The Feliciana Democrat., April 14, 1855, Image 1

About The Feliciana Democrat. (Clinton, La.) 1855-186?

Image provided by: Louisiana State University; Baton Rouge, LA

                
T E LICIANA DE1MOC T
BY G. ~. REES. : 1 CLINTON, LA. SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 1855, VL' v . 1.
TERMS.
Tim "IFELICIANA DEMOCRAT4 will be
libhed every W I An ST , at TN EE
Dollarp or nanum, payable In a Tdve.a op
oa will rb hrnlshed for FIVE DOLIRS.
Anv3RTfONMICN'I insertwd at One Dolr per esre
T W E V ! lines or lea,) for thein ert
d fifty cents for each subioquont .
The Pee for announcing a candida for oce will
bTEN Dollars, payble advn . REEE.
-CA-DS, PROFESSIO L, &c.
JoeH McViA.Clinton. CIARs. IA. Jackson.
JOHN & CIHARLES VEA,
Attorneys It La
al4 CLINTON AND J KSON. LA.
AMxes Wt. w. sAMYORn.
WELSHi & SAM RD,
Attorneys at
CLI ON LA.
W ILL attend promptly to huines en
trusted to their care in t Parishes of
East and West Fellciana, East ton Rouge,
nd St. Helena.
Orrca in Clinton, on the Ea side of the
ublic S .unr.. a,
W. FERGUS KER N,
A orney ad Consaello t aw
W..ILL ATTEND promptly all busineas
TV intrusted to him in the Pa es os East
Feliciana, and St. Ilenan. L mfr 28
JAMES B. SMIT
Attorney sa oonnsellorI Law
C RON. AA.
W.IILL ATTEND husiness in .t and West
V Feliciana,annd St. HIelena. mar 28
JOHN M. ROBER$,
Attorney at Law,
OrFICE: MAIN STREET.
mar 28 C TON. LA.
BOWMAN & DE E,
Attornies and counsello t Law,
CLINTON, LA.
A LL BUSINESS entrusted their care
1 will be promptly attended to
RzrFRENCzs:-Messrs. Onkey Hawkins,
J. B. Byrne o.
mar 28 N.lOnr.LcAs.
Attornies and counsellort Law,
mar 28 .TON, LA.
JA . FUQUA. . KIR0no:R.
FUQUA &K KILB RNE,
Attorneys at L , L.
-.TILLr practice in the Courtar East and
rV West Baton Rouge, andSt. Helena
Parishes. april 8
HENRY IHAWFOI,
Justice of the Peace k Noty Public,
CLINTON, LA.
Office on the North side of the lic Square.
·---- ----- ---- ----- ·- - --4--- -
JAMES WELSI
Notary Publio and Autoneer.
C, INTON, 14.
~T ILL attend promptly to allusiness en
WT trusted to him.
OPrrJu; North Eaust Corner Othe Public
Square. april 8
DR. F. R. HARV~r,
(ONTINUES the practice of I profession,
C and respectfully tenders his *ices to the
citizens of Clinton anw vicimiity. mnr 28
Da. C. H. PORT,.
DESPECTFULLY offnrs hi rvfessional
services to the citizens of Cion and its
vicinity. He can always be font when not
engaged, at the Drug Store of SanltRn on
Brick Row. Omar 28
E. L. HAYGO000
Auotioneer,---ClintonLta.
W~TILL give prompt attention ithe sale of
SReal Estate and Personal Pbtrty, with.
in the Parish of East Feliciana.
Business solicited. Office: Cli n. a8
OAKEY & HAWK
Factors ani Gn oral Comm!ssoo erchants,
No. 90 GRAVIER ST T,
I NIE RLEANS.
1?EG to offer their services to nters and
IB Merchants, and promise a tion and
promptness to all consignments rusted to
their care, a 8
MICAJAI HARlR
Cotton Factor k Commission erohant,
No, 58 ORAVIER STIET,
mar 27 W r
WM. KEI.NAUHIA
Imaporter, and VWholesale and tetanealer In
Wathhsa, Jewelry, Cuy,
GUNS, PISTOLS, & FANC OOODS,
NO. 65 CANAL STREI
mar 28 NEW THRANR.
