Of State
| or Auditor 10 count or compile the
returns Of the said eleelioup
The act liked the Dist April, at
n New Orleans, fol the meeting OF the
Convention; and hy a provision,
"that no, pay shall be allowed 10
delegates after sixtg days, nor fol-
I amy recess sought TO contine the
: delegates to a continuous session
4 ior.that length Of time.
0 The Legislature assumed fur
y theI Constitutional power, hy re
! curing, as did the 9Th Section
"Ihat the Constitution framed b.
: said Convention sIall be submitted
10 the people fir then adoption d
rejection In this, it assumed L
itself greater power than had tht
4 Legislatures eonvuSiug the Con
veneous OF 1852 aud 1850; though
thera were precedehts for sael
: assumption Of power III the miutar,
7 ce6er ana Federal Statutes which
respectively, conyoked Tho C0nven
Il tons OF 1854 rod 1868. This Legis
r, laliye assumption Of power, how
II lever, on the organization Of til
Convention, met, through It's Presl
u dent and leading members, wit
y immediate repudiation.
q Agreeable to the acf, on lot
& March 1879, delegates were electe
Who assembled III Convention a
New Orleans gu the 2l4t Apr
p and. during a SESSION OF ninety fuu
= days, framed a Constitution au
Y finally urdaiuad that immediatel
Y after lhe aliouinneht of the Con
Y yention tbe Governor Shall ssu
y his proclamation for an elecu0
npon the first Tuesday IN Deremle
x next, 1879, for the purpose oil cat
u ing the sense Of the good people ,
% this state IN regard to tile adoplio
70. or rejection of this Convention
1t the sid good people consisting {
h all persons entitled To vote undo
the Constitution Of 1868, said que'
D ti0n Of adoption or rejection o Q
3 determined, not by a ulaj0latN .
n ali persons entitled 70 vote thvreon
/. but simply SIS Q majority OF All Ga
/. votes given,
Z rs tile eleetion thus held, tn
I neutrality-suspicious. to have bee
ratified, proclamation was made b
! The Governor, (deposed by IFS pr,
M visiQn) uhuy .heneeiottl CHS Con
a stitatIoa Shall be established as th
e Constitution Of the state Of Loul
il. lana
~ II is, Therefore, indiSputahle ths
II the present Constitution was i,
ID framed Gin strict conformity viii
the provisions providing iorschang,
u in tue superseded Constitution I
q 1865.
Y Indeed, when it is borne in min
y that The act conveping the Conve
q ton was unauthorized bA the Co
Y stitution, aud had received no dire
( authority from the electors, a
y nominally at least, the prceeedil
~ Conventions Excepting that oflS6l
had, the assumption Of derive
y power from the electors, or !
II termed, "ilom Inc people, by Il
n Convention Of 1879, approached,
= ttimeS, extreme arrogance.
- Among the 1lst utteraueeS OF Il
i3 President OF the Convention ia IL
y" opening address was the claim:
4, The sovereign constituents az Tie comm,
tAN wealth have delegated 20 as, ont nf their
herent power and sovereign prerogativ
pleuary and anqaeslioned authority "a fra
Ut a constitution which shtl be aseoyenaut
hc league and perpetual compact between ea
/, tsHaeH anu U,l other citizoue u8til the pe0l
r sbai again see Fiji 10 recall their duivrat