The Feliciana Democrat. (Clinton, La.) 1855-186?, 1855-08-25
CAPTAIN Comstock and the Nomination.

Captain COmStOck and the Nomination.
We took occasion, in late issue, to indulge
in some remarks upon the manner inwhich this
gentleman had been dealt with by the Know
Nothing party in this parish. There was such
an utter and fragrant violation of one of the
most loudly trumpeted principles of the order;
such an unblushing Justification of the doctrine
that the Office should seek the man, and not
the man the Office, that we could not help ex-
pressing our modification, accustomed even as
we were to know nothing regeneration and
hypocrisy. To our remark in this connection
the Organ has taken exceptions. In language
well BETTING the principles it advocates, and
with epithcts culled with rare taste, we have
been accused of attempting to "gammon '
Captain Comstock. Such course was far
from our intention Itwould have been unpar-
donable in us just then to have done so, as he
had but day or two before, been CANNON
ed" most recklessly by those who protested to-
be his friends in that nomination. We had no
idea of getting up an aftcrpiecc to the msera-
BILE farce, which that party had so lately play
ed off on him. But we did intend to expose
the utter nsincerity Of the professions, so boast
fully made and so loudly trumpctcd under
which that nomination was made. "I'he Office
must seek the man;' the wild hunt for Office
must be put down." the people must be al
lowed to speak out freely in the choice of their
candidates. unnhuenccd by personal appeals,
and untrammelled by clcctionccring arts and
management" These were the professions nm
der which this nomination was to be made, and
the principles which were to controli it. We wish
ed to know if these professions had been met
in the case of Captain Comstock, and the Or
gan asks in reply, " if we would have voted for
him. had he been nominated" We wished to
know if the pledge had been fairly redeemed,
so often given to the the public, that the Office
should seek the man, and not the man the Of
fee, and VS. are asked "if we had not dcnonn-
ced Captain Comstock as one of the dark lam
tern partyw We wished to know if even in
the paltry matter Of party nomination, they
had been true to their party principles, and we
arc asked in reply, IF we have not denounced
: Captain Comstock as conspirator against the
t constitutional
What wretched evasion all this is! Admit.
: ting that Captain Comstock had been "denonn.
ced as member of the dark lantern party
f or " as conspirator against the constitution,
r did the other candidates stand in any better po
, sition! If we were guilty of the charge, were
a they innocent? Were they not bound by tho
: same obligations, and, in all respects in the
n same category with him! So far as position
, is concerned, whether good or bad, he stood
D upon the same platform with them, with the
advantage, doubtless, even in the estimation o.
his competitors of possessing vastly superior
qualifications for the Office. How then, w
{ again ask, did the Office overlook him? How
! was it that these qualifications were set aside
How has the pledge to the public been redeem
4 ed, that such men as he, and only such, woult
s be elected to Offices of trust or honor, by th
@ new party of rcformers in the State2
NEW OIIFANs.--The number of deaths from vel
d low fever, for the week ending August 20. WAS 5oi