Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1853-08-06
Tramrnels of the Ballot-Box.

merry are indispensable to success"
Such was the sentiment, if not the exact
words, of a Democrat of this parish a few days
since while conyersing with the writer of this
article and did we choose to prove recreant
to the principle of holding secure and sacred
from public exposure, remarks and expressions
addressed to US in a confidential manner, which
is the nature of all private assertions or dec
l~arations without the formality of a warning
that they be thus considered, we could make
doubly effective the remark by pointing to the
individual who made it by illusions which
could not be mistaken. But we deprecate such
a course on the part of an editor; he is trans
cendipg his rights when he drags private inter-
course into his editorial columns in such man.
ner that the individual who gave utteranee to
certain expressions can be easily recognized
by the public.
But recurring to the above remark, we have
no hesitation in saying that the mandates of
political conventions nowadays are nothing
else than trammels Of the balot-bor, which not
only defeat the best interests, welfare and no.
nor of the people at large, but almost ~invaria-
bly,, at the present era in their history, signally
fail to give utterance to the wishes of the par
ty they pretend to represent. This sentiment
may be deemed inconsistent with former ex-
pressions made in our enthusiasm for party
organization; but we are convinced that the
Wing party can never be SO thoroughly organ
lied and effective as when it bodily opposes
the encroachments of public wrongs which
are clearly established; and should we indeed
at any former periods have acknowledged in
t~uitively within our own breast the evil effects
of political conventions, that impression has
become more decided in consequence of late
events on a small scale which recently trans
pired in this Parish.
The manner in which men are now nomina-
ted to office by conventions, expressing the
wishes of comparatively a few %intriguers and
not the voice and feelings of the people at
large, is not only throwing shackles around
the most glorious of our political institutions,
but it is the first and the surest step which
could be taken to wrest from the people the
of will and the liberty of conscience
in a matter where their minds should ever be
and Independent, and where they should
continued Watchfulness and jealousy
Controlling and enslaving the ballot-box is one
Of those incipient steps which even the friends
and builders up of popular governments some
unconsciously take, and which lead from
bad to worse, till all the vestiges of demo-
cratic government are lost-then the oligarchy,
and then the despotism of the single hand.
History has been read to but little advaD-
tage, if it has not been discovered that since
The earliest of republican governments to the
present time, their downfall may be traced to
seemingly trifling attacks upon the freedom of
conscience and of action; and we find that the
people themselves thoughtlessly stimulate to
hose tyrannic exactions which ultimately re-
in the loss of their chartered liberties and
n the riveting of shackles which the tears and
of generations failed to restore and
No despot ever rose to supreme
'ower on the instant, and issued his fats and
ordinances which crushed all liberal and pop
liar institutions, and took from the people all
heir previous rights and immunities. Those
Who had reached the pinnacle of despotic pow
r and trod with iron heel upon their passive
had first to wait until the people
themselves had paved their way through a
ong catalogue of vices and errors for which
1ey alone were responsible. Even those who
rasped at the despotic mace, scarcely dreampt
lat such a brilliant future would ever close
leir history. when mingling in republican
and instead of giving their attention
the enactment Of good and wise laws, con-
ending for the success of cliques and policies
n party supremacy;-thus unwittingly lay
g the sure foundation upon which 20 rear the
of tyranny, by building the under.
lining machinery which overthrows freedom
I'd crumbles into dust the wealth and power
mighty nations. Such was the fate of re-
,blican Rome-and such has been asserted
ould ere this have been the destiny of Mex.
o but for the power and moral influence of
is Government. And we, having no foreign
n~trolling influences, with strong passions
d excitements, how much more careful we
ould be to prevent all infringements upon
political rights, and all tampering by des.
rate partizans and their coadjutors to turn
e scales in their favor at the ballot-box.
Taking this view of the case then, that it is
e duty of the Press to expose all insidious .
d incipient acts which destroy freedom of
ought and freedom of action among the peo-
and above all to guard against the tram ,
Els of the ballot-box, through false conoep-
ms Of moral political obligations, we say, in { {