Year: 1863




We cannot lind better illustration of the
recklessness of rsdcalism. and its disregard of
truth aod reason, then is furnished in the attempt
to destroy the State of Louisiana and bring her
into the Union as Territory, or a new State
with new constitution. There is loud outcry
of aboitionists against any attempt 10 revive
what they call "the old pro-slavery constitution
Of Louisiana" The attempt is made TO convey
to the public mind the idea that men who desire
to have Louisiana resume her status in the Union
as the old State of Louisiana, desire it because
the constitution is prO-slavery, and that by re
tanning the old constitution they will retain
slavery. Nothing could be more untrue. The
various constitutions Of Louisiana never con
tained one word on the subject of slavery, recog-
nzing, establishing. or controlling IL. The con-
stitutioD of the State of Louisiana adopted in
1852, which is to-day the law Of that State, above
all other law except that of the United States,
does not mention slavery, and is in no possible
sense of the word "pro slavery" The system
of slavery in Louisiana is not dependent on the
constitution at all. The subject is under the
control OF the people of the State, who, by their
ordinary channels of legislative action, may, II
they choose, provide for It's removal or modifica
ton. IL is in the same condition as any other
system of property-holding, and the laws which
regulate il are subject to legislative revision or
repeal at the will of the people.


Why then do the radicals want to overthrow
that constitutionS For what reason do they de
sire to have new convention to adopt a new
constitution and make a new State of Louisiana?
Ii is not impossible that an answer to this ques.
ton may not be found in Title III, Article IL of
the Constitution, which puts a large stumbling
block in the way of certain radical plans for
managing elections. The article provides that
'no soldier. seaman, or marine in the army. OF
navy Of the United States,
ball ho l.I all a.
State This may be "a difficulty in the way OF
plans for controlling elections in Louisiana, which
causes the loud outcry of radicals down there
against the ''pro slavery constitution" as they
call it, and they probably desire TO force abo-
lition constitution on the people.


At the present time the city of New Orleans is
governed with full recognition of the constitu-
ton of 1852 as an existing instrument All the
courts of civil and criminal jurisdiction ia the city
are dependent on that constitution for their
power If there is such crime murder. such
process as the foreclosure of mortgage or all
action for the collection of debt-if there are any
remedies or safeguards for property or person
by the interposition Of the courts OF
law, these wholly due to the present
existing validity of the Constitution OF 1882 and
the fact that Louisiana is to day State, in the
United States, by that Constitution. We arc
well aware that the legal argument is of no i'm
portance to the radicals They trampe on Law
and constitutions with needless feet. To attain
plunder and spoils of Office, to destroy the South
ern States and keep them from ever becamiDg
voting members of the Union. the abolition par
ty will do anything against law. But our reader:
should know the facts in cases like this, and
therefore we assure them that notwithstanding
the loud outcry of abotionists against the olC
"pro- slavery" Constitution of louisiana anC
against those who wish to bring the State int
the Union under it, there is not one word about
slavery in it, nor one provision from beginning tc
end which can prevent the people of Louisiana
from abolishing slavery whenever they choose
The outcry of the sbolitionists is therefore in
tended 10 deceive. and, like great deal else ths
they do, unfoundei in reason or in truth.-[Nev
York Journal of Commerce