The Opelousas patriot. [volume] (Opelousas, Parish of St. Landry, La.) 1855-1863, 1855-03-17

ho'fo7s Of Tie Opeiotsas Patriot
since = hnow-No tlingism" is ut this moment
attracting some attention in our community. we Dro.
pose 10 submit a few remarks on the subject, through
the columns OF your journal, explanatory of the
views We have formed concerning ii. and which we
nave gathered from the public Journals of the coun.
'ry' ana the speeches OF men who have ayowel
themselves favorable to the principles of the new
party.
Inc association has been assaulted and bitterly dc.
honneed in every section of the country, at the
North and at the South.
It's assaliants have, among other grounds of oupo,
silion, based their luminosity to the Order principal,y
upon Two features, which they alledge characterize
IT, VIZ It's spirit, and its principles of religious in.
tolerance its sympathy with aud aifliation of the
objects and principles OF the Abolition party Of tho
North.
we can not believe these grounds Of oppositiou
'eha'ale' 1t we have correctly understood the nrip.
clpseS fhd the object of the American party. we Ina.
heVe them to be simply and strictly political in M
wise connected with religion, ana in no wisc y;,lativo
oi any provision III the Constitution of the United
9Nasea' WHICH secures TO every man, living within its
"its''ioiioii, entire freedom Of rgli sious belief and
"of'ilp. we understand the object of tho ossoci,.
tioh 10 be simply and truly this the prevention Inv
all and honorable means. of The sn,ead ,s a
greet political evil-a repulsiye plagpe-spo, tbot h,s
seated itself upon the body polite,
Inc country has for some years past felt and lood,y
complained of an undue influence, eye,ted far cor
Fopt purposes OF party and personal ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
NJ our elections, through the instrumentaltv of a
foreign population numerous, ignorant, and bl;na,y
oeedient to the wishes and ends of mipriucinIel
deina sogues who. regardless Of every other consider.
"'loii' sought only the working out of their own
selfish views.
~ Is needless noc for us to say in what manner
this !ai'eiui influence has been brought to bear =,
our elections it is unnecessary to enter iuto - mi.
mute aeeouct OF the numerous cyasjons and viclotio,o
Of Our laws Of naturalization and elections i, ci,o
instances of the open, rutiau like manner in which
'"o purposes OF our elections have been perverted,
ana our orderly and law-abiding American citizens
prevented from exercising at the polls the highest
privilege OF eitizensIip-wc leave this for the mem.
DRY OF our readers to supply.
" nave sad that in these abuses the agency or
American partisan leaders entered lareeIv-xo mo,,
say principally. We are aware that this nos;t;on
mas been taken by the opponents of the ossoc;,t;o, :.
s'i"'' occupying this position, they have urged the
i'Vastice Oh making our foreign population resnonsi-
Die Tor sins which they have been led tn ,om,,i,
through 'he temptations Of American leaders. Bu,
thel the position, as far rs the purposes for which
'noy nave assumed it are concerned, is a false one.
ii'ey admit that an evil exists-that abuses vio,,
u'is OF law and order have been practiced nv our,
'oteigh population, in the exercise of their newly
ana often nnlawtnlly acquired privileges hut, say
'leg' Americans have been their leaders, and tLey
"'ohe are responsible-they alone should suffer what.
ever penalty Is to be visited upon tho offenders.
iefnaps' II the object of the American party were
ie'e"se, this conclusion would be correct ana
logical bnt, unfortunately for this conclusion nm.
'''0n"'e'y nr the premises from which it is drawn,