Verandah' Hotel,
Corner of Common ond St. Charl treets,
NEW LEANS.
SW Prices reduced to the old S ard..t@
mar 28 JOHN GALPIN, prietor.
8. . DAIEY. EI. . /AI.AILAI.
E. M. DALEY & Cs
Commission & Forwarding Iohants,
AND WLOI.IALF, DEALERIS
WESTERN PROD CE,
67 Tehoupltoulas Street
NOW1 O ANS.
Ur.Liberal advances made on gnments,
The bemooraoy.
*In" spite of the painful spectacle which
the agitated and up-normal state of public
feeling now presents to our country, no one,
conversant with our political history, or who
has observed the sudden reverses that have
befallen the various parties which have
hitherto divided popular opinion and slt'
timent, eatoel any apprehension in regard
to the finaT triumph of Democracy over de
magogucism, of truth and progress over ig
norance and fa ticism. Though at times,
apparently sh ed into fragments, it soon
resumes its p Ine form and strength, its
broken columns wheel into line again, to
present ka firm united front. No, the Dem
ocratic party can never crumble-it is the
corner stone on which rests the fair struc
ture of our Republiaen Government. Like
one of those gigantic piles which loom out
in the horizon, its base, though lashed by the
angry surges oT li sea, stands firm and un
moved, looking on with unconcern, as it
were, on the futile attacks directed against
it; while its apex, reared proudly aloft,
serves as a beacon to the deluded wanderer,
a signal of consolation and of rest to the
oppressed and persecuted of every clime.
Like the Titans of yore, the Democracy,
though worsted in the conflic, rises superi
or to its foe, and derives strength from its
fall. Such has ever been the case, and ]a
son and experience prove it.
We have seen it defeated in 1840, and
sweeping the country in '44. In 1848, the
prestige of a popular name and the gallant
military reputation of the Whig standard
bearer, combined with manifold treacheries
in our ranks, inflicted on it a defeat from
which our opponents thought it would nev
er recover. At that time profound seers
prophesied its downfall, and declared its
power an4influence extinct. Yet, how un
founded were their vaticinations. Who
does notrememher' the tornado which swept
over the land at the last Presidential elec
tion, and the almost unanimous verdict of
the Nation in behalf of Democratic men and
Democratic measures.
As it' was then, so it is now, and so it
will- beI f1i i.-fact which must have at
tracted tlhe attention of every observant
mind, that the Democratic party is never so
powerful as when it appears weak. We
have not forgotten the astonishing fact
which occurred in New Orleans and the
State, at the last Presidential election, and
which is fully corroborative of what we
have just assorted. At that period, the
City Government was in the hands of our
political opponents-the whole police, un
der the direction of an autocracy, was made
to move like a powerful though ponderous
machine, in support of Gen. Scott. They
had acquired some prestig. by the brilliant
victories which they had achieved in elect
ing from the city an almost unanimous Whig
delegation to the State Convention, and in
securing an overwhelming large majority in
the joint branches of the city councils.-
Every thing seemed to prosper and to go on
swimmingly with them. They were conli
dent of success in the City and State, so
muce so, as to offer heavy bets, with heavy
odds on extremely large majorities. The
Democratic party, on the other hand, seem
ed crippled in its resources, unable to stir
and to make an effort. Patronage it had
none to give. All was in the hands of' its'
opponents. Influence? None, except that
which a good cause and sacred principles,
always exert. It prepared itself for the
contest, however; quickly and without os
tentation its faithful followers nerved them
selves to perform yeoman service, trusting
in the judgment ofthe masses and the good
ness of their cause. What was the result?
In spite of their influence, their bribes,
their resources and their patronage, the co
horts of Whiggery were laid low and the
Democracy achieved a noble triumph.
We mention these facts, in connection
with the subject, to remind our opponents,
that the lessons of the past, and the warn
ings of experience should not pass by them
unheeded. We stigmatize as insincere, the
assertion that the Democratic party is no
more. They know it is not. If such was
the case, why do they take so much pains
to trumpet forth their transient victories?
Why do they make such efforts to combine
and fuse with the numerous and nonsensical
"isms" of the day? Why are they so un
scrhpulous in their means to attain their
ends?
