Baton-Rouge gazette. [volume] (Baton-Rouge, La.) 1819-1856, 1841-07-03
Correspondence Of The Baton Rouge GazeAe.
THE NEXT GOVERNOR.
NrmaOu1rAaa Innn =.

for the purpose of designating D candidate fo
tho Presidency Of the United States. In tina
Same assembly, tho delegates, without instruc
tons from, without regard 10 tho rights Of
tho people, arrogated TO themselves the an
thority Of nominating n candidate for the plae,
Of Governor for the election of 1919. T'h,
choice fell upon tho Hon. Alexander Mouton
The question now H., will tho people Of III,
State, or more properly the democratic party
consider themselves bound to support this can
didato, In the choice of whom thoy had neitheJ
voice nor h~earing--will they hold themselves
obligated to discharge n duty imposed upon
them In violation Of their rights I No; surely.
they are not SO ignorant of their rights, toj
will tt.sy thus abandon them.
The opposite party, that IL, the Wings, with
more apparent respect for the prerogatiyns O
tho people. cotlvoked n convention for the pur.
pose OF selecting a candidate in opposition II
Mr.. Motton. This convention wae held on
Tho 9th Of March last, and designated Henry
Johnson nH the man Of IT'D preference. Bit
even tlliH convention, can its deliberations be
considered more obligatory upon that party
than those Of tho other tipon tho democratic I
Let the people examine tho facts and then
Judge for themselves Let. Many parishes
were not represented in that assembly. ID
Many others were represented by members oi
tho Legislature, then sitting in Now-Orleans
who had no instructions to that effect, thus
llsnrping and trlfling with the rights of their
constituents. 1t results, then, that neither
party Is Of all bound by these conventions.
Let it DO well underas GOD, Mr.. Editor, that
by such observations, it ID not my aim 10 doro-
cato in the least, from the merit, the probity,
or even the claims to the office, whatever
these may be, Of the candidates nominated by
the conventions Of 1910 and 1871. NY only
object is TO set forth the impo1icy, the uneon-
additionally, and the anti-republicanism OF
the nomination.
The act was impolltic, because, TO engage
the whole State. or q portion of It's voters, by
a sort Of solemn compact, TO support a canJi-
date one or two years previous to the epoch Of
the election, IL d formal remuneration of the
privilege, and of the possibility of making a
better choice in case individuals of higher
qualii cations than those at first named, should
present themselves. Should not the conse-
quencos to the State Of this precipitation be
consideredY Public affairs, In pace Of being
confided to mea elninently capable, might thus
fall into the hanoi Of persons of minor worth,
of feeble and confihc1 capacity and will. In
the existing condition Of things would more
be necessary to rctard the devslopement Of
the general interests of the State, and to in
f1ict a ~periloua check on the activity with
which the march Of mind has animated all in-
telligences and all arts of the present century,
| have denounced this nomination as uncon-
stitutional.
The act was unconstitutional, inasmuch as
che fundamental law of the land has establish
ed 40 inviolablc, the right Of suffrage. II he a
manifest infringement Of this right,-it il an
enslavenent of the elector, to impose silence
on his syrnpathics and convictions, upon his
Judgment and his duty AS a man and as an &C.
tive member of the great political family to
enchain him, perhaps, against bis reason, to
the car Of an idol that a small minority, often
moved by personal motives alone, would ele-
vate to honors and power.
This act Is anti-republican, because tho
Of n candidate, once made, however
prenaturely, in this imperative manner, OK
all competition, and deprives all others
IF their prerogative Of entering the lists and
,anvassing freely the sufiragca of the people ;
Ind as a consequence, takes away the right of
my other individual to aspire to a place in
which he might become serviceable TO the
mass. In one word, it is the creation Of an
electoral monopoly in favor of a single individ-
Il ; it forbids all others the right Of present.
ng themselves to the people prohibits all
of patriotism, of talents, of civil
'irtues and zeal in their service. Does it not,
ct me ask, bring us back to a system of quasi
liberty, which holds that the throne comes by
authority and belongs of fight to the
'ldcst Of the reigning family! If the two
do not exactly resemble each other,
at least exists d strong analogy; for the
he place of Governor in lieu of comir e from
he high will Of the people, comes from a con-
.ention, and the only legitimate candidate is
he first designated by said convention.
If it be then true, Mr.. Editor. (and | VEN
ure to believe that all impartial men, of pure
nd enlightened patriotism will admit it as
rue,) that the acts of both these conventions
we're impolitic, unconstitutional and anti
epublican, ought the planters and citizens of
.ouisiana-can they consider themselves as
.revocably bound by the mandates of the
elegates, either of the wing or democratic
And ifthey decide negatively, would
not be well for them to unite, not in con-
but in brotherly harmony, in the cha
of true Louisianians, to consider the
Important interests confded to a Governor of
MS State, and discuss the qualifications ne
essary to an equitable discharge of the func-
ons Of that Office? The interests Of the
tate do not require a party man in this high
lace. craftsmanship is opposed to the gene
al welfare of the people, and seeks only to
atisfy the few while it negletts the wishes of
ae many. A party man is never impartial
nd all his acts bear the impress of the con-
-olling spirit within. Louisiana now requires
t her head, a man of nobler and more enlsrg-
views a man distinguished for his frank
ess, capacity, intelligence, and unbiased &C.
otion to the State-the whole State-to
and not to PARTY.
1t may be argued that there is great diff
llty in obtaining such a candidate. This is
4 error. The name of such a man is already
n the lips of the entire people, as his memon
in their hearts. He can count numerous
nd ardent friends among the wings as well az
nong the democrats. He has filled many inn
Drtant stations to which the confidence of the
eople and the government, by turns, have
lille dflu Ill Ei I'll WilC1 HS MdS Ucel
by a faithful, enlightened, and
discharge of his trust. That man is
EMS PRIEUR, ex-recorder, ex-rnayor of
.ew-O Orleans, and now collector Of revenues
r that port.
Mr.. Prieur couldbr into the field a greater
than any other man; his individual
lperiority, in connection with the fact that
S nomination proceeds spontaneously from
e people instead of from an intriguing eau ;
Is, would render him the ~favorite of every
lprejudiced voter. His nomination would be
'eeted with enthusiasm by the discriminating
both parties, and his election secured by an
.erwhelning majority of votes. +.
If the few reflections | have here submitted
your considerations should be approved Of I
your judgment, might expect, MIR. Editor, S
g satisfaction of seeing them made public t