Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1853-07-02
Sacrificing Ones Independence.

We have often reflected, how it is that a man
has no more pride of character, intelligence and
independence, than to permit a candidate for
office to ask him for his vote, and to state rea-
sons why he should be voted for. To many
men-and they are the right description of men
such approaches would be considered a d.
rect insult and insulting it is, both to a mans
intellect and responsibility. We therefore hope
that the day is not far distant, when candidates
will be afraid to beg rotes. If they are running
for a political office, the only true place and
manner to attempt to secure votes is upon the
stump, and in defining their political principles
and partiaiities generally, upon all conceivable
subjects likely to arise if for a local office, if
their past characters and known capacities are
not sufficiently recommendation, the people
should let it be definitely understood that all
endeavors to warp their judgements would be
fatal to those who tried it.
That the system Of begging votes and de-
manding pledges has arrived at a disgraceful
point in this parish, no cool candid mind will
deny; and as there is, in all rapidly increasing
and enlightened communities, evils which have
had their day and death, it is sincerely to be
hoped that the evil here alluded to is approach
ing the end of its existence in this community.
1t is indeed singular that the honest and hard.
working northumberland those of other hum
Bile positions, who, like the writer of this article,
has had the blessing Of but a very limited edu-
cation--will permit the political designer and
demagogue to wheed!e around them and directly
ask them to pledge their support.
If such honest but unambitious and unpye-
tending citizens, would allow themselves to
reflect a little, when the arrogant seeker for Of
flee ~salutes them with his smile, and inquire in
their own mind, if he thus approaches the law
yer, the physician, the merchant, and others of
a more elevated but not more honorable posi-.
lions, whose politics he kaows are adverse to
his own, they would at once find a negative to
their silent interrogatory, and perceive that such
candidate thus presumes on account of their
humble calling and supposed weakness Of in
tellect and independence.
A bigh.toned man is peculiarly jealous of the
approaches of a candidate, especially for local
Office, and instances are not rare, when a direct
and sturdy opposition has been the result of
attempting to change ones views and senti-
ments upon simple questions and matters which
required no instruction or intermeddlirg.
We trust, then, that all voters, in this parish
at least, will determine in their own minds, that
henceforth they will frown upon all description
of begging and juggling of ~demagogues, either
for themselves or their friends; and start from
the ensuing campaign, with the determination
not only to make no pledges whatever, but not
permit any one to question them as to their in
t~entions but after al. the candidates are in the
field, weigh deliberately the virtues and capa-
cities of each--especiaIly for local ofices--and
vote accordingly. The assertion of candidates
and their friends that II can command such
and such number of votes, is an insult and
a stain upon the character of the people, and
should be thrown back into the teeth of such
with scern and contumely.