The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1855-10-24


/ OLD DocuMESTs-We commend to the pe-
rusal of our democratic friends the following
extract, from the United States Magazine and
Democratic Review 1t is to be found in the
! July number of 1850, and furnishes fine COM
mentary on the proyerb, circumstances alter
cases. Read it: .lz
"Ihese European reformers who are hocking
} hither by thousands, bring with them the pesti-
lent products OF the worn out soil Of the old
world-whlch, it would seem, whenever it falls
into labor, produces nothing but monsters.
f They bring with them a host of extravaeant
notions of freedom, or plenty of crude. ur-
digested theories, which are utterly irreconcila-
BILE with obedience TO laws of our own making.
and from constitution Of our own adopting.
They come with their heads full of division
of property to a country where it is already d-
vided in a manner most sautary to the general
welfare by existing laws and institutions, allow
ing every man an equal chance, and placing no
artificial obstructions in the way of any. Il is
not here that idleness, profligacy and extraya-
! gance are shielded from their otherwise inevi-
table consequences-poverty and contempt
by laws and institutions expressly devised for
that purpose. 1t is not here that property is
i perpetuated for ages in one family, and that
the laboring classes arc forever excluded from
i their share. BUTT is here that industry, econo-
i my, prudence and enterprise receive their due
rewards, and by being left to themselves, pro-
duce that general diffusion of comfort, as we'll
as that sautary distribution of property which
can never be brought about. or at least perpetu-
i ded by any o'her means. ~ ~-~-
"The socialists, however, who are come and
coming among us, either from not comprehend
{ ing that they have got into new world alto
gether different from the old, or from wild and
reckless spirit Of innovation are silently making
an impression on the people Of our great cities,
where all the sweepings of the country are
gathered into one great mass of ignorance and
corruption. They are instilling into them priu-
ciples at war with society, and have attracted
the attention of the federal leaders, who begin
to nbbe at them, and discover evident symp-
toms of design to enlist them in their great
army Of g-tag and bob-tail, clothed in the
many-colored patches of anti-masonry, anti
mailism, abolltionism, socialism, hourerisu,.
St. Simonianism, and heaven only knows what
besides.
'In conjunction with these, the abolitonists
, will be able to poll votes at greatrate. They
will be worth purchasing, at the sacrifice of tie
church, the state, the laws and constitution.
There isno country under heaven where fanati-
cism can find such fuel forits fires as in the Uni
ted States, or become so dangerous. We say
it with the deepest regret, but it is our firm
belief that if sect of avowed worshppers of
the evil spirit were to spring out--as is not un-
, likely-from the redhot lava of abolitionism,
t in sufficient numbers to decide the election of
, president, there are politicians and political
leaders who would court their support by wor-
r shipping at their shrne.''
Personal INDEpENDENcE.-Byp personal in
dependence, we meana self-reliant spirit which
leads one to regulate his conduct by the dictates
of his own Judgment-that sterling quality
which distinguishes the man from the mere
automaton. Founded on conscious integrity
and a strong, determined will, it may be regar-
ded one of the snrest evidences Of true manli-
4 ness. Let man be clothed in the garb of his
y own individuality him act always in accor-
dance with an educated sense of duty-let
.. him hold and feel himself directly responsible
, for his acts, and he must deserve, as well as
! win, the admiration and respect of his fellows
t Man, it is true, is social being, and can find
happiness only by communion with his kind,
but mentally, each should be for himself-each
should think for himself-so that the modified
results of action and reaction may be realized
There is, indeed, in personal independence,
dignity and loftiness which make it an adorning
characteristic of manhood and youth. We cam
not conceive of grander spectacle than that
f afforded by him who, amid danger and tempta-
f ton and scorn, calmly and alone pursues the
path of duty, rough though it be, and hedged
in by numerous perils.
But if these remarks are applicable to nan,
considered as responsible being, they certain
, ly apply, with no less force to him as mem
Der Of the body polite As the citizen of
republicans a freeman, it becomes his duty to
divest himself Of the control of designing dema-
gogues and political hucksters Having the ho-
ly privilege ofthe elective franchise cenfdcd to
him, he should guard with vestal care against
: its corruption, and conscious of the grave res
possibility to be incurred by its abuse, he should
60 to the ballet-box, not like the gsIley-slave
of party or It's petty office holders, but like
freeman, glorying in his individuality.
CASE IN Po1sr.--The Organ says that the
anti American party in this city, Washington, J
as our readers recollect, made great uproar
!, for several weeks after the late election, be-
= cause, as they asserted, naturalised citizens
were prohibited from voting. We exposed the
falsty of this assertion pretty thoroughly at the
time, and the result of the investigation order
ed by the councils subsequently, gave the
charge an effectual quietus. And now we have
something to record in connexion with this mat
ter which is especially worthy of remark. 1t
appears by the investigators of the joint COM
mittee of the councils, on the eligibility and
qualification Of the officers elect, that w. Clam
pitt, who was elected an assessor Ly the anti
Americans Of the second ward, is a non -natu-
raised foreigner, and, therefore, unqualified for
office. Mr.. Clampitt accordingly returns to
the ranks Of private life. 1t seems, therefore.
that the administration party so enamored
OF foreigners, and SO determined to place them
in Office, to the exclusion of native born Amer
leans, that they are unwilling to wait even until
they are naturalised before investing them with
the power and emolument which Office confers
Is such party entitled to the confidence and
| respect of native born Americans? (or of natu-
ralised ctizens?) Can such party reasonable
complain if its opponents denomiuate it the for.