The St. Landry whig., 1844-12-19

HONEST THOUGHTS.

HONEST THOUGHTS.
The frauds, perjaries, and other nti-American
scenes which were enacted ii~fsalnost every State
Of the Union at the late elections, speak ii 4 tone
not 10 be misunderstood, aud warn us that in.
less our ballot.boxes are more sacredly secure,
our fate, as an american nation, will soon Be
sealed. These ~ouirages upon the only security
e our Independence, show conclusively that we
now hare the corrupt seed Of disunion already
soyvn IN our midst, and that they only need the
fostering care of demagogueis,n to raise them
into existence, and pollute The body polite with
their noxious fruit. Unless We can, hy force of
education and moral Integrity, eradicate these
banehll Influences, we cannot hang together ii 4
Government, dependent on honesty If intention.
moral rectitude, and patriotic aspirations, fof its
stability. Further, 1t proves that the sirnulta.
neoels Introduction Of foreigners into our midst.
and the facility with which they have thrust up.
o. them our dear-bought privilege Of choosing
our own rulers, goes far, very far, to bring our
Republican system into disrepute, and win, if
aught can effect il, bury freedom IN the vault 81
oblivion, and ring the death-knell Of mans hal B.
plsless, andthe requieum of his selEgovernment.
tCrever and aloud to earth ! i ~reniotest bounds.
How, the question then arises, can W. Guard
against such frauds I Not by folding our arms
and lamenting their existencc-not by giving
eOsintenarce to persons or parties that are IN.
ttfuInehtaI il these evils-not by permitting. our
liberties thus to be triied with mo! this will
not put 4 stop to such practices: We must pursue
acme more tenabIe mode-we must p4nish he
offenders, and that too severely. If Nc fnd i
Foreigner amongst Us base enough Is take 4 false
oath for 4 vote, send him from whel he came
he will never make u good citizen, aud Ne mad
better get rid of hi as soon as possible. five
have amongst us citizens, either native Or natI.
raised, who regard our laws so lightly al ID Ia
instrumental in leading such men to these unne.
cessary crimes, put them where they can do ii
NO more-disfanchise t~hem--they are not 1T
company for honest men. Go to work al once
and so guard our naturalization laws, as hat
frauds upon them will be impossible. Or. if II
must DO done, abolish them entirely. But. N
we have laws, in Gods name let them be held
sacred, and respected and obeyed.
One thing, however, must be done. We nre
lamentably at fault in our whole system Of Edu.
cation, and we must, if we would present a front
81 patriotism and honesty, foster and cherish this
main pillar Of our fabric. Public Education.
conducted on liberal plans, will do much Is crush
the seed Of crilne, and plant in its place the Tree
cf wholesome honesty, which will surely expand
beaF the fruit Of submission tof aw,a and res
pect for the rights Of others.
Let Us not only teach the youngA but let us
counsel and endeayor to lead the ol[ in the true
right path. Instead Of q~uarrelIN he with the
persons p foreign birth Ia our midst, i'll us reason
with them, and cndoavor to make thtm worthy
Our laws guarantee to them %certaia
priyilegss-no American citizen wishes 10 take
hem Rvvay but some, and we are among mat
lumber, wish to see the probationary term bra.
cnged, ailcr o certain time. Is this doing III.
ustice 70 any man in tho United Stutesq We
'hould legislate lor our country and her citizens.
md not for the world. IN conclusion, then. NE
awe believe our naturalization laws should
altered more attention should b~efziven Is
education; morality should b i~uculoas ID the
avs must be obeyed; and America wiIt,empha.
ically be \ land for the oppressed Of an %aations,
'therwise she will become d by-word and 4 scoff.
NATTyR GENIUs. Victor Sejour, d native of
louisiana, has become highly distinguished Ii
France for his literary labors. His m gadv XIII