Thibodaux minerva. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 18??-1858, 1855-10-27
From the Baton Rouge Gazette, 18th inst.
81 Where are the Afidavits %

What right have you to make this inquiry,
Mr.. True Delta? What relation do you sustain
to Mr.. Miles Taylor. that you can thrust HIM
aside from his own defence and with magiste-
rial air demand the affitlavits Is he so teth-
cred by party lines, as to be guided entirely by
the leading strings of the True Delta whenever
it is necessary to defend his political reputa-
ton. Is the spirit of Chapman SO degene-
rate these days, as to find no nobler ally than
the political Bqntum on Church street. Why.
before Miles Taylor himself has the hardhood
to deny or question the impressions which his
I anti -foreign-corruption notions made the I'M
ierstandings of Mr.. Elan and others, before
the True Dalta would allow him to deny or cor
rect them, that embodiment of Truth takes up
the quarrel and demands the affdavits! Why
not let Miles Taylor to whom the letter was
addressed, refute or dispute or even dsny the
charge in it? All! you fear that he may pro-
badly have much higher regard for that
matchless virtue, truth that you counterfeit,
than will exactly conduce to the interest OF the
Democratic party.
Mr.. Elan understood Mr.. Taylor s. to say
acithout any qualification that if something was
not done and done speedily to purify the ballot
box from the currupting influence OF foreigners,
American liberty would be lost"
from the little value, which the True Delta
places upon personal reputation on the part Of
that gentleman it would seem that he will not
be permitted to do so.
| The True Delta however, with an e2traord1-
nary zeal, excessively admira bic, confronts the
charges before they are denied! Indeed, he
seems to consider this matter of q posture and
direct denial of secondary Importance, if he can
successfully avoid the affirmative assault of Mr..
Elam by trying to prove negative. Though
| armor bearer to Miles Taylor, this redoubtable
editor becomes so enlisted in this political dis
pute, that he leaves his champion leader uncov-
cred and unarmed to the attacks Of his foe,
| while he for more certain victory attacks Mr..
| Elan from another quarter. 1t really appears,
too that while little solicitude is felt as to the
| thrusts Mr.. Taylor may receive in his political
corporosity, the True Delta with the assistance
of its vassals on church street, is determined to
make away with Mr.. Elan. 1t seems to them,
| the only mode of saving their leader. But how
ever much they may desire to take this fight off
Mr.. Taylor's hands, they cannot do it. He is
not fighting againt Mr.. Elan, the " Solitary
Mourner" any one else; but against his
own expressed opinions, presented in tangible
and unquestionable shape. He may dread to
meet so monstrous a foe but should ne encou-
! ragged with consolation offered by old Hudbras
'He. that is valiant and dares fight,
Though drubbed can lose no honour by IT.
Mr.. True Delta, there is no question Of the
outrage you and the Advocate have committed
against Mr.. Taylor and the Democratic cause in
the tiimsey defence you have made for that per-
secuted individual
Neither of you deny that q conversation did
take place under the circumstances stated in
Mr.. Elem's letter and you both try to explain
away the opinions expressed by Mr.. Taylor On
that occasion. Says the Advocate, Mr.. Taylor
contends and his friends insist that in the con-
versation mentioned, he did not speak OF the
foreign vote in the terms or IN the sense I'M
puted to him by the strong letter writing
weakness, but did condemn the corruptions prac-
ticed at the ballot boz By both parties" Mr..
Elan was at least correct in stating that ''the
subject of the conversation was the corrupting
influence of the foreign vote or the efforts re-
sorted to for obtaining the vote Of foreigners in
the city Of New Orleans" How Mr.. Taylor
expressed himself ON this subject is the matter
in dispute.
Mr.. Elan asserts that he (Taylor) directed
his condemnatory remarks against the foreign
ers mithout any qualification. The True Delta,
by display of logical tactics ninlitable to the
Advocate undertakes to establish q sort of
political alb in the case. 1t insists that MIR.
Taylor was warning against the private corrup-
tons of the Democratic party in its prelimi-
nary elections-instead of the foreign vote in
final elections. Ho would have Mr.. Taylor's
conversation interpreted thus; eff something
is not done and done speedily to correct the cor
rupt and unfair practices, which have been ne
torious at preliminary elections of the Demo-
cratic party, flor he is supposed, in honor, to
be unacquainted with the domestic affairs Of
the other partly for the selection of delegates,
American liberty would be lost" Really, if
any body IS acquainted with the modus operandt
of Democratic preliminary elections, Niles 7ay-
| lor,s recent experience enables him to be; aud
perhaps he feels the full force Of the above pre-
diction.
This posture of defence assumed by the True
Delta reminds one very much of scene which
| has doubtlessly been published in that paper
| itself
"Well, Thomas" said the Justice, "What do
you know about this fracas p II know Bob
never struck Billy Patterson" Is We're you
present, sir. at the time it is alleged the strik
| ing took place %
.sWhy-no sir.'' "Then why are you SO
positive in your assertions? Did Bob ever deny
striking Billy Patterson in your presence ?"
"No sir ''Well then, sir, how do you know
that Bob never struck Billy Patterson ?'
"Why, you see, Bob and are all one. 1
never struck Billy; and, therefore, I am sure
Bob never did either. Please your honor,
Bob has been striking somebody else all the
time"
The True Delta holds the curb strings of Mr.
Miles Taylor's political faith, and as he of the
True Delta never condemned the currupting in
huence of the foreign vote, nor wished to see
it purified, therefore never did Miles Taylor.
And such is the gst-about way in which the
True Delta thinks best to answer the direct
charges Of Mr.. Elan; the probable result Of
which will not be a matter of self-gratulation
to Mr.. Taylor.
The True Delta and the Advocate make out
much stronger case against Miles Taylor than
Mr.. Elan does. He is represented by them as
not only condemning the domestic transactions
of the Democratic party; but of charging upon
them instead Of foreigners a share of the corrup-
ton attending the exercise of the right of
franchise. In fact they go even to the extent of
insinuating that whatever opinions Mr.. Taylor
expressed in his conversation with Mr.. Elan,
were directed against the very party he repre-
sents in Che Congressional contest. They have
placed Miles Taylor in dilemma, either horn
of which he would not like to grapple It is
matter Of choice with him to say whether it is
~