Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1850-10-12
General JnO. A. Quitman.
Office and political excitement, are necessary to my exis-
. INa 4 OIuTMAN

"ofice and political excitement, are necessary to my exis-
tence.'-JNo.A .QUIThAN.
The late proclamation of Gov. Quitman,
converting the Legislature Of Mississippi to de-
wise measures of redress in consequence of the
passage of the California and other bills rela-
tive TO our territory on the Pacific coast, is not
only universally repudiated by the people Of
that State, but we feel assured that the Legis-
lature will rebuke the Governor, indirectly if
not directly, for his Incorporate feelings and
expressions, after the South has, in fact, gained
all that reasonable and thinking men could have
expected. But is 1t through Il feeling Of OPP
preston and w:oHg-through a belief that
Mississippi has been deeply I'M ured-her rights
wrested from her--that Governor Quitman is
sues his proclamation? From our review Of
the mans character, from our knowledge of the
state of the Democratic party in that State.
and last though not least, from the expression
quoted above, which we dare him Or any one TO
contradict, we unhesitatingly answer No! JEo,
A. Quitman is q vain, egotstical and aspiring
man,-his thirst for military glory, his love of
The eclat that follows military achievements,
and his longing for political excitement, have
so warped his mind, (f it WAS ever purely pat
rioticO that the ambition of self-exaltation has
taken the place of every public virtue, or love
for the peace and harmony Of the Union. Such
men are dangerous TO the Republic, and can
not be too narrowly scru;inized by the people
or the press.
The trip to the North of this ambitious chief
tain and Mississippian, after he had returned
from the fields of renown in Mexico, where his
valor had deservedly won him the esteem of his
countrymen. was nothing but a political trick,
showing in vivid colors his overreachirg am
bition, and his love Of the gaudy cheers that fol-
low the steps of the conqueror. 1t is a dan
serous experiment in this country to panderto
such an appetite. Rome fell through her tri-
umphal arches and alteration of military heroes.
1t is well to honor such men as becomes a
grateful country; but the peope should be-
ware how they heap their adjuIations upon
those who lore it. In a Republic there are
other qualities and virtues to be observed, as
far above military valor and success, as The pu-
rity of Heaven is distant from the gfoveIling
ambitions of earth.
But recurring again to the proclamation be-
sides the many other motives which operated
upon Gov. Quitman's mind, besides the distant
hope of a Southern Confederacy and himself
the President of it, is the desire to create an is
sue with Gen. Foote (who has certainly as
sumed new and brig hter character during the
last session. upon the question of the passage
of those late bills, which seem to have raised
such ire in the Governors breast, is the hope
he will supersede him as Senator in Con-
gress, for Governor Qultman thinks he is moth
ing more than a"Secretary to the Legislature"
and that berth is too tame a situation for his
thirst for political excitement. But we
have confidence in the patriotism Of Mississip-
pts Senator, and trust that he will be among
his constituents in season to destroy the hydra
headed Upas which the Governor of MISSISSIPPI
pi has endeavored to plant in the bosoms of
who have proved themselves to be fore
among the brayest and most patriotic that
ever fought beneath the flag of the Union.