The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1897-05-29
SATURDAY. NAY 20, 1897.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL CON
VENiION.

Much has been written anent the
constitutional convention which may
or may not be held next year. Some
newspapers have even circulated tile
report that al extra session of the
legislature would be called. to abro-
gate the call issued BY the legislature.
alleging the foolish reason tor mel il
course that "the powers that be" are
afraid that the constitutional eonven-
tian will legislate them out Of office.
Much more has been said and written
pro and con a limited constitutional
convention ; and some Of the aigu-
mentsadvanced 10 some quarters on the
subject prove n thing couclus;yely
and that is, their authors have rot
even taken the trouble 10 post them
selves on SO Important q matter.
The SENTINEL proposes to discuss
the subject of the constitutional CON
ventioH and To analyz re the various
clauses OF the act relating to it, So as
to place the matter cleari, hefure its
readers, that they may be in a posi-
ton to pass upon it ip~telligently when
the time CON 81 FOR them To act.
Act No. 81. approved july z, 1893,
provides that '.there shall be submit
ted to the qualified voters Of the state
at All election to be held On the second
Tuesday of January, 1896, for their
approval or rejection, q proposition to
hold a convention to frame a new con-
stitutioI for the State," upon certain
terms and conditions (which we shall
state and discuss further on
Thus, it appears that the proposition.
itself, whether we shall. hav. il consti-
tuti0nal convention is to bo determ-
iDed by the people themselves at an
election held for that particular pur-
pose. The people will h- called upon
to vote for two things for d conyen-
ton or against a convention. and for
delegates 10 O convention. to serve
only in the ever that the majority of
the people decide, at that election, in
favor OF a convention to frame a new
constitution, 1t is. therefore, manifest
that whatever constitutional conven-
ti0n We may have will he one called
by the people themselves. Now. the
proposition submitted t. tue people IL
one Tor a limited CONSTITUTIONAL con-
vantlOn, or TO be o pisef e, a con
etitutional convention witl, limited
powers, restrained from ae - on GER
certain subjects sueeifialt7 sI forth in
the proposition itself, attet they are
called to Gpprove OF III ct. It il,
therefore. equally clea. = nnce the
proposition is ad ptta IL me people.
the Limitations are Imi eatlens put
upon the powers of the !. l.gates by
the people themselves. iat delegates
are simply the peoples C., vested
with such powers a. .4ra specially
granted them. They their Gre
debtlais cam Q ahd s14sst respect
the limitations lmpesesI pon their
powers by their plincip si4mselves.
or incur the odinm OF IN i5#. IS agents.
These are s+lf-erldet ss5s positions.
b mere statement ~ III carries
conviction.
Tie act provides t, A54. cnnven-
ton snail be- held IN tl,s J i of New
Orleans, on the secnntt lesday of
February. 1896. and ilta i shall he
comapaat of 1874 delegates. SO of whom
shall ie elected from the t-.,ishes and
representative districts IL now provi |
ded for 10 the House Of Representa-
tives, and 36 shall DO elected for the
State at large.