The Opelousas patriot. [volume] (Opelousas, Parish of St. Landry, La.) 1855-1863, 1855-03-24

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not the man seek the Office lIs Re e.-. a74a H'N
.5r JHE}7 4 VOICE FROM TINE PRAIRIE.
Reply to 3" Young America" .se
Editors of the Opeloasas Patriot ; 4te
The Courier of the 10th inst. contains a lengthy
communication, purporting to come from a " Young
American" and, as such, it is my design to upset
and expose the most prominent as well as the most
dangerous of his fallacies, leaving the burden of his
complaint to the tender mercies of a generous pub
lie. Not that l believe him to be a Young Ameri-
can far from it. The hump shows too plainly
for, though young myself, I have a fine eye for de-
tecting sold Fogies.' Mask themselves as they
may, 50 hideous is their deformity that he mist be a
very young American who could not detect so gross
II counterfeit of the genuine article. So much by
way of prelude Now we pass on to the merits Of
:. Young Americas complaint. siF
His opening paragraph is only the effervescence
Of bottled wrath, fomented and agitated by a keen
sense Of departed greatness. Very natural to be
sure, but altogether uncourteous toward the Know
Sothings. '"
His first bold stroke is an attempt to tear mp and
expose the largest plank in the platform of this new
Order, which, he says, reads as follows:
GA total repeal of the Naturalization Laws, or, if
this can not be obtained, an extension of said laws to
twenty-one years." etc. h'
Just so. Admit that TO be the first plank in the
p~latform-and, by the way, just as firm in its place
as d mad-sill. Now, having conceded this much, let
me bring the question directly home to Z" Young
America and ask him if he ever voted and, if so,
how old he was before he could present himself with
confidence at the polls and claim his vote. No doubt
his answer would be, Z" Twentyone years" Just 80,
then. Born in a land of freedom, reared from infan-
cy to manhood with no ideas but those that savored
of the all-absorbing principle of or Government
Iiepublicanism-and still untitled for a voice in
Government affairs until twGnty-one years of age.
That is MT any thing at all, l suppose? That only
falls heavily upon native born citizens, for whom a
certain class nowadays think there should lie little
This is hut too common u feeling
throughout our conntry-and the sooner corrected,
the better. How many native born Americans are
there, against whom no evidence Of minority can be
slledsed save their years. Their i~ntellects matured,
their minds convcrsant with the politics of their
country, and still by law they have no voice in the
direction of their. Government. Is this right?
answer, It is. All laws mast fall with more or less
severity on some classes, Laws are enacted for the
general. good, and not for the benefit of Il select few.
Where is the American, who has passed his minor
ity, but can testify with what pride and confidence
he cast bis first vote! 1t may not he out Of place
here to cite my own case. rs doubtless it illustrates
wildly the experience of thousands
The last Presidential election l cast my FIRST vote,
and if | ever passed a happier moment than on that
occasion, it has faded from my memory. Ny vote,
like the votes OF most native born citizeus in those
times, was challenged, and my examination was
rigid, but satisfactory. So far, so good and no doubt
L should have retired from the polls proud and con
tented, but for an occurrence which, " Young Amer
lea must admit, was rather calculated to mprtify a
young voter. Ny vote had scarcely been deposited,
when the racket of q rich Isogues' in the rear gave
nnmistakahle signs Of the approach Of n fresf, i'm.
led on to victory and the polls by Corporals |
Mcl-ntlerty md Sehneikulahauiter. Their number
could hardly have been less than thirty strong, and
many of them bore fresh evidences of the rayaees of
ship fever among immigrants. No Time was lost. |
and, inspired by " the irish air, so swate
in Ameriky," I soon raw that, with the aid Of false
and Of papers transferable, more Illegal |
votes had been poIled than my humble vote could
in 4 lifetime.
In another place, f" Young America - speaks of the
degraded humanity of the old world.' Just then
and there We agree, and must admit, that sounds
sensible. But remember, il was that same old world |
lhat degraded our new world until the ~ilustrious era
Of 10, when Young America, like a little David, rose !
IN his majesty, and threw off the CALLING yoke of for
eign despotisn. Talk not Of ieopareing the welfare
Of our country to pay the debt of gratitude we owe |
for their aid in the achievement of our
Independence. Our gratitude We cheerfully give.
)tt the management Of our Government we with. |
lold. Aswell might the d~issipated and proaicatc
)roaigal son return to his father and claim the man.
agement and direction Of his estate after he has been
with starvation and death by the nlisuan-
OF his own estate. We are certainly capable
self.government-a principle which glitters like a
'tar throughout every line of our Declaration of In
dependence. Then why yield to foreigners and
'relsn corruption the legacy which our forefathers
ealed with their blood, and which demands our
or the violation of the wisest and noblest
'harge from man to man
? none but Americans on guard!n
JuNIUs.
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