The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-10-06
/ H 4 R i ? l B Lie.
WASHIN GTON:
SATURDAY MORNING, OCTOBER 8, ls4s
Mississippi and Louisiana.

| Mississippi and Louisiana.
The Congressional elections have been
brought to close throughout the Union,
with the exception Of those which are
shortly to occur in Mississippi and Louis
lana. The results elsewhere have devolved
upon these patriotic States the responsible
ity of ,eciding what the political complex
ion Of the ensuing House of Representa-
tives sIall be. 1t is theirs to say whether
Genera TAYLOR shall present the novel
spectacle of President elected by the free
and unsolicited sutfrages of the people,
baffled and defeated in the outset of his
Administration by hostile majorities in
both banches of the national legislature.
They are to determine whether, in contribut-
ing to lis elevation, they designed to give
him fair chance to conduct public affairs
upon system which sympathizes with the
interests and wants of the people, or whe
Their they conferred Office upon him to en-
barrass and annoy him. They must say,
and soon, whether the House of Represen-
tatives shall be friendly or unfriendly;
whether it shall be organized to thwart and
defy him, OF to aid him in carrying out
such measures and reforms as an honest
and upright Chief Magistrate shall deem
necessary to the prosperity and happiness
of the country
We know of no two States to which We
would be more willing to entrust the deci-
sion Of this question. Louisiana was first to
marshal her legions for the field when Gen
eral TAYLOR and the small but gallant ar
my under his command were menaced on
the Rio Grande by an overwhelming force.
The rolls were filled up with eager volun-
teers as fast as their names could be re-
corded. No where was there displayed
nobler enthusiasm, more patriotic devo-
ton, than the people of Louisiana evinced
upon that memorable occasion. Amidst
the waving of banners, and the acclama-
ton of admiring multitudes, regiment after
regiment embarked for the scene of strife
to rescue their countrymen, threatened
with dangers which seemed big with doom,
or avenge their fate. The attachments
and confidence which the events of that
epoch enlisted and confirmed, yet reside
in the breasts of the people of Louisiana.
They were first to leave home and family
to share with General TAYLOR the dangers
and hardships of foreign campaign; will
they desert him nowl They know him.
They are his friends and neighbors. They
have been with him on the tented field
and at the domestic hearth. Will they
now lend countenance to the calumnies
which have been poured upon him in tor
rents, by abandoning him to the hard usage
Of his detractors! Will they stultify them
selves-they who knew him, and, know
ing him, voted Tor him-by so voting now
as TO give color to the charge that they
abased themselves by electing "dolt,"
an ''imbecile," "cypher," to the Chief
Magistracy' The people of Louisiana are
accused of committing even so great
fraud upon the rest of the Union. Will
they plead guilty. Will they withdraw
from his support at the crisis of his for
tunes' May we not answer for them:
They will not.
And Mississippi, too Will the men of
Monterey desert their commander now
that his conduct before that walled city is
denounced and condemned by those who
would defeat his administration Will
they JOIN the ranks of those who reproach
and mock at him viii they not rather
retrieve the losses which his friends have
encountered elsewhere, as they redeemed
the field of Buena Vista, when within
grasp Of the enemy Congress is the
Buena Vista Of this day, and they are
now, a. then, the forlorn hope Of the Gen
eral. Will they not grid themselves up
for another rescue, aud snatch victory
from the Jaws Of defeat If they rally to
the work they can and will succeed. The
friend, Of General TAYLo throughout the
Union look to Mississippi Tor such VIC
tory as shall FL the land with gladness.
Nor will they be disappointed. We have
bad faith in darker times and we are
speaking Of those who do most when most
Is required to be- done.
Both Louisiana and Mississippi have in
tercsts beyond most others at stake in this
contest They are most interested in the
Improvement of the great river which
washes the one which bears its name in !
ITS greatest length, and cuts the other in
twain. The produce of empires sweeps
by their doors, or is brought to their homes
tor consumption. The improvement of
the Mississippi and its tributaries most
concerns them. In abandoning General
TAYLoR, the people OF those States desert
thelr'own interests, as well as their neigh