The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1855-07-25
[For the South-H estern.

known truth, that little credit is due to the VIII
ter except for the words which embody it,
In forming an opinion on any question OF law
politics or religion, it is the imperative duty c
every individual to divest himself, asfar as pos
' sibe, of all prepossessons, and calmly decide
lest he mistake the call of Prejudice for that c
Reason. And how very important it is, tina
,, an American citizen, whose single vote ma
: decide the destinies of his country, to appea
dispassionately to Reason, unheeding the SIMS
ter voice of Prejudice.
At the present time we know there are thou
sands of American citizens who have unheedet
the honest conviction of their own minds, ant
at the silent, though mighty voice of Preju
dice, are rallying to the standard of what Rea
son teaches them is error. Else, why is it tina
democrats and wings, regardless of what they
have heretofore held as sacred principles, now
come together to join in a bitter crusade agains
principles which are for the good of our com
mon country, and vilfy men whom they know
not only to be pure patriots, but "to the man.
ner born?" Why isit, that democrat, because
he voted against a national bank, bankrupt
law, and high tariff, should now, as a eopse-
que7ace, raise hue and cry against the amend
ment Of naturalization laws, and similar ques
tons? Yet it would seem that the two ques.
tons are intimately connected, or why do the
former opposers of bank, etc., SO violently
denounce American principles? Perhaps, how
ever, Prejudice guides, not Reason. ..f
Last summer, an old gentleman, a democrat,
had read the platform, and learned the object
of the American party from an American news
paper He could not be too lavish of praise
! joined heatily in defence of every part of the
creed, and hourly upheld its principles. A
month passed and he was yet a s'know moth
ing" Friday evening, he attempted to con-
vince a visitor Of the conservative direction of
the party, and lauded it as the only hope of the
salvation of the country. Thus firmly did he
believe. Saturday morning came, and with it
the Washington Union. At dinner the old gen
tleman denounced and abused the party as VIC
lenly as he had upheld it before. That eyen-
ing read IN the Union an article rezatiye to the
knownotAing party, Aeaded g Democrats Bewarei''
The whole business was f'whig trick!'' The
Union had been silent hitherto. | think know
the secret of his strange, but not unusual me-
tamorphosis. Reader, how were you econ
yerted?" -.-- -,
The old bank, bankrupt law and high tariff
questions have no more to do with American
principles, than with the politics of the moon.
Because a man voted the democratic ticket
once, and may still do so, is no reason why he
should oppose the American party. Let each
individual read the platform Of the party-dis-
card all prejudice, reason calmly and decide
honestly with the convictions of his own mind
Are the objects and principles of the American
party hidden? They are not-you know then,
as well as |. If not, the door is open, and
prejudice is the only barrier to your admission.
1t is your duty, as a citizen, to inyestigate.
Do you object because the party is not true
to the south, or because it is sectional? Look
at the platform-who that loves his country
would change even one syllable?
Doyou object to any interference with our
naturalization laws? Look at the census re-
ports, and the statistics of your own State, and
see how much danger is to be feared Calcu-
late how much you are taxed by foreign pau
pers and criminals. We seek not to Danish OF {.
exclude honest and industrious foreigners, but
The INDECENT, the vicious and deprared. v
Do you object because it is ''whig trick?'' e
Many do. Old issues are buried and forgot r
en-not only by the American party, but, S
What is truly strange, by the opposition party a
Who cry so loudly for democratic principles lf
However, there is way to turn the tables on Vt
he wings. Let democrats, who know they are
wrong, join with US, and suddenly we shall st
lave safe majority in the American ranks, 9
nd can do as we please. I am confident that =
he American party will be content to see their CO
rnciples carried out-whether by wings or
emocrats I am sure they ask no more. - tie
AN AMERICAN DEMOCRAT. m
Minden, July 18th, 1855. tI
The American clipper ships are finding &C ~
We employmentfrom the allies, and are realiz- is
g rich harvest. Although the English haveI ye
ken some, the most of them are chartered "a
: the French government in the Mediterra- Oh
IAN Tor the transportation of troops, horses tn
I'd munitions of war to the east Marseiles ye
I'd Touon appears to be a general rendezvous on
them. From their huge proportions, su- pr.
r1or build and magnificent appointments, WI
ey are the objects of general admiration, and
e attracting great attention from English and SUI
NJ e11,...':. os POI
The following enumeration Of our fine clip
+ ships employed as transports, we find in COG
exchange paper. The Queen of Clippers, be,
90 tons, recently sailed for the Black sea, ' sm
tn $50 horses, 900 men of the imperial guard
d 1900 tons of materiel. The Gauntlet, of ton
20 tons, the Aleganian, Nonparei and Mon NIL NIL
'h OF the Seas, and four or five others, all ahl
ngng from 18oOto $500 tons are loading at
arsellles and Toulon, with horses, men and ane
,terel acc
The Great Republic, of 1000 tons, the larg- pn1
merchantmen afoat, and a splendid spec- !
n OF naval architecture, is now at Marseillcs dec
ding: She has been visited by thousands of eele'
inhabitants of that city, including the most leg leg
t1ngulshed functionaries, and is regarded hal
tn wonder and admiration. She is to take I
horses, 700 troops, and above 5000 tons rails rails
matena, among the latter are 100 pieces of nae
avy cannon and &C, 900 bombs. This is the pol
gest cargo ever taken by one vessel These pol
nerlcan clippers are chartered at from So so B
s4 25 per ton per month, and taken for six lett
nths positively. enc
Tho eoo;ts, o,f hro,1 ,+,, a. - -, -. app
. -. ~ ote'Ao'olio az tie upper lake com
to are tremendous, and in the face of the d
nense receipts of corn, and the export de- any
nd but nominal, with limited disilling PM
'ness the present prices of this description ski
grain cannot be maintained 1856 bush cam
were received at ports on the upper lakes of I