Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1850-11-16
An Amendment as is an Amend.
mentor the Rhetorical ell.
fusiOlls of a Police Juror.

mentor the S1s
fusions of Il Police Juror.
Friend WHITE of The Minerva, will bear US
out in the athenticity Of the following story,
which is vsrbatim ct Meratiza true:
In the year 1916, when bat quite 4 shaver,
we were elevated to the high position Of clerk
of the Police Jury ofa certain important parish
in this State. In that section, little or no re-
gard was paid to the literary accomp ishnents
ofthe persons who were elected to fill the im-
portant position ofn Police Juror. He who
possessed the real simon pure Judgment, and
hard horse sense, was eligible, no matter what
his qualifications might have been in all other
respects. They knew but little and cared much
less about parliamentary regulations, and each
member had his own peculiar views in re gard to
the necessary rules and regulations which
should govern their proceedings. They had
long since, voted Je6erson's Manual, as a book
which treated Of abstruse and metaphysical sci.
ences, which might well have suited the tastes
of the past generation, but isvas incompatible
with the enlightened spirit of this progressive
age. The Police Jury, during the time that We
speak of, was then in session, and had gone
through the most arduous duties Of the day.
It was then waxing near sunset, and as unusual
as may appear, not a single speech had yet
been made. A motion having been made by
one of the members, that q committee be ap-
pointed to examine and report on the condition
Of the Jail, and that they be allowed a quarter
of an hour to discharge this duty, his confrere
on his right, inflated with a speech, seized upon
this opportunity as a favorable one to edify his
colleagues with one Of his rich rhetorical effu-
sions. With a deal ofdignity and composure,
he rose to his feet and his countenance depict
ing plainly, the indignity with which he had
listened to his colleagues motion. After a
few hens and haws, he addressed the Presi-
dent in the following words, as far as our me-
mory will serve US:
"Mr. President, l rise for the purpose Of offer
ing an amendment to the gentleman's motion
| cannot conceive what motives the gentleman
had in view, in granting the Jail committee q
quartz, Of an hour to report in, without he vas
influenced by motives of selfin,erest, for the
evident purpose of protracting this meeting a
day longer, to enable him to rifle the public
crib of enc dollar more, for to-morrow's labor
which can as easily be accomplished to-day.
], MI. President, am a strong advocate of econ
omy, both in a political and personal point of
view. Ipreach economy to my dear lille chill
dren at home, and [ am, in the trps spirit of a
patriot, determined to maintain the same prin-
ciples here. have not been sent here to do |
childs works, and consequently my accounta-
billy to my constituents is an awful one. /, a
proud representative of the col constituency of the |
18th ward, gloried in being returned las. year
to this honorable body by 10 majority over my
opponent-and my dreams of popularity has
been ever since unbounded. l saw my way
paved to the halls of Legislation, and
Influenced BY the dattering hopes of high ho-
nors, soon to be acquired, l, as you know Mr..
President, endeayored TO create for myself in
the mean time, political capital. My first ex-
periments were in this very body. advocated
as you know gentlemen, the necessity Of hav-
ing Bayou L. closed by enactment of this body.
Having assumed these grounds, my W sense
Of honor, caused me strictly to adhele to what
! had advanced, Notwithstanding our parish At
torney informed this body that such a measure
was unconstitutional, |, as a true representative
knew no supreme authority ofthe land but the
and was disposed to acknowledge no
l was mortified beyond description,
when having called for the yeas and nays, to
behold my name standing in bold relief so.ita-
and alone, and opposite to it, the letters in
characters, Nay. This was certainly a
terrible stroke, and never would ! have sur
viyed it, had you not Mr.. President, by your
kindly affections administered the sweet bal
som of hopes consultations to this sickened soul
ofmine. The little childreR's primer, containing
The story of "Try, try again !"-had its desired
effect and revivi6ed my dropping energies. This
primer have carefully preserved, and ere / re-
to my lonely couch at night, and rise with
The morning lark, l peruse its contents with a
unsurpassed. This win / leave to my
as a relic. a7fa.f .a-..
But Mr.. President, in order to resume the
bread Of my discourse and collect my wander
ing ldeas-ttis measure came very near running
me in toto. Be it said to my own shame, that
| have been doomed to experience the norti-
Tying pangs Of beholding myselfreturned again
% this honorable body, but by one majority,
over Old one-eyed Joe, the most unpopular man
in this section Of the country. Yes, MIR. Presi-
It causes the warm tears to glistendown my
cheeks, when I am brought seriously to reflect
'iohere poud / hare been" had the battle been