The delegates first gathered at Jackson, in July of 1844. After accomplishing little, they adjourned, and reconvened in New Orleans on January 14 at the St. Louis Hotel. Once again, there was a great city-country divide. New Orleans itself was a divided city, with Creoles in the First Municipality (the French Quarter), Americans in the Second Municipality (upriver), and those in the Third Municipality (down river from the French Quarter).
The constitution reflected a distrust of the legislature and controlling institutions. It set limits on what the legislature could do, and did away with new banks and corporations. The constitution put a limit on state borrowing or holding stock in corporations. It also established free public education for whites, and removed the property requirement for voting. The convention authorized the establishment of a university in New Orleans, the University of Louisiana. It also included a difficult means of modifying the constitution.
The convention ended on May 16, 1845. Voters approved it 12,227 to 1,385.
Journal of the proceedings of the Convention of the state of Louisiana, begun and held in the city of New Orleans, on the 14th day of January, 1845
Rapports officiels des deĢbats de Convention de la Louisiane, James Foullouze, rapporteur.
courtesy of the Historic New Orleans Collection
