St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-07-19
Unwarrantable Use Of the Veto Powe,

= conceit seem to be the order of the day
Q This is typically illustrated in the re
9 cent action of the Governor of thi
State, who, although a lawyer by pro
!, fesslon, has closed his eyes to the plai
letter and manifest spirit Of article 25
OF the Constitution, and has interpose,
his gubernatoral authority in a matte
| that Ill no way concerns bim and il
: which he had no right whatever to taks
part. An ordinary law is a matter be
tween the General Assembly and the
Governor, and will not meet with The
requirements of the Constitution TN
less referred to him, but a proposition
to amend the Constitution is question
which lies between the General Assem-
bly, and the people of the State, the only
State official who has any act to per.
form in the matter being the Secretary
OF State, who is required to make the
necessary PRONUNCIATION.
When a law is clear and free from
ambiguity you cannot go aside from it's
letter under the pretence of pursuing
its spirit. Previous to the adoption of
the Constitution of 1870 the Governor
possessed many powers which he can
not assume now. The delegates assem-
bled together in that convention, no
doubt fearing the encroachments of the
executive upon the liberties of the peo-
pie, determined to denude him of many
of his former privileges and thus pre-
vent narrow minded Governor from
trampling upon the rights of the peo-
pie. Formerly he had the right of ap-
pointing tax collectors all over the
State. This he cannot do now. He
also had the right to pardon criminals.
This is now placed in the hands of the
Board of Pardons, without whose sauc-
tion the Governor cannot act Pursuing
this same spirit, the delegates of the
convention of 1870 deemed it uuwise to
accord to the Governor any right to act
10 matters and things wherein PROPOSE
tions would be made to amend the Con-
stftution, and yet, in The face of these
admonitions made by the people to the
Governor, bis Excellency, the present
executive, has seen fit to reject the
plain provisions of article 25G and to |
obtrude himself before the people in
manner that certainly reflects upon his
intelligence as a lawyer.
A singular part of the action of Gov
ernor Nichols was the Withholding the
matter for the full five days, hoping
and trusting no doubt in his partisan
zeal that some SUCH contingency might
happen as did occur, and that in this
way he could defeat measure against
which he was so violently opposed
Was this just and fair dealing on the
part of the executive? He certainly
lid not require five days to act on this (
natter he cannot say that other mat
ers engrossed bis attention, because
his being the most important matter
lending before nim should have re-
eived his earliest attention. He did ,,
lot require five days to again utter his r
tereotyped objections to this measure,
vas made up, and he could easily have c
eturned the bill within few hours C
fter it was submitted to him. There t
an be no doubt that the Governor of {,
he State of Louisiana has violated both
he letter and spirit of article 256 of the
constitution, which clearly implies that "
IL propositions to amend the Constitu- n
on, whether presented in the form of p
concurrent resolution, or in the shape p
an act, are to be confided only to the n
eperal Assembly and the people of
lr State. u
That such will be the conclusions =
'ached by the judiciary there can be se
at little doubt, and Governor Nichols b.
mself may yet he adjudged to be far
ON infaIlible in his legal conclusions. W