The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1897-09-01
MUST ABIDE THE LIMlTA'
TIONS.

cratic press Of the State. Ihey |
are in fine, as to whether the dele
gates elected to compose the con-
veution, are bound by The Ilmlta'
tons imposed by the Legislature
and whether or not, Office holders
are legally eligible to seats i'll the
con yeution. We think that com
mon sense, law and the weight OF
authorities will sustain us III the
contention that each must be an
swercd affirmatively. While we
are opposed on principle to a re-
stricted constitutional convention,
we recognize the Inevitable fact
that it must be limited or we can
rot have Il convention at all. 1t
is universally conceded that the
holding of a convention is OF the
most vital Importance to the Cau-
casian race, not only so far as GER
tain restrictions to be imposed on
the right of suffrage and the revls-
ion of the judiciary Is concerned,
but also in reference to various
other questions, not OF less para
mount Importance to the body pc
| lite. 1t might even I've safely pre-
dicted that the delegates. or IL ma
iority of them, would not be in III
vor of legislating upon or revers'
ing any of the prohibitory sub
jects, had they the authority to do
so. The delegates are required to
subscribe to an oath that they will
abide by the Legislative limitations
-reaffirmed and cOnsecrated by
the people i'll their majesty, power
and sovereignty, if the convention
is carried-otherwise, they cannot
organize a convention, except by
revolutionary methods and an ut
ter disregard of all the formalities
! aud requirements of law. This ct
fectualIy diSposes Of the PROPOSE
ton that the delegates in conven
, ton assembled, could legally take
, any action having tendency tt
F.. vitlate or aunul any Of the liniita
! tons imposed by the Legislative
t will and subsequently ratified b..
j. the people in their sovereign ca
pacity. We are aware of the fac
that sCme few advocates Of villa
we conceive to be al unteuabl
! position, Insist that the delegate
can disregard their solemn oath
by declaration, that an uniolesee
and extraordinary crisis has arise
u in the history Of the State, whic
authorizes them to legislate upo
the prohibited articles aud subn:'
them to the people for ratification
AS the delegates will be fres
y from the people, having been e,,e'
ted in January and will he Gale
=. upon to organize a convention i
4. February, it is scarcely possib1
!. that any question of momcntou
Il import will arise in any such BIZ
l period of time, which had not bee
u exhaustively debated during Il
r. campaign for the election of del
gates. In our opinion, when Il
convention assemblies, it will
found that Il large majority of Il
d delegates, with II profound reve
s, ence for their oathS Of Office, wi
+, organize it on that basis and tn;
10 :: only an insignificant and powerle!
" minority, composed OF anti admi
ye istration Democrats, PopullSts al
e. Republicans, Will ever be heard
X. advocate the adoption Of an e
80 tirely new constitution, inclndil
the prohibited articles and reSu
mission to the people.
m. AS to whether or not Office III
k, ders can legally be elected to al
" occupy seats in the conventiC
ed must be determined By Article I
II, of the constitution of 1870, viii
he we quote as follows:
er "No person shall hold or ex
,e- else, at the same time, more til
IN one Office of trust or profit, exec
nn that of Justice of the Peace Or \
w tary Public"
W. There is no other law or arti
''' Of the constitution regulating Il
"n controverted subject. 1t can OF
d. be determined by a positive aa
10 dica,iou of the Supreme Cou
III The weight Of authorities OF
"s various States, however, sust'
." the affirmative of the prOposi,i
w. 1t is plain, that under Article l
''' an Office holder is eligible to a 8
U.S. in the convention, the only eff