Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1853-09-17
The SheriHalty.
To the Editor Of the IberuiNe Gazette:
BAYOU CROSSE TErE, Sept. end, 1872:


independent candidate, have been led to re
feet and look more closely into the NATTER
The result of this reflection shall give you il
a very plain and homely style. tits always m
desire to take charitable view of the action
of men, and, as a moderate democrat especial
SO in political matters, as we are all continual
liable to short comings and inconsistencies O
every character. We can hardly take up tn
biography of single eminent politician, withou
discovering abundant evidences of these things
And if this be true of such men, how can ace, o
more ordinary calibre, expect to pursue per
fectly unblemiahed political course? True, tht
more eminent the man, the more trying and diff
fcult are the positions in which he is placed
but then, also, the more powerful is the intel
lect with which he is armed to combat these diff
fculties, so that, after all, it amounts 10 the
same thing.
In taking a free and unbiased view of Mr.
Erwin's position, | confess | cannot discover
those horrible Inconsistencies which appears SO
palpable to your own acuter political Judge
ment and discrimination. lam aware, Mr.. Ed
itor, of your dexterity in political tactics, and
your general astuteness, but cannot help
thinking that, in this case, you look at the OBJ
ject under contemplation, through the optics of
prejudice and allow yourself to be carried away
by an i'll advised party zeal. But, for the pur-
pose of coming to better understanding of
this matter, let US sit down and reason togeth-
er.
On the 2sth day of last may Mr.. Erwinpub.
lished in your paper the following card:
''l]Ir Editor: have recently been inform
ed that it is rumored that intend to become an
independent candidate for the Office of sheriff of
this parish at the next regular election, and as
such is not, nor never has been my intention, |
deem it my duty to say that any such rumor is
false. Should my Democratic friends when they
meet in convention for the purpose ofselecting
candidates for local offices, be pleased to favor
me with the preference for that office, shall
then most thankfully accept it and become
candidate JOSEPH H. ERWIN.
] think it very unfortunate that Mr.. Erwin
published this card, and do not at all assent to
its advisability. The lumor which led to its
publication, may, have originated with those
who felt interested in defeating MIR. ErWin's
nomination in the convention. At any rate, it
could not that see, have accomplished any good
end whatever; on the contrary, if there had been
a serious impression in the Democratic party
of his becoming an Independent candidate,
knowing him to be a Democrat, and his imlne-
date friends among the warmest supporters of
the party in the parish, the friends and mem-
bers of the convention would havetbeen very
short-sighted toshaye nominated him with
the greater reason in order to prevent any
clasm or dissension, or, at least, to have had
some understanding with him before the cons
yention met and had its final action. :.
! But let us 1ook.at this card, and see what it
amounts to. / do not think, after all, that we
shall find it so terrible bug-bear. Mr.. Erwin
writes on the 2sth of May. at which time he
says in substance, III is moi nor has Il eusr been
my intention to become an independent candl
late for the office Of sheriff of this parish atthe
next regular election" He speaks only ofthe
past and the present. He says, that up to that
time it had never been his intention, but, mark
you, he does not say that he aoil not or may not
become an independent candidate;s there is no
'uch language in the whole card, Where, then,
Mr. Editor, is the shameful inconsistencie with
which he is charged @
There is no doubt, however, but that Mr..
Erwin wrote this card for the purpose of res
moving any such impression that may have ex-
sted in the party, and which might have opere
tied against him in securing the Tegular nomi- |
lation He was acting in good faith towards
'iss party, and, in the integrity of his own
curse, but little suspected that the quasi lead
rs OF that party had openly ayowed that they 7
you'd not give him their votes, epen If he aoere /
he nominee. Ifthen, they publicly declared that +
hey would not give him their votes, in the ev- t
mt Of his nomination, which was The least they
ould do-and if they thus throw their infu.
nee against his securing that nomination, is it
OF highly probable that, in case he had secur-
d it, they would have exerted themselves to +
rocure his defeata Do you call this justice!
10 you callthis fair showing? Ifyou do, then
know not what is meant by justice and fair
howng.
Isit tpossible, many will exclain,, that such
vowals as these were publicly made by those
ho are esteemed the leaders of the party, and
ho consider themselves as occupying sthe
gh seats" in view of their political integrity?
this consistency Is this true and sober De-
ocracy? viii leave it to others to answer {
lese questions. q e
But suppose Mr. Erwin had said, and used ,
nguage to this effeet-"It is not, nor has it I
'er been my intention, nor do Ierer erpect, to {
~ as an independent candidate, &c"-sup-
ose, say, that Mr.. Erwin had used language
this effect, which however he never did, |
ould he not have been perfectly justifable ID
anging his determination in view of the cir {
which have just stateds All OF 4
] who make declarations, no matter what they I
ncern, make them, contingent on circumstan.
on the circumstances of life, {
ID health, virtue and honesty, and whatever 8
Sc we please. 5s |
At the time Mr. Erwin wrote this notch I
as not aware that any improper influences
ould be thrown out to operate against him
did moi for a moment suppose but that he {
ould have fair and just treatment. It was |
lth these feelings and underthese convictions
at he wrore that note; ard here lot US give. to
e said note The worst possible Interpretation. I,
ct US suppose that he had sale, 81 never ex>
ct to become, nor win eser become. an .in-
pendent candidate" If be had used this lan-