Baton-Rouge gazette. [volume] (Baton-Rouge, La.) 1819-1856, 1844-06-22
Vol. XXvE.
no THE VOTERS or THE PARISH
OF EAST BATON ROUGE.

ainR 10 BIO an emnnation from a viRilan
committee, without any signature, i
which | am informed IL FROM the organ
Che Democratic party, has been brought
my notics-@R meeting Of my fellow.ci
ksns, % which ] was not present, indie
when | was absent from tho Parish, d
me the honor 10 nominate me, ne a cand
date for the Convention and It 10 {
thlB account that ! am indebted for III
nptics-ghis document does me sho hon,
e. take O most especial notice Of some
my doings, whiIst Ii monbeF of tho Leigh
faipFo--f cannot suspect these gentleme
ef entertaining any party feeling in III
rnattoF: ,Altho' they are n democFati
aody. this essay must not be viewed, as n
arrow taken from tho democratic quivo
bat ~ shot for lie benefit Of all Partio
-ainaed Il is true, ai whigs but at whig
30 stepped in political siss, that the demo
cratic party, cannot onGgro, tina The,
shall ontes che candidacy, win the thro'
meHtrcl gentleman, put forth by 'ho aeatrd
meeting, which sought 10 bring out 10
che Convention, candidates, who had al
Ngaya boon Seuirdi In their politics. I ifat
much feared, that during my long alb
sshec, the people had nearly forgotten me
but this distinguished notice OF inc, has
brought me ~conspicuousIy before them
UgNin and / feel 10 thankful, 70 the patri.
ollc, and disiaterested body that has thus
honored me, that 1 deem II a dictate Of
duty, 10 return them q respectful answer
lam sorry that the vigilance committee
should have been put TO the trouble, of an
arduous search Of tho voluminous archives
or tho state, FOR proof Of the charges that
they have preferred against mean su.
aioF, and moro direct course, might have
been 20 PROFOUND interrigatorios 10 mo
and from my known temper, and eharac.
Ter, they might have felt assured, that 1
would confess fully, and freely oil my
Legislative sins@~tndoed they might have
convicted mo, thro' the evidence of demo.
cratic friends-for ! have the honor to
claim q number of that faith, as my per.
aonal friends many OF whom too, have
always accorded 10 mo their political sup.
portland 10 thom, aud TO the citizens
generally, | have been in the habit of
giving an unreserved expression of my
opinions, on all political, and public 10.
pies-@E have never on any occasion, con.
eeaied my sentiments-whethur in Ho.
sels--at The corners of stFeots--ut the
festive board. or in Legislative Halls,
have freely spoken my sentiments, and
gtrippcd them OF all disguise.aAA have not
The Journals before me, for references, tol
ascertain the accuracy Of these state.
ments IN relation 10 myself nor have
time ina hurried communication 10 make
the search, even were ! in the possession
of the Journals but II matters not. / am
for the sake Of argument willing TO admit
generally, the correctness Of tho quota.
ttons.--Tho chargCs Of the yigilaDt CON.
are receivable into. Ist. That /
voted against the imposition of a poll tax
and that / 90 voted, because ] was opposed
10 universal suffrage. 2nd. ThalI was eppo.
ned TO the election of shegifTs and judges di.
rOctly by che people. Ord, That | re- {
to vote for a law providing for the /.
call Of q convention, 40 make certain .
in Che Constitution deny that :
voted against & poll tax, solely because /
/ waa opposed to universal e~ntirRge--one i
that l was opposed 70 the imposi. d
lion OF that tax, land | still believe that b
'eaBen was a sufficient one) was that the y
aw imposing it would DO a violation Of Y
he Constitution. The Constitution Ger. !.
ainly intented that the tax that was 10 4
lohfer the right Of suffrage should be a tax Il
N property, or on professions, for those =
yhn made the Constitution were not ia. fa
niliar, With any other mode of taxation. II
The proposed law 10 levee q tax for the y
Of changing the Constitutional ar y
'angement OF the suffrage, would then :
AVE been in violation Of tho meaning e. !,
piEit of the Constitution, which violation Il
/ is admitted on all hands, is the great. b;
Of political sin that a Judge Legislator,
2 other public officer can commit, Istood
q the floor Of the Legislature, sworn to !.
uPPort and maintain. and not to violate, "
he COnslitution-and had | been ever SO 81
salous an advocate Of the principle Of nj
%niyersal suffrage, | could never have aid. &C
d in bringing i about by such question:. 81
10 means, / would have conceived myself Of
ndsr an impoFious obligation 10 wait un. m
could bring about my purpose BY un. 70
constitutional means-to wit by n
be action Of a Convention. But / un. ac
ssitatingly admit, that at that time, / m
nd other objections 20 the passage Of that as
wand that one difficulty with me was, pc
aat il would have the effect ofintroducing ry
.niversal suffrage. AT that time, Z was mi
ppessd 10 the introduction of the pfinci- lni
of universal suffrage, into the State of 81
0uisiana, aud for this pnlpable, and n
reason-that such a principle, II,
'ould inevitably transfer, the whole poIit. ab
al power Of the state from the country pa
|, the City Of New Orleans. The plan. an
farmers and the inhabitants Of the na
and villages, would by this important ~
love On the political chess board, be- rob- Ii
Of aIl political power, and that power IN
irsstFieVably tranferrsd, to the great to
capital of the State We
This Dror@osition | have never yet heard de. do
ld-and Il Sunot ia truth, and sincerity tha
II ma. be asked, wherefore is it, gu
denleu. power would be- thus trans res
I he political .strv the city-the an III
ed from the con- >ald DO because are
or il plain and sinple-it ;versal suf. va
adoption Of the principle of Sn' Le civ. trs
ye, would so increase the vote o. -ver to,
very soon, If not Immediately, 70 oEel Iii sta
Oanntry-hy which means the city, woN trv
be the Legislature. and the Gogernot-m 1
om are invested all the political power OF
! Stste. In this category, the city Wla al Y
ys control the Legislature, and IN the aP. ma
Of the Governor the country Will ea
about the same weight. as the prophet q III
-. A. - - shn 1 MnE