The next Presidential contest will show
whether the party is entirely deprived of
vitality, and unable to resist the encroach
ments about to be made on the constitution
of our land by a ruthless band of fanatics.
Then, when the bugle's note shall call us to
the conflict, when the alarm shall sound
from our watch towers, and urge each one
to the support of the redeeming principles
inscribed upon our banner, every American
who loves his country, and contemns a low
spirit of bigotry--every citizen who cher
ishes in his bosom the sacred motto of our
forefathers, " Civil and religious liberty"
every patriot opposed tb prescription on
account of the accident f birth, or of par
ticular religious tenets, 01111 rush forward to
the upholding and proteqtion of that party
which has hitherto proved to our sacred
Union a tower of strength and a bulwark
of defence. In the incaiwhile, "We bide
our time."
The Democratioc Party Naturalzed
Citzen
It has been charged thlt it has been the
habit of the Democracy ti make unworthy
appeals to the citizens of broign birth, aid
to enlist their support li endeavoring to
foster among them a feelg of separate na
tionality, which would teo to prevent their
complete absorption into, ho general mass
of citizens. The injusti of this charge,
and the entire absence of any respectable
proof to sustain it, must, we think, be ad
mitted by every fair and well informed cit
izen.
We have nowhere seen a cleaner or more
just statement of the position the Democracy
has occupied, or ought to occupy, towards
adopted citizens, than is contained in an
able leader of the Washington Union from
which the following extra&t is made. The
doctrines are as admirable as they are
true:
" We repel, with earnestness, the imputa
tion that the Democratic party has swerved
in the slightest particular from its sound na
tional and constitutional principles, for the
purpose of securing the votes of our natu
ralized citizens. It is a calumny upon our
.arty which every member of it will repel,
to say that it has sought, or ever will seek,
to array the foreign against the native citi
zens. When the Whigs combine with the
Know-Nothings, upon principles of hostili
ty to the rights and privileges guarantied
by the constitution to naturalized citizens,
it is natural that those citizens should feel
aggrieved, and that they should sympathize
and co-operate with the party which main
tains their rights as inviolably protected by
the constitution. This has been, and. will
continue to be the policy of tle Democra
cy; and it is 4his fharacteristicof our party
which has appealed with so much force to
the naturalized voters. It is not because
our policy has been "incendiary," but that it
has been conslitutionld, that recommends it
self to them.
" When the Democratic party arrays it
self on the side of the rights and privileges
of foreign citizens, it does not do so friom
any preference of our foreign over our na
tive population, but from a preference of
those principles which respect and sustain
the rights secured by the constitution, over
those which disregard and proscribe those
rights. If this preference has led them to
adopt an "incendiary policy," in like man
nor it led our fathers to incorporate an "in
cendiary policy," into the constitution.
That sacred instrument anthorizes Congress
to confbr the rights of citizenship upon for
eigners. The rights thus conferred, the
Democratic piarty feel bound to concede to
them, and not to embarrass their enjoyment
by organizations based upon the doctrines
of proscription and intolerance. The con
stitution provides against the adoption of
any religions test in respect-to eligibility
to office. The I)emocratic party acknowl
edges the obligation of this provision, and
therefore resists any sect of religionists.
They insist upon no more than the rights,
and privileges secured to all naturalized cit
izens and all religions adopted by the con-,
stitution. They insist upon them not for
the sake of the foreigners and re4igionists
who are to enjoy them, but for the sake of
the whole country, which is deeply interest
ed in maintaining inviolate every provision
of the constitution.
"In taking ftrposition it shluld be care
fully borne in ~ind that the Demo¢ptie
party neither assnmes that the naturaiiza
tion laws, as tiry now exist, are perfeot,
nor that foreigners have not on son.feocea
sions subjected themselves to just censures,
nor that the Roman Catholic religion is ba
sed upon the true Christian creed. Citi
zenship is a boon granted to foreigners by
the liberality of our institutions, 'and this
fact cannot be too carefully weighed and
appreciated by our foreign citizens. They
shoulri constantly remember that the high
privi.ages conceded to them have been grant
ed upon the reasonable expectation that
they would surrender their distinctive na
tive nationalities, and become fused and as
similated to our native citizens in all their
feelings, sentiments and devotion to our lib
oral institutions. It becomes them now, in
view of the late significant expressions of
popular feeling, to consider well whether
in their past conduct they may not have giv
en occasion to much of the opposition which
exists against them. Native Amei
are justly proud of their pirrogatlves, and
they are naturally jealous of anything like
foreign influence upon their Institutions.
