The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1885-10-17

under the Constitution of 1864,
being "every achite male over
twenty one, resident Of the stale
and citizen of the United States"
while Congress submitted the ques-
ton of a Convention, and the cleo
ton of delegates, to "the male
citizpns of said State, twenty one
wears old aud upward, Of acIIGtenef
race, color or precious condition, VINO
have been respleut in sad State for
one wear previous to the day OF
sn, Ii election, ercept such as may be
disfauchis ed for participation in
tie rebellion"
Tie Legislature required the cleo
7 ton to be'held hi accordance with
the State law. Congress entrusted
the Commanding General of the
Department, with. tile appointment
ofthe Board ofregistration of voters,
and determining the moGe If hold
ing the election, and making re-
turns thereof: =
Nor did Congress simply consider.
Louisiana to have no valid ColrSti.
tuition, and no proper State ma
fchinery for the convocatitm Of q
Convention to form one, which, as
in case of territories, these, so
term,d, reconstruction acts were to
supply; leaving the people, through
such Convention. FREE to determine
the form and character Of then
organic law, with the usual sole
cOndit on that it hauld be- repub
lican in form. Further, and ex
, rcpiionai, conditions were imposed
These conditions wire; that ''sucl
Constitution shall provide thar thu
elective franchise Shall be enjoye,
, by ali IN L. cItiztns of.said state
(. tive ~ one yeals old and upward
!, of whatever race, eaior or previous
? condition; and that sid State, b,
. avore GIFTS legislature elected unde'
said Constitution, shall. vead0ptet
r the amendment TO the Constitution
i of the United States, proposed by
= the Both Congress, and known a
J, article fourteen, and tChen said al
= ticle shall become part of the Cou
-. sJitution of the Unit ed States, SAT-
!, State shall DE declared entitled t
! representation in Congress, AM
I 4 Senators and Representatives shal
Y bp admitted. therefrom on thei
! taking the oath prescribed b. ldU
and then and thereafter the pre-
y ceediag sections of tins. act shall b
- imperative IN said State"
i Though under the conditions a
: the time surrounding the insure
- tiOnary States and the Federi
!, government, it maybe questionahl
- whether thus mode OF forming
\ State Constitution found warral
~ in the Constitution OF the Unite
70 States, as commended by a majOrit.
v, " of two thirds, of both Houses {
- Congress, or was III conflict with
=, aS contended by President JohnSo
!" - it would be mere cavil to claim Fl
- il warrant III any Of the pre- existin
= Constitutions OF Louisiana.
~ 1t was, however, under the pr
= visions Of these acts Of Congre
~ that the Convention which form,
= the Coas ilution of 1868 was Col
: voked; the senSe of tho electoT
~ declared as such by the acr, as to
~ Couveltioa taken, aud dele%art
ta thereto chosen; the Constitution
aU " it'll the required conditions, franz
y, the election for its ratification, STA
~ officers and members of the Legi
~ Iature, held; the approval 10y %
- gress of the Constitution; Il
- adoption by the Legislature of Il
a. 14th amendment, amt, finally, Il
- estate declared entitled to repr
&c seatation in Congress, and Senate
" and Representative admitted theI
FROM
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