The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1896-06-03
y Constitutional Convention Can
Not b., Limited.

'lrfe Is no necessity for til
c0nVocatlDn of a constitutions
convention, for the Legislature j
or ought to be legally competrn
to frame and adnpt IN organic law
at least, so far as the permissibI
subjects are concerned. withou
the Intervention of an expressly,
ami aS it appears TO US, an cutirul,
unnecessary intermediary.
In our opinion, constitutional
convention is supreme aud sover
"'gn III its power and authorit,
ana cannot be controlled, restrict
ed or limited by legislative action
Senator Roman, a memb Der of Til,
Citizens League, has framed an,
introduced ii bill for Il cons,itn
tlonal convention, which if il met
with our appreciation in other re-
Spects, is open to the above obiec
ton, ass shown by the following
SECTIONS:
Sec. 4 BE it further enacted.
etc, That the said delegates duly
elected to said convention shall b,
limited in their actions, delibera
'lops and notifications to the ar
icI' y Of the present constitution
relative to, and touching upon the
io.lowing topics or subject matter:
First Articles relative to right
+ Suffrage.
Srcon,l-ArticleS ordering city
Zee ions to he held on sanu da,
- state elections.
T''ir''- Articles rpscrihingm mod,
md time of submitting ronstitu
'lonal amrndmrntS to the people.
FoGrll,-Articles limiting ex
'InplionS from taxation.
t'liiti-ArtIcleS relative to the
,lx'lg Or removal of the capital OF
lie State.
Sixth-Artlclcs prohibiting mn
nIcip"!itlrS from icvying special
taxes for school pnrposrS.
Seventh -Alticir> relative t.
power and duty 81 the general as.
>rn,b:v in the matter of the cleo
Gl"u Vt governor and lieutenant
Io,trn",, and alI articles relative
TO con1es &c! election for the fol.
towing general state filters: Coy.
crhur, lieutenant governor, secrt,
'ary Of site, aunilor, ATTORNEY
general, treasurecand supelinlend
rht ct public education.
See. .. Be it further enacted.
etc, That the delegates 50 select
Il TO said convention shall abi,le
~ aI;d obey lie limitations Of pow
~ IMPOSED upon them 10y the pre-
ced!nS article, aud shall not ament.
lie present constitution in amy
'iiIer articles than the one herein
ihovc previously and specially
nres' ribe', but shall have the
power and authority, hereby grant
ed, to incorporate the new articles,
by them framed, into the present
constitution, and these new arti
lies, 80 framed, together with the
'ther articles of the present con
'li,u'ion by them specially left un-
shall constitute the new
constitution of the State OF Louis.
sIana, which said delegates shall
md are hereby empowered to
'dopt, without submitting same
o the people for ratification.
If We are to have a constitution.
i convention at all, it must be en-.
ireiy unrestricted, untrammrlcd
nd left absolutely free to amend
ny article of the present consiitu.
ion or adopt an entirely new or
anlc instrument, us in the judg.
tent, discretion and wisdom of
he members may be deemed nee
ssary.
Mr.. Romaii's bill is vicious and
lould be so declared by the leg.
lature. "A limited constitution.
convention would be not only a
rec, burlesGue and travesty up.
4 the rights, powers and duties
such Il body, but an absolute
Utility.