Year: 1879

the remotest possibility Of defeat t
, the machinatio1s and secret plottings
of its enemies: :: They would say thai


this was a crisis when their representa-
tives should have thrown themselves


into the breach and have saved the
constitution at no matter what personal


risk. What the people would do, IL


they were here en- mosse, their repre-.
sentatives were bound to do.


l am aware that in making this mo-
tion and advocating it, may lay my
self open to attack, but would con-
slider myself unworthy of scat upon


this floor, If personal considerations
weighed with me feather in the bal
lance against what consider Is for the
interest and welfare Of the people. I
know it may be said In certain quar-.
ter, that I am afraid of referring the
constitution to the people-that am


afraid of the people. I am not afraid
of the people. But 1 will tell gentle


men Of whom I am afrafd. am afraid
of the Office holders am afraid of the
mon whose income depends upon the
rejection Of this constitution. do not
pretend to say thst other men in simi-
lar circumstances, would act differently.
There, too, may be men among them
who are above all considerations of
self. But it must not be forgotten that
they have the means of welding some
power. There are forty-six parish
judges ); twelve or fifteen judges OF a
higher grade, five judges Of the supreme
court, clerks of court in every parish,
whose life tenure to Office is to be swept
away. Look at the enormous salaries
that are to be effected. The independ-
ence OF these functionaries from any
restraint, save their own will and plea
sure. Why, they have privileges that
are better than titles to nobility. There
are among them men of great abilities,
and the influence of these men, per-
sonal and official, run through all the
qualifications of society. II is with this
serted body of Office holders that the
struggle is to be had that the private
citizen is to contend, to wrench from
them their extraordinary privileges,
and to establish more equal state OF
things through a reformed constitution.
do not wish to be understood rs attri-
buting bad motives to them. Some
may be found among them who are
exceptions to the general rule. 1t is
their combination that fear, in refer
ring the constitution. II it were possi-
ble, no Office holder should be allowed
to vote upon a question in which he is
uifectiy interested. L wish to save the
people from contest in so unfair an
arena. 1 do not wish to hazard the
verdict of the people already pro-
nounced, that the old system OF official
abuses in this State should be abolished.
In three days we can make the consti-
tuition the supreme law OF the land.
Every interest and every section of the
State is fairly represented, and the con-
stitution has been fully discussed. II
the matter be kept in agitation, it may
possibly be lost; ut any rate, it will DO
exposed to the hcrculean resistance of
its enemies, if not openly, il will be
done covcrtly and in the dark. With
due Difference for those political friends
who are like myself, steadfast in tho
cause Of reform, throw out these sug-
gestions. I have lately returned from
the country and 1 found the people
anxious that We should adopt the con-
stitution, and put it Immediately in
vigor. I have no doubt that this is the
desire of the great body of tho people.
The duration OF this body has been ex-
tended much longer than it was anti
cipated, it has adjourned from one
place to another, and there has been n
tcvcrish anxiety that its labors should
be consumated and placed beyond all
possible contingencies. Whatever may
be the result, am satisfied have done
nv duty,