The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1897-07-14
CONSTITUTIONAL CONEEN-
TION.

When the Legislature assem-
bIei in regular session at Baton
Rouge last May, the State had
Just passed through the throes OF
one Of the most exciting elections
! known in its history. A number
Of amendments to the c0usliu-
ton, several of them meritOri0nS.
among them those restricting the
right of suffrage and comforting
tauthority upon the Legislature to
pension Confederate Veterans, had
lust been defeated at the polls, be.
cause of the intense party rancol
which prevailed and the ira mp.iDg
under foot Of party principle by
the different candidates TO secure
the illiterate vote. The result de-
monStrated conclusively that the
constitution could not he amended
in such manner. 1t was univer.
sally conceded, both before and at
ter the election. that some Tevis
ion was imperatiVcly demanded,
especially i'll regard to a limita.
ton upon the right Of suffrage, re-
dnction Of judicial expenses, etc.
The Democratic press of the State
immediately began to lombard the
Legislature, indeed, was practical
! " unanimous in favor of calling a
constitutional convention. The
Legislature respOnde to this pep
ular sentiment, as reflected through
the public journals, by the pas
sage of he act which we publish
for the benefit and guidance Of yo-
ters. While opposed to limited
constitutional convention, bcliev-
ing that The delegates when assem-.
bled in convention, deriving their
authority directly from the peo
pie, are supreme and sovereign;
yet recognizing the exigency with
which the Democratic party was
confronted at the time. and being
Of the opinion that Il half loaf is
better than no bread at all, the
LOUISIANA DEMOCRAT counseied
the call and has not yet heard any
substantial reason advanced why
the convention should be defeated.
We thought at the time aud are of
the same opinion still, that III ed
ucatiOnal restriction upon the ex.
ercise of the elective franchise, if
no Other subjects needed revision,
WIS sufficient to justify the Legis
lature in calling a convention, no
matter What the expense. 1t is
true that the new election law has
eliminated small per ceutage OF
the lllltcratc vote, which will b.
somewhat increased by the opera
ton Of the new registration law,
but not to the extent desired. A
limited suffrage is absolutely es-
sential to an intelligent admins
trAtlon OF government aud a heal
thy body polite. Our influence.
however limited it may be, shall
ever be eXertcd in favor of such
contamination. We commend to
our leaders a careful perusal and
preservation of the act.
Section l. Be it enacted Ivy the
General Assembly Of the State of
Louisiana, that there shall be sub
mitted to the duly qualified cleo
tors OF the State, ut al election to
be held on the second Tuesday OF
JANUARY, 1888, for their approval
or rejection, Il proposition to hold
convention to frame a new con.
Stltution for the State, upon the
following terms and conditions,
to wit:
|. The said convention shall be
held in the City Of New Orleans.
on the second Tuesday of Februa.
ry, 1898.
That said convention shall con.
sist of one hundred aud thirty.foul
delegates, ninety.elght Of whom
shall be elected from the parishes
and representative districts as now
provided for in the representation
in the House of Representatives.
and thirty six shall be elected from
the State at large.
=. The said convention shall
have full power to frame and
adopt, without submission to the
people, a new constitution for the
State provided, however, that the
salh convention shall be and is
hereby prohibited from enacting
orhalning or framing any article