New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1853-10-25
TUESDAY MORNING. OCTOBER rs, 1858
THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE
FOR AUDITOR

In our edition of yesterday we had something
to say Of the Office of Auditor of Public Accounts
and therein took occasion to express some view
Of the qualifications essential in a candidate as
piring to that post. We spoke of Mr.. Johr
E. King, the whig candidate, in the remarks
referred to, expressing the belief that he pos
sessed all the qualifications necessary to thu
proper. able and dignifed administration O.
the Office. We now propose to say few word.
Of his competitor, Col. Samuel F. Marks, and i
in 30 doing we do not ascribe to him all the dig.
nifying qualities possessed by the gentleman
first named, we can assure the Colonel that the
fault is not in us, but in himself However
ready we might be with compliments to the ca
pacity and dignity of the democratic candidate,
he could not expect US to utter them, unless he
should first furnish us with plausible grounds.
To praise Col. Marks for specific merits, against
his own conviction that he does not possess them,
might be regarded by him as fulsome Hattery,
and therefore we shall not do it, Knowing no.
thing to say that would fiatter his vanity, and
abjuring abuse as an unworthy weapon in po-
ltical warfare, We will leave his private histo-
ry to bedealt with by those who know it best
and proceed at once to the consideration of his
public life.
The political history of Col. Marks and his
violent opposition on occasions to party discip-
line, are too well-known to require confirmation
ct orr hands, yet least some of his yaultings
may be forgotten in their multitude we will re-
cite the most prominent. We do this in order
that the democracy may be enabled to judge
whether he entertains those principles deserving
Of their support.
In 1851, in time Of high political excitement,
Col Marks was proposed before the Democratic
Parish Convention of East Feliciana, as can.
didate for the nomination of State Senator His
opponent was the Hon. R. c. Wicklife, and they
both went into the Convention together, pledged
10 abide by its nomination. That Col. Marks
ieit confident Of the nomination, and that he |
was q true steel democrat as long as the proba- |
oities OF success were in his favor, is evidenced
by bus conduct at the preliminary election for the
nomination Of the candidates. The Colonel was
not idle on that occasion. He attended the elec.
tion in person, and actually CHALLENGED several
voters who refused to pledge themselves ~ srn
port the nominee. Marks was beaten fortv.s;x
votes, and his competitor, R. c. wickliae oh
tanned the nomination.
What did Col. Marks do after this? Beoom.
ing piqusd from being unable to monopolize the
fayors Of the democracy, he Immediately set him.
self to work to disorganize that party to whom he
had been professedly attached, and to whom he
had been indebted for favors until by long pre-
'cription he came to look upon the holding of
doc - right. Smarting with disappointment
. Immediately lent himself to clique and had
imself set up as the Union candidate, against
Vicklife, assuming the name as q convenient
loak for grssping at the substance which had
cen 80 signally denied him. At the election |
,ol. Marks met that rebuke which was the due /,
his Presumption, having been badly beaten by
he regular nominee
The system Of conventions is one adopted BY 81
ne party 70 which Col. Marks belongs, for the
purpose of harmonizing its conflicting elements, W
MA Tor uniting the strength Of the party upon oe
'o z one candidate. It's Importance is recoe Inc
!, particularly by the democrats for the a
~ securing Of the spoils, and they do not tn
sAl~ asnssscs whoever, after having gone into an