in those sentiments and feelings wepar
ticipate to the fullest extent, and it is be
cause we do that we so earnestly repel the
imputation that the Democratic party has
pursued, or will ever pursue, "an incendiary
policy," in order to conciliate the foreign
v6te. Naturalized citizens ought to see, ln
the immense increase of foreign immigra
tion within the last few years, legitimate
reasons for an earnest investigation by na
tive citizens of the probable influence of
this increase of foreign population upon our
institutions. This is a fair and legitimate
silject for discussion; and if it shall result
in the conviction that our naturalization
laws are defective and require to be amend
ed and reformed, the naturalized citizens
ought neither to be surprised nor to com
plain. It may be assumed as a fixed fact
that tLe Native American population will
never consent to any modification of the
principles which characterize their instit,
tions, and from whatever quarter they see
danger of this kind they will be prompt to
meet and repel it. When the suggestion is
made that this danger lunks under the reli
gious creed of the Catholics, it should be
sifted to the bottom, and to such aninvesti
gation none will contribute more than the
Democracy. But when the civil and reli
gious rights of naturalized citizens are as
sailed upon mere prejudices, and thebarriers
of the Constitution are broken down in or
der that these prejudices may be made avail
able for political ends, the Democratic par.
ty will face the storm, even though it sees
nothing but present defeat and disaster in
the result.
The Approaocing Crivsi.
As the clouds which, for the first few
hours after the conflict, always hang over
the field of battle are rolled away and a
faircr iuid clearer view is afforded of the
scene which the issue presents, so it would
appearr that the country is arriving at a
juster conception of the controling influences
in the late elections and can now appreciate
more truthfully tha probable effect which
the result of these conflicts is destined to
have upon the future politics of the nation.
It does not appear to our minds that any
one cause operated in these elections with
equal force, and at all points, against the
Iupl)Irters of the present administration of
the Federal Government. As we road the
details, we think we can clearly perceive in
what city, county or district, Whigism, An
ti-Siaveiryism, Abolitionism, Anti-Nebraska
i,.m, or Americanism, have respectively been
the strongest element of snccess on the part
of the opponents of the Democratic party
and its actual chiefs. In some places all
these various branches have, it is true been
combined; but, in most instances, we do
not perceive that their union was by any
means complete.
But be these speculations true or other
wise, one fact stands forth which does not,
we regret to say, admit of any doubt or
misconception. The Democratic party prop
or, in the States above named, is for the
present prostrated by defeat. The question
for consideration is, whether that defeat is'
final, and precludes all reasonable hope of
success in any effort which may be made to
retrieve it?
We are of those who believe that under
existing institutions of the United States
the 1)emuocratic party cannot die. Before
that eveht could occur, there must take place
a great and entire revolution, in public fool
ing and all reverence for the past, and be
lief in the policy which has met the popular I
concurrence from the time of our national
birth until now, must be obliterated from
men's minds. When that period shall have
arrived, the existing constitution will have
ceased to command respect, and the con
federacy will, as a matter of course, fall to
pieces. .
We have many reasons, satisfactory to
our mind, but which we will not here set
forth, for believing that the native vigor and
energy of our Democratic party would read
ily enable it to recover its lost ground and
drive back as it often has done, its strong
est foes, whenever a battle is to be fought
upon any of the former questions which
have divided political parties in the United
States from 1789 to the present day; but as
we endeavor to read the future we mutt
conf6ss, that we are forced to the conclusion
that such issues are not to be hereafter the
source of political division to the same ex
tent as they formerly were.
As we gaze northward, there rises before
our eyes a cloud, already much bigger than
a man's hand, and which appears to be
spreading with fearful rapidity over the
whole of that section of the country; it is
the black cloud which cabts upon the land
scape the baneful shadow of Secti oaUI'.
