The daily union., 1852-05-12

for the Offices OF President and Vice President have
with the concurrence and wishes OF many OF the friends
OF General Downs, OF louisiana senator OF the United
States, to request you will, at the earliest day. publish in
your truly republican journal the following sketch Of
General Downs
Very respectfully, &c,
A LOUISiANLAN,
The writer OF the biographical sketch which is TO fol-
low approaches the task he has voluntarily
with no little pleasure. This is because the eventual
public life Of bis subject is epeie with facts bearing upon
the progress OF great State OF this Union. in The adop
ion OF improvements her laws and institutions founded
~ The root OF American liberty and national and social
progress-the political principles OF Thomas Jefferson
him is indeed pleasure to contemplate the
OF Senator Downs which, in his minds eye presents
faithful type OF the gradual verging OF conntrys ns
tutons To that condition oil universal political equality
among its citizens and all who should be its citizens
which Thomas Jefferson looked forward as the Ultimate
result OF the operation OF his views OF government, when
carried out in spirit and in truth. . &. 1..il
The yoke OF special pivilegeihat old man OF the
upon all people who would be free In fact as in
name--descended to us legimaiely In parting from
the thradom OF our mother England, we rid our
selves of little more than our immediate government
Many OF the principles of the constitution fixed
n the hearts OF our fathers as 10 this hour not few OF
the most odious features of her laws still upon Amer
ican statute books Mr. Jefferson and his compeers in
their day laying out the plan Of battle, commenced the
struggle against the ascendency OF both, which has been
prosecuted by their disciples with more or less good for
tune, and by with more vgor and than by
the subject OF notice. for he has been to the State
Of Louisiana what Andrew Jackson was to the United
privileges under the guse Of irresponsible and corrupt
banking corporations which. while ndustriously appro
palng to themselves the proceeds OF the labor OF the
people OF the State lost no opportunity by example and
the doctrines they caused TO be promulgated in their us
caon, 10 sap the business morals OF The community AS
democrat, honor any man who has made a General
Jackson sort OF tight against corrupt banks This how
ever, was but third Of the task which history proves
TO have been that marked out for himself by Senator
Downs early in his career statesman-the extern
sion OF the right OF suffrage and the reform OF the judi
cary OF his State completing his labor OF love for the
principles of equal rights In all these he was emnen,ly
successful the reader will in the end perceive. The
contemplation Of his marked features traced upon the
plate in the Democratic Review, will strike all true
hearted republicans that he s indeed reformer on prn
cple-a Of deep thought, far-seeing sagaciy, un-
yielding views OF the fitness Of things, ardent devotion 10
that cause against any and all odds and industry know
ing no point at which to flag short of the attainment OF
bis object. Such, emphatically. has Senator Downs
proved himself to be- the cucbe OF perhaps the ercesl
and longest struggle for reform which has distinguish
ed the political progress Of any State Of this Union.
Solomon w. Downs was born in 1901, in. tennessee.
When boy he emigraed TO Louisiana, from whence he
was sent 10 Tennessee where he received his
education, under the tuition of the late Rev T. Craig
head the early associate and fast friend Of Andrew Jack
son, who in his day the renowned instructor
Of youth in the State When fit for college he
tered in Transyvana University where, after pursuing
the usual course OF studies under the immediate supervs
his academical fellow-studens the late Richard
Winn, since lawyer Of distinguished abilities and a
State senator for the parish Of Rapides in the Louisiana
egisatnre William H. Wharton. The pioneer ofthe Texas
revolution who frs, represented the young republic as
minister 10 the United States the talented and intrepid
brother OF the laerihe late John A. Wharton; Freder-
ick Guon, late of the United States army-one of the
most gifted Of the South and Judges John Gnion
OF Vicksburg, mississippi and Felix Bosworh of Lou
sIsna-all OF whom have made their respective marks
upon the history OF the times in which they lived.
Downs las
State of Louisiana in the United States Senate OF his
senators had been his college mates at Tansyva-
MA University They Messrs Aichison Hannegan,
Jefferson Davis, and Jones, OF Iowa This believe is
the only instance record where such number of the
graduates OF collegiate institution studying together
have served al one time in the Congress OF the United
States. recur TO it, particularly show that the
attraction OF mind in the ordinary collegiate intercourse
OF such college mates must have done much in the way
OF early developing their Intellectual powers. After
graduating at the university, General Downs commenced
the study OF the law and being admitted 10 the prac-
ce according to the custom at the South, he found
himself involved in politics In 1925 his political speeches
rising public man, likely to be OF real service 10 the
State he took an active part in the canvass OF that year
In favor o General Jackson whom he sustained, without
wavering doubling for moment, in all his subse
quent brilliant and exciting In the session of the
legislature OF 1887 and 1888 bill introduced by
democratic represe NATIVE for the extension of the rgh,
Of suffrage" and was reeced-he democrats voting io
II. and most OF their opponents, OF course, against it,
proposition made a, the session for taking the
f0f convention 10 remodel the
constitution, which also ost,hc parties having d.
vded upon that upon its kindred project During the
next canvass for members OF the legislature. these two
propositions the subjects for party dscu sson
especially in the Ouachita senatorial district where
the candidates were Judge Morgan. adisngushed whig.
who, representative IN the other chamber, had voted
against both bills, and General Chen Malor) Downs
The former IN his circular, lossfed bis vote against the
extension OF the right OF suffrage while the latter pro-
claiming his attachment TO the principle n its broadesi
FORM pledged himself 10 be willing TO stand or fall by il
and all It's consequences General Downs in this can
also took ground In favor o convention TO reform
the constitution of the State and had the honor be-
believe the only senator elected wholly upon these two
issues. The democratic representative, The candidate
upon the same reform and extension OF suffrage ticket
also successful; thus revoutionzlng the parish.
On the meeting OF the legislature alter this election in
compliance with his pledges General Downs brought for
ward bill Tor taking the OF the good people Of the
State as to the necessity and expcdency OF calling
venon to amend the constitution specifying in the body
OF the bill the following the alterations more especially
to be attained, viz s.srt.g .taa c. $50 se
list That all Judges shall be appointed for limited
period Of years, and not for life. teNa.Ha
ID That every free white malc citizen Of the United
Saies above the age OF twentyone years and who shall
have resided twelve months in the State, and
the parish in which he offers vote shall be entitled to
vote. e..H aHM -#.fT
I'D That's more equ al ind Just OF
both in the senate and house OF representatives shall be
9th That sheriff. coroners, constables and other parish
officers be elected by the people. sl.a &. .e
9th. That the governor be elected by the people alone
Without the intervention OF the legislature"
The bill, having been referred TO the committee on the
judiciary OF which he member was reported hack
without amendment sustained by powerful report from
ing Of the presiding oceall III democrats proving
friends, and, exception