The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1849-03-12

This gentleman was lately elected to the Senate
OF the United States from the State of Illinois,
He has arrived at Washington, and has taken his
seat in the Senate of the United States, commit
! lee in the meantime having been instructed by that
body to inquire into the fact of his eligibility to the
station-it having been shown that ne was but re-
Gently naturalized When the distinguished soldier
| was certain that he had been successful in the
election, he seems himself to have had some doubts
as to whether he would be permitted quietly to take
his seat; and, probably anticipating opposition from
some OF the friends Of Mr.. Breese who was his op-
ponen for the nomination, he conceived the extra
ordinary idea of Dragging himself out of the reach of
attack, or bullying Breese into silence. He accord
ingly addressed to Mr.. Breese one of the most out
rageous letters that ever a sane man wrote, begin
ming with very pathetic allusion to the blood of
his own body which had been poured out on the
battle fields of Mexico; continuing with the IN
mistakeabe intimation that. if he had been defeat
ed for Senator, he had registered vow in Heaven
to let the blood of his antagonist; and concluding
with demand, prayer, or request, that Mr. Breese
would give him some sort of certificate that he
was a citizen before he was naturalzed, and that
he went through the ceremony of Naturalization as
mere form, in order to simplify the proofs al
thohgh The slmplfication seems strangely to have
complicated bis position. This strange letter Mr..
Breese published, with very fitting comments;
and General Shields has given the world card, in
explanation, in which he declares, in substance,
that he is not insane, and Of course could not have
meant what he said
We are sorry that such things have occurred.
They are far from creditable to the country, and
they will go far towards justfyng the ISLANDERS of
those who seek to decry all republican institutions
by exaggerated accounts of the ruffianism which
they aledge is characteristic of American legsla.
tors But while we indulge our regrets we are dis
posed to draw salutary lesson from the hum-
atlng cause of them. Gen. Shields had the good
luck to be appointed to the command of men as
brave and Intelligent as he was himself during the
late war; he had the happy misfortune to be
wounded in two brilliant and successful engage
ments with the enemy; and he had the modest
assurance TO press to the utmost and every where
his lllies to consideration resulting from this fortu-
nate concentration of accidents. Military glory
beng one Of the passions of our people-and news
paper renown often equivalent to real greatness
the wounds, and the undoubted courage of Shields,
made him, in the popular estimation, hero-and
who, In Republic, ever doubted that hero had
every qualification TO perform the duties of states
man in time of peace The hero of the news
papers became the Senator from sovereign State
1t was in vain tina, his constitutional qualifications
We're queslioned-in vain that doubts were sug-
gested of his capacity-in vain that proofs were de-
manded of his knowledge and wisdom-he had
been wounded at Cerro Gordo and Churubusco,
and that was enough to answer all enquiries and
silence all objections. He was elected. And now,
elevated far above his merits, placed upon pedes
tai where all may gaze at the prodgy-the hero by
accident, the statesman through the thoughtIess con-
fldence Of the people, turns out to be very weak
vain, and foolish man, whom it is charity to sup
pose is afflicted with occasional attacks of mad |
ness We desire to hope that this example of mis-
placed confidence will make the people more care |
fu in their selections hereafter but we doubt much
whether even Gen. Shields can shake the power |
which gun-powder popularity has acquired in the |
Ranuhc