The St. Landry whig., 1845-02-27
U CoNVENTIONIsTs.

We watch the movements of our Representa-
tiyes 70 the Convention with a deal of interest,
and take pride in chronicling the characterising
events that give character and weight to that
body. Of our own delegates we can truly say,
that, generally, they have as much weight in
that body as the delegates from any other Pa
IRISH. At the same time we find much to APP
plaud, we find some things not in accordance
with justice or magnanimity. The following
extract, from a speech delivered by Mr.. Lewis,
is sound and logical, and we think, is a %constitu-
tional check that is necessary and proper:
''The idea of the greatest freedom sounded
sweetly, and was beautiful in theory, (said Mr..
Lewis but, If reduced to practice, it abrogated
every thing like government. For what had
they met. To frame an organic law for the 60
vernment Of the people of the State; and where
there is government, there also must be submis-
sion. While some govern, others must obey
The very word government implied restraint,
and without this restraint there could be neither
law nor order. In Athens, Sparta and the old
republics, it was found impracticable to govern
without it, and SO it would always be, if there
were not constitutional checks on the majority.
If the minority were not protected in their rights
from the aggressions of the dominant party. GO
vernment were but a farce, and there would be
no inducement for entering into the civil COM
pact. As it then cannot be denied that restraint
is necessarily connected with government, let
US see, he said, how far it may be wisely impos.
ed for the protection Of the individual rights Of
the minority. He knew his views and his Ian.
guage were unpalaeable to what was called the
ultra democracy-to those who would break
down, and uproot and destroy all forms of re.
~strictive government; but truth gathered from
history admonished. him that the views Of such
men, when carrieSsoua, always resulted in an.
archy: and where Anarchy once was, despOtism
followed. 1t was Certainly our duty to preserve
as much individual liberty as was consistent
with good government. but could we retain il
all? 1t was a paradox to say that we could"
Following Mr.. Lewis a little further in this
speech, we find some wholesome remarks in re.
lation 10 the American Republican party; but
towards the close Of his arguments, he uses Ian.
guage that we, who have travelled, and will
again travel, as far as the next man, in support
Of those principles, cannot adhere to or believe
Hear him:
A regards foreigners, I must say that
view uAelF eltSiDAllty 10 citizenship uhuer INT
laws Of the United States as exceedingly unfor
%tunate. These laws | would have repealed ir
toto. But, inasrnuch as they exist, | am for re-
specting them. 1t is my deliberate conviction
that out of twenty foreigners who immigrate tc
our shores, nineteen would not make good Cit.
Gems. The twentieth may be every way de.
eerving. But the great mass are the rabble,
pae dissolute and the vicious, the panper and the
ignorant. A few of them make good citizens
but precious few. think it better to give ny
the twentieth man, that possesssg Qualities tina,
would make him a good American Citizen, thar
81 to take the nineteen that are without a solitary
requisite. The love of country is implanted in
the human breast. 1t is an impulse bound uE
with the strongest ties. 1t is possible that a
man born in another country and raised in an.
other cline, may love the country of his adop
ton as we'll as the country of his birth. But i
is barely possible"
Among the foreign population flooding ouI
country, are very many bad men-such men al
we should be glad to see returned from whenc,
they came. But that Observation-Disclosures of thu
foreigners that come to the country are bad
we do not believe. We will go the halt, frien,
Lewis: but we fear your zeal has led you astray
Bad enough, one half, in all conscience!