The Opelousas patriot. [volume] (Opelousas, Parish of St. Landry, La.) 1855-1863, 1855-04-28

Will any one call this idle cant or overgreat soil
citude? Is not the importation Of foreigners annu-
ally increasing 2--and who can tell how soon is the
time when the importation of foreigners will be
numerically greater than our own natural increase ?
And when this shall come to pass, who will answer
for the consequence? Who more turbulent and riot
Gus than our naturalized citizens, as a mass? Time
and again our cities have been the scenes of dis
graceful mobs, originated by newly natlralized Irish
and German citizens. s.lsa5
Our system of Naturalization originated among a
body of men whose purity of motive and selfsacri-
fcing love of country have never been surpassed, we
are proud to admit (; but why make this an argu-
ment for the justice or policy of the SYSTEM? Think
yon Ind they foreseen the enormous evils attendant
upon the naturalization of foreigners, in the extent
to which it is now carried, they would have instituted
it? How are the good or evil effects of any system
to be known but by seeing it in operation? BY no
other means can governments become strong and
substantial THAN, wien taught by experience, to dis
card those PRINCIPLES which have misclievous and
dangerous tendencies, and espnuse those which pro-
mote their interests and ensure their safety.
1t is a wise maxim, whether applied to our spirit
ual or political body, to avoid the appearance Of evil.
But here the evil Itself, in all its immensely, has
come upon US, and the national welfare calls for
reform. When we see danger staring us in the face.
and the remedy 1T hand, shall we refuse to adopt it?
No. Our Government is pursuing a dangerous poll
cy, and the People must change it.
Unfortunately, there are those who oppose the
American movement, on the ground of its being
made political capital of by one party to gain the
aseendancy over another. Now, is not the issue of
the question of sufficient Importance to supersede all
old parties, and to form one grand National Party /?
1t has always been observed that when the national
affairs were in a critical state, brave and loyal men
have come to the rescue. So the native born of the
land should and will now rally around the standard
of reform and crush this hydga-Feadcd monster that
threatens their common country.
1t is certainly good policy for the body polite to
nurse and harbor in its breast a poisonous reptile, if
it wishes to be str,ng to death. Safety is always the
best policy. And, we repeat it, if destruction is
safety, it is safe for this Government to unaold an
Institution proved by experience to be defective in
the highest degree.
But, thanks to those who, actuated by patriotism,
have determined that we shall never justify the
sneers Of European cynics who have stigmatized the
Republic of the United States as a Quixotic scheme,
a butterfly project, that is destined to iutter in Lril.
lihlt COlJlS lDE u WNlie, Jlcu cease TO be!
.-...... W - NATIVE.
THE Atehnfainyn River.
Editors Of the Opelousas Patriot:
Ipropose TO enter into 4 more minute description
of this garden-spot of Louisiana, for certainly it mcr.
its as much attention as any other portion of our
highly favored State-I can well say favored, for
nature has exercised a munidcent bounty in scatter
ing broadcast beauty and agricultural wealth, to
adorn and enrich the country. In the number of it,
navigable streams, in the productirencss of its soil,
and in the grandeur of its forests, cur State can chal-
lenge a comparison with any part of the earth,
When we take into consideration It's urriyaled natu.
raj advantages, its salubrity Of climate, its position
for a great commercial mart, ard The perfect adapt
edness of the soil to the culture OF both northern and
tropical products, We are led to the conviction that
it is the most desirable part of the United States.
Bearing this in mind, it has always appeared tn us
very strange that so many Lonisianians have mi
gratedth Texas, that much overiatea and ~magnifed
State. Texas is, doubtless, a superior country for
grazing stock, but in every other respect Louisiana
has the preference. We hear on every hand our
good citizens expressing an intention at some future
time of packing up, bag and baggage, and journey
ing to this Land of Promise. Aid indeed, to such
an extravaganza height has this disposition been car.
ried, that with some Texas is looked upon as ia kind
of Canaan, where the turmoils, %suferings and sor.
rows that human flesh is heir to in every cline will
cease to be realities, but become numbered with the
things that were. But we hope that the scales will
fall from their eycs-that their deluded senses will
awaken to a better appreciation of the advantages
which they enjoy overthe people of other States.
We beg the reader to pardon this little depression
from our subject, for which we can offer no ether
apology than Partially for our native State. We
will then proceed at once to OFF, subject. Being con-
scioUs of our inability to do it Justice, all we hope to
d. is to draw the attention of ablcr and more scien.
tiiic pens.
The lands situated on the Atchafalaya River. and
on the streams connecting with it, present unGues.
tionable evidence of having been formed ly the de.
post of the river in its annual overlows. Fora mile
back, fronting on the river, the ground is perforated
by innumerable deep holes, caused by the continued
accumulation around trees, which, when deceived
down to the roots, left these cavities. A gentleman
residing on the river found, at the depth of fifteen
feet, an oak limb. with three leaves attached ia n
twig growing out from the limb, all apparently in a
perfect state of preservation. But after being ex.
posed to the air for u short time, the leaves crumblcd
to dust. These facts prove not only that the land,
are an alluvial deposit, hit that they are also, com.
parativcly speaking, of recent formation.
The average depth, from the surface down to the
suosoil, is about twenty feet. This being known, we
can calculate without difficulty the number of wears
consumed in raising the land to its present level. 1t
has been observed, by those who have witnessed
overtows of the river. thdt the strata deposited after
an overflow is generally about the thickness of al
quarter of an inch. Taking these data, it would take
forty-eight years to form one foot, and therefore, to
complete the whole twenty feet, nine hundred and
sixty years. Then, in all probability, this country.
now high and dry, was in the ninth century a low.
marsh. Thus it is that man now sows and
where once sail tho fnny tribe at leisure