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

LETTER FROM AN OLp AND HoSoRED CITIZEN.
Not long since, Mr.. Miles Taylor, anti Amer-
can candidate for congress from this district,
addressed a letter to the hon. Walter Brashear,
of st. Mary stating his design of visiting that
parish for the purpose of doing all he could to
promote the success OF the anti nothing
ticket at the approaching election. Mr.. Taylor
assuming that Mr. Brashear was opposed to
the principles of the American organization, de-
sired to obtain the good offices of the latter in
making him acquainted with the people, etc.
As will be seen by the subjoined response of
Mr.. Brashear, which has been kindly forwarded
US, all gentlemanly courtesies have been freely
rendered, and have, ere this, no doubt been
faithfully performed.
i But further than this the venerable Brashear
could not go. Although the frosts Of nearly
fourscore years have settled upon his head, his
intellect is as clear, and his heart as full Of pa
triotism as they were in the full flush of vigo-
rous manhood, when hope danced attendance
upon useful present and pointed the way to a
brilliant future. all of which was fully realized
in years of valuable public service, as the re-
cords Of the state amply prove. Mr.. Brashear
could not lend his influence against his own
n1Gmen, although requested by Mr. Miles
He could not consent to forego the
pl1lclples he advocated nearly twelve years ago
in the legislature, when Thomas Green David
. son, DIR. McFarlane, and many other Of our op-
ponents stood by his side and sustained Ameri-
can doctrines far more stringent in their appl-
cation than those now promulg gated in American
platforms. The gathered experience of years
has only strengthened earlier convictions, and
/ the honored and venerable ex-senator feels re-
newed and reinvigorated as the realization OF
what he ever deemed essential to the salvation
of his beloved country draws higher to a trium
phant consummation. z=.5
/ We will not detain our readers. further from
| the perusal of Mr.. Brashear's letter. AS an
ardent admirer OF the illustrious Henry Clay
once said about his mouth-it speaks for itself:
BERw1cK's BAY, 7th September, 1856.
Hon. MILES TAYLOR: Dear Sir-Your es-
teemed favor Of the 4th inst, was received yes
terday, and the contents duly considered.
Should the lethargy Of age not prevent me, l
shall be happy to meet and welcome you to st.
Mary on Wednesday next, in Franklin, as you
contemplate being there on that day--when /
will, as far as practicable, make you acquainted
with such of my friends as will know how to
appreciate your high inteligence-the honora-
Bile bearing of your life, private and political.
But when you hope for my aid in overthrow
ing the native American organization-a or
ganization under the name of know nothings,
which, whether either viewed in its numbers,
its responsibility of members, or its ayowed
principles, offers no exceptional points to my
approval-you but ask me to retract my course
steadily pursued since 1867, and to retract
| IL ;,,o tlo
hon. Green Davidson dr.. McFarlane, and many
other staunch democrats, who stood shoulder
to shoulder with me in the Legislature on this
subject while we were aEtipodes in sentiment On
nearly every other.
You compliment me by saying that l have
been the ardent advocate of southern interests,
and hence would seem to expect my co0pera.
ton in antagonism to the American organiza
ton thereby assuming that organization to be
hostile to southern interests.
Make that Inference appear well founded, ant
you will have all the aid an octagenarian car
give to put down such suicidal organization
j but you must not offer me as proof the SANDER
Gus falsehoods of its enemies since know mer
who do not deny their fellowship, who would
4 not remain an hour in the association if bu
half the reasonable motives were true which
have been attributed.
do not, however, admit as among legitimate
means of southern influence the new and strange
proposition Of senator Benjamin, in effect, that
the south, armed and equipped for war, should
array itself on Mason and Dixon's line, and in
vite the enemy to come on! We have had
enough and too much of bluster-too much OF
the cowardly gasconade directed to the fears ot
the north, and pointing to the battle field as
ultimate arbter. Southerners have not learned
seemingly, that there is more to be dreaded
from the calm courage which marches to the
encounter of enemies without threat or noise
than from noisy threat and fourished weapons
An extreme of loneliness, accompanied by
threats of violence, has characterized southern
action on the subject of slavery Thereby fos-
tering the fire which would otherwise have died
out) every since the constitutional detail of the
right Of petition On the subject, and tone OF
superiority and arrogance, more suited to the
style of a master addressing his slaves than to
the intercourse of friends or equals, has perva-
ded most of our southern, written or spoken,
productions on the subject. This I deplore
nearly as much as / do the extreme of fanati-
cism and folly which marks the language and
conduct of the abolilionists, whose members,
as hope and believe, are few, and who will, l
do not doubt, speedily, under the influence of
their neighbors and Our own improved manners
be silenced forever, or at least, convinced that
God Almighty having admitted slavery into
the world if in error or mistake has not made
it incumbent on them to assist him to correct it.
In what respect the American party, as such
can endanger the interest of the south, am
unable to comprehend. Certain it is that the
neophytes of the order are bidden to lay aside
the principles and distinctions of the old par
ties, and to promise devotion to the great prin-
ciple that sAmcrcans shall rule America In
this sentiment I heartily concur, and find in
the lessons of the past enough to assure me
that whenever it shall have domination over
public sentiment, none of the disgraceful scenes
of Plaquemne frauds, and of naturalization
without residence qualifications, as was made
notorious in judge Bosworth' 'simpeachment, can
again stain the archives Of our country.
I was born an American, subject of George
III. Ny father, who aided in the emancipa-
ton of our country from the government of the
British crown, left US poor as most of the for
Il.