, 1856-06-20
Genuine American Sentiments.

The following admirable and truly patri-
otic sentiments, we copy from the Inaugural
Address of Hon. r. G. Wicklifee, the
lately elected Democratic Governor of
Louisiana. They form striking contrast
with the narrow-minded bigotry and intol-
Grant prescription Of the darklantern fac
ton. 1t is no wonder that their able and
gifted author received such q large ma
jority of the votes Of our sister State u
II have thus endeavoured to pass in re-
view, very briefly, and very generally, the
leading topics that demand the attention OF
those Interested with the duties Of legisla-
tion. But l should be doing injustice to
my own feelings, If did not congratulate
you upon the triumph achieved in the recent
political struggle in this State, by the
friends of constitutional freedom and reli-
gious liberty, over a secret society organized
for the purpose Of depriving citizens Of
their legal rights, by the unjust, If not un-
constitutional perversion Of legitimate plr-
poses Of the ballot-box.
'In despotic governments, where freedom
Of speech and freedom Of the press are for
hidden, and where those who make the laws
do not represent those upon whom the low
is to be be executed, the rebel patriot may
well plan in secret the mode in which
tyranny is to be overthrown and liberty
established but in q government like
ours, secresy can only be the badge Of
wrong. -
Truth courts discussion, and there can
be no motive for concealment unless the end
be evil, or the measure corrupt or unlawful
The object of this secret organization was
to discriminate between citizens, when the
law made no discrimination, and the means
adopted were solemn obligations, by which
all freedom Of action in political life was
relinquished, and all individuality merged
in obedience to the DEGREES Of others. The
purpose aud plan deserved, and have re-
ceived, the unqualified condemnation Of the
people.
ut has never been denied, so far as am
aware, that one Of the objects Of that or
ganization was to prevent o naturalized
citizens from holding public office, which
the law opened to him as well as the native
citizen. To defeat legal rights by indirec-
tion, is more reprehensible than to do so
directly, for while neither can be justified,
the one, at all events, has the merit, poor
though It be, Of boldness, while the other
clearly involves the violation Of moral
precept rai.f i1 1e
The same objections equally apply to
the attempt to make religion a test for
Office, when such test is at war with the
plain letter of the Constitution. 1t is in
vain to deny that such astest was made BY
the party just defeated, II not throughout
the State, yet certainly in some parts Of IL,
and it is not a little remarkable that those,
even who repudiated the anti-Catholic test
did cooperate and are now afiliating with
the very persons who most earnestly insisted
upon It. The rebHke which this party has
received in this State, may teach useful
counsels for the future.
Standing once more on that temple Of
liberty, framed by the wisdom Of our ar
estors, let us cling with equal tenacityto
every portion Of the grand fabric. Differ
ing as we must upon questions Of admira-
ton, let us preserve in its purity the spirit
Of our great Confederation; above all, o.
drive from our political altars, where men
of all races and all creeds are permitted to
,oOrship freedom, the pretended saints who
think that the equality is only for their
race and their creed, as II all are not alike,
children Of the same Godhead, and heirs
and legatees Of the same liberty ~