Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1856-03-29
THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE,

The present Legislature has signalized its
self in more ways than one. There is no doubt
of that-not the slightest ~scintilla of doubt
not the smallest room for doubt. The fact is
as clear and indisputable as it is possible for any
earthly fact to be.
Among the distinctions thus acquired is the
one pretending to entertain unbounded regard
for the rights of the people, yet, at the same
time, refusing to allow the people any showing
whatever! The Senate first assumed, contrary
to law and usage, that the will Of the people
had been thWarted in the return of the three
Senators from this parish. What did the MAJ
iority do then? Did they eject the sitting
Senators and refer the matter back to the peo-
ple-the dear people, whose prerogatives they
were determined upon indicating? Oh, no
nothing of the sort! They would not trust
the voters. Accordingly, they elected one set
and installed another set-erected themselves
into a supreme body OF judges, Jurors and elec-
tors, at one and the same period, from whose
decision there was no appeal.
1t is true, strong appeals were made by the
friends of the ousted Senators to refer the
question back to the people, but they were
contemptuously disregarded. The majority
loved the people 50 dearly that they concluded
to save the electors all manner of trouble.
In the House Of Representatives the same
game was played in every election case; and
with an effrontery, too, which has no parallel
in the annals Of legislation in this or any other
State. In the name of the people, gentlemen
were expelled from seats to which they were
legally entitled. In the name of the people,
the grossest and most irresponsible despotism
was practiced, In the name of the people, men
yUpra inHtIatad ipfn pfHaoc 1Db;.,b fbn poCplo -
their primary capacity, had refused them. And
in the name ofthe people, the people were re-
fused the settlement of matters dearest to eve
ry freeman.
There was one exception, however, to the
sweeping tyranny which prevailed. We allude
to the contested election case from the Parish
of st. Helena. 1t is true Mr.. Strickland, the
sitting member, who had been duly returned,
was elected and a new election ordered. This
was a great outrage, although not so bad as
the others. Well, in due course of time, the
election took place and the American candidate,
the identical Mr. Strictland-was elected with.
out opposition! So great was the disgust of
the people at the arbitrary and unrighteous
conduct of the majority in the Legislature, that
our opponents did not dare TO make even a
show of opposition in the closely balanced
Parish of st. Helena.
Had new elections been ordered in the
Parish of Orleans for Senators and Represents
tatiyes, the san result would have followed
At all events, such is our firm and decided con-
%viction. But this did not suit the views or
Interior purposes of the majority. Hence, IN.
der the shadow of p~retence, they withheld all
power in the premises from the people and
exercised it themselves.
Verify, this is a great country" and possess
ses the greatest politicians of any country on
earth. Let things progress the next ten years
as they have the past ten, and the people. claim
ing unlimited freedom, will WELD less substan-
tial power in government affairs than do the
subjects of Louis Napoleon at this moment
Crescent.