Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1853-05-07
"A o,orious Contamination.

ture OF LOUISIANA, OF le53-haS al length ad~
journed. This historical event, and erengui
scrap of history, occurred last Saturday night
at IL o'clock, after which, we presume, a glori
Jfcation, commensurate with this glorious con-
summation, was had by that portion of the
members that remained at the capitol, to have
the honor Of winding up their legislative deli.
berations. 1t is a notorious fact, that the me-
mory of man faileth to ~recollect when just such
an impotent body of the uisdom of the State,
from the evidences Of journals Of all political
hues,) ever before met in this State or in any
| other section of the Union, to make laws for
q Stree and intelligent people" But no one
will deny, however, that there were some
bright exceptions among the slothful and in
competent, whose associations have doubtless
made them Disguised with political life for the
remainder of their days, and will hereafter be
content to remain at home and attend to their
professional and other duties, rather than again
venture to be connected with just such another
| political body, which has tolled its doom and
buried itself forever.
The New Orleans True Delta, a paper which
boasts of its Democratic tendencies in the true
meaning Of the word, and which has given so
many evidences of its impartial political ex-
preston, as well as its love for the rights of
the people, thus speaks of the august body to
which we allude:
"The Legislature has actually at length ad-
journed. The four dollar per diem wisdom of
the State, which, for several months past, has
held high wassail and p~ractised low intrigue in
Baton Rouge, has scattered, to meet no more.
We sincerely congratulate the people upon
their deliverance, for it is nc exaggeration to
say that a more worthless, ignorant, or corrupt
set never had power conEded to them to abuse,
nor confidence to betray. Elected, as the ma
jority was, upon what were called democratic
principles, the retrospect will convince any one
who cares to examine so repuisive a matter as
the recorded acts of men whom he cannot res
pect, that every reasonable expectation of the
people has been disregarded, and that the only
principle really respected by their servants, was
the principle of waste, extravaganza and plum
der.
ain a few months the people will again be
called upon to select q new batch of represen.
~tatives, and it is a satisfaction to us to know
that they cannot select a more useless, igno-
rant, or dangerous body than that which has
SO recently adjourned, to the relief of the trea.
sury and the joy Of their constituents"
Such is the opinion or a staunch Democrat
respecting the memorable Legislature that has
just closed its labors-elected d. to make simple
and judicious laws for their dear entrapped
constituents. and expressedly to put a stop to
"Wbig extravaganza and misrule!!" What a
commentary is their acts upon such a political
avowal! We differ with the editor, however,
in believing that a more careless, ignorant or
dangerous body" will not again lie selected
Legislative degradation, low as it has hereto
fore VIGOROUSLY been, (and disgustingly SO in
this last body that has just separately has not
reached its nethermost point in Louisiana. We
say it without the fear of contradiction, that
true merit and true ability have been but light
1y considered, as a general rule, in the choice
of members of the Legislature who have here
tofore represented the people; men of such
qaalfties III tllis State, siEllk lfom tHe lQea VI
allowing themselves to be run for the Legisla-
ture when qualifications are not considered,
and when intrigue, and juggling, and corrup-
ton at the ballot-box are so openly practised'
and insuring the election Of men who have no
morals, no intellectually, no education and no
position, save that which cash or impudence
gives them. Depend upon il, good men and
able men will be more careful ut the next cleo
than formerly in allowing their names to
go before the people for Legislative honors-
and until some great revolution is made in the
of selecting and eleeting men to make
laws for the State and take care of its finances,
all who have any respect for themselves, or
any sensitive feelings, should shrink from
he Louisiana Legislature as they would from
! boa constructor.