Thibodaux minerva. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 18??-1858, 1855-11-10
The Election.---Its Result.

The Election.---Its Result.
In another part of to-days issue we give full re-
turns by wards Of the elections held in this parish
| on Monday last for State and Parochial officers.
The day passed off quietly without the least disturb
ance. In will be seen upon an examination of the
returns, that larger vote, by nearly two hundred,
has been cast than at any previous election in this
parish This is owing to- and altogether attribute
BILE to the zeal manifested by the opposing candi-
dates for local offices, from Sheriff down to Ward
Constables and Police Jurymen, in bringing voters
to the polls Never at any previous contest, has
there been any very serious or regularly organized
opposition for local offices in this parish, and hence
the unusually large vote. 1t is strictly, no doubt,
legal one; for fraud at the ballot-box in the par
ish of Lafourche, was never attempted, much less
perpetrated. Had there been no opposition tor
minor Offices, We very much doubt whether the as
gregate vote of the parish, would have reached
eight hundred.
The American party, yet young, with all the
weight of our most influential Creole citizens against
it, owing to the implied religious test contained IN
the National Platform, though defeated in its first
contest for supremacy with the Democracy, or Anti
Know Nothingisp, as it was here cunningy styled,
has lust cause to feel proud of the support it has
received. That noble Spartan band Of four hun
dred and fifteen American freemen, who cast their
suffrage for the gallant DERB1GNY, on Monday last
wicontnue to stand by their spotess principles IN
til they shall be truly understood, and victory shall
reward their fidelity. From this time forward, they
will be vigant and unceasing in divesting the minds
of the people of the false charges made against the
party, during the recent canvass, and putting the
real issue" Americans to rule America before
them. We are defeated, but not dismayed; and as
long as one drop of pure American blood, unnfu-
enced by fear, or unswayed by gain, courses thro'
our veins, we shall be found at our post, manfuly
battling for American rights, and American laws.
No motives of self interest has or ever shall
cause us to abandon principles which we conceive
to be the most conducive to the best interests Of our
common country. When we espoused the advoca-
cy of the American party and its principles in the
month Of July last, we were fully conscious that it
was composed of but feeble minority the voting
population of this parish; and that in 80 acting we
were making great personal sacrifice in order to
promote, what we conceived, public good But
even this deferred us not in volunteering our hum
BILE aid, though the penalty, we felt certain, would
be severe
Each and every member Of our party in the
parish Of Lafourche stands firmly to our cause,
and though defeated for a time, will ultimately
triumph over all and every opposition. If our oppo,
nents have been successful in the first struggle, to
no influence is it more attributable than to the rel
gious question which was most shamefully and per-
tnaciousy used against us. In one portion of the
State, our candidates were assailed because they
belonged to party which prescribed the Roman
Catholics; while in other portions several Of the
same candidates were denounced because they were
members Of the Church of Rome. The thing was
conceived in corruption and fraud, and carried out
with unblushing efrontery against the most solemn
the voting population Of Lafourche clearly COM
pretended the principles for which we commended
and not have been led astray by the false state
ments Of politico-religious politicians, we should
have carried the parish by an almost unanimous
vote. No people in Louisiana are more strongly in
favor Of the true principles Of the American party
than the Creoles of Lafourche. If they have been
prevented frcm rallying around our standard, the
trainers Of the Philadelphia Platform are alone to
blame-the democracy have cause to exult When
every thing Of religious or sectarian tendency
shall have been stricken from among the principles
Of the National Organization and secresy abolished
we are confident that party will meet with little
or no opposition here. Let the National Conven-
ton, when it shall assemble in February next, strike
out the With Article of the Philadelphia edict;
and then adopt an additional resolution which will
admit certain class Of foreigners-those who have
lived under our government from their earliest
youth, have reared families and are truly republic
can in sentiment and feeling-of becoming mem
bers of the organization Then, and not until then,
can we triumph as the great Union and Conserv-
alive party of the United States.
Mississippi Election.