A shadow which blesre tU of all
those ovr whom it , them
blindto _everyo w olpk
outline. The spirt of .te
only foe thatwe have tr,, o
strength need give us a moment's pause.-
If, as we fear,It has seized on the ainds of
the most of the people of the North, a ter;
Aible and doubtful battle is before us, b be
half of the Constitution of our common
country, and of our f199 local rights and
interests; for, the eftlet 'f Sectionalism
must inevitably be, to render its disciples
utterly indifferent to'.all obllgatlons en .jin.
ed by the Constitution.
The evidences of a general and wide
spread determination on the pat of the mass
of the Northern people, to wage a war
against the rights, interests and prosperity
of the lave-holding ttes are fenrfu1ly nu
merous, and mustbe acknowledged now
by those who were formerly most skepticaF
their existence. If the feeling which
generates, this' reckless hostility towards
that portion of the Union whlclh has ever
been foremost in its manifestations of reve
rence for, and obedience to, the provisions
of our commonbend of Union be nottoon
checked, the most devotd iqeand of that
Union will very soon br'ftoed into the ad.
mission that its longer tet.itce will be in
compatible with the most cherished inter
ests or the self-respect, of the Southern
States of the confederacy. . f course, these
speculations are based on the upposition
that thigr get exists at the South some feel
ing of, Stae prid, ome low of local patri
otism. If it beotherwie, and our people
are so dead toevery feling of independence
and manly courage ato suffer themselves
to be absorbed, after a faint and reludmnt
struggle, into the North, and to becomethe
ready and eringing slaves to QJ1 Its arrogant
and unreasonable demands, then the future
of the Democratic party becomes to them a
matter of so much' indifference, as it is, to
those who till the sugar or cotton flelds.-
If we surrender to the North on the points
she so unjustly and wrongfully urges upon
us; the form of government must from that
moment be radically changed, for the pr.ee
ent constitution will be utterly unsuited to
the state of thing whio h will thenceforth
prevail. For, instead of being Members of
a confederacy of sovereign States, the South
forgetful of all her past glories, and of all
her dearest righta, will become the despi
sed appanage of her relentless Northern
conquerors.
When will our people awake to a sense
of the real danger which is hovering over
them, by reason of this mad and bigotted
sectionalism of the North? Will they rouse
themselves in time to give :t successful bat
tle, or will they lie supinely until their ene
my shall, with one final spring, rush on then
and stifle forever all pride, all independence,
all vitality?-Courcis.
THE FRENCH INDUBTRI#L EXIHIBITO..,-
A Paris correspondent says that the ap
proaching exhibition in Paris promises to
be more brill nt and sucoessful than was
anticipated by' the most sanguinS three
months ago. All the continstal nations
will be extensively repre od, In Great
Britain only does the war s5 naively en.
gross public attention as to interfere seri
ously with the preparations of the Parie fair.
Austria, which had seven hundred exhibith
ors at the London fair, will have eighteen
hundred at Paris; Prussia, which lad six
hundred exhibitors at London, will have
sixteen hundred at Paris. and even Switzer-.
land will have more than dve hundred, Vouch.
ng for the dignity of her positiop as a man
ofacturing State.
The United States has the place of honor
in the exhibition. On entering the build
ing by the grand entrance, the viastotr will
advance at once into the American section.
Great Britain will have a positionutponi the
right and France upon the left. More than
four thousand square fbetof space habeest
assigned to the United States, and on the
284 of February last the Central Coamit.
tee of American Commissioners had been
notified of Intention'to ~phbit but by` six
ty-fo ut Americans. The prospects were
that the department wo Idnot be filled be.
fore the time of opening. It is to be hoped
that this will not be the os A
should be well represented in u ibiqn e
like that which is oofi g od in Paris,
we trust that her citizens will be anterpi
ing enough to send sa andidie show df
goods to the fair. A dplay of American
productions, sanufactu ho ad inventions
might be made which woalAbe second to
that of no other oouopay.
om ThoD pofiran ofo Cincnnati have
nominated i m.i 0. Faron for Mayor, a d
have pssed reanoutions denouncing tho
Know~Sothings. All tba candidatep for
nomination were reqired to give usur
maces that they were not ~* Wotngs.