Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1856-05-17
BENJAMIN.
THE BAUBLE THAT LURED HMM

1nis gentleman mas maa6 d great Neutasna
speech, which is characterized by the Unaoa
as being one of the most powerful and eIo-
ouent that was ever spoken or listened to ia
the United States Senate. But we presume
that the most beautiful as well as the most
acceptable part Ito the Union) Of this gigantic
effort, was that portion where the speaker pros
claimed himself-head, sou. and body--hence-
forward and forever-as belonging to the De-
mocratic ForeignD party.
Nobody, knowing the innate promptings of
ambitious minds, could have expected anything
else from Mr.. BENJAMIN. He is a Jew and
the vaults of his ambition, like those of his
trowsers, are ever open for prospective gains
But Shakespeare says that "rGuLing ambition
o'erleaps itself" We f~erventIy hope it may
prove true in his case.
When the principles of the American party
first took name and semblance, and formed its
battaIions of enthusiastic knights from one ex-
IRENE of the Union to the other, it was we'll
known how Mr.. BENJAMIN would stand affect
ed towards it. When the party came into ex-
~istence he was honored for his intellect and
for his presumed political virtues, (alrs! how
sadly mistaken sometimes are the most erudite
judges of human %nature!) eo-equal with those
born upon The soil, as with others Of our nat~
uraIized citizens of eminent abilities who had
evinced a previous interest in the welfare OF
the country. But an evil flowing in upon US
like the ~resistless tide of the ocean, had to be
checked by some mighty and imperative law
a law which, to avert the impending evil, and
save the institutions of our country from TO
reign submersion, had of necessity to bear
hard upon the good as well as the bad, that
the polluted encroaehment might be checked
at once. 1t was a law of party, unwise if pops
ularity had been the object; but the disafec-
ton it was well known it would give rise to,
was point blank evidence of its purity and its
patriotism. Many good citizens affected by
this law were willing to yield to it for the pub
lie good. Not so, however, with Mr.. BENJA-
MIN. The uprising of the American party
opened to his farSseeing vision a magnificent
prospect. He began to feel the alIurements
of a magnificent bauble which before had only
existed as a bright but unattainable gem.
Well did Mr.. BENJAMIN know, previous to
the somerset he made, that the National Con-
~stitution forever excluded him from the highs
est Offices in the gift of the American people
Is it difficult then to believe that9le did not Of
ten sigh for the prize which the Constitution
denied him? Admitting the truth of this pre-
dominating characteristic of human nature,
can it not be equally conceived, and with as
good reason, that o genius like his, an ambi-
ton like his-ever ardent, aspiring and grasp
ing-would not clutch at any hope, however
distant, that would place him within the pale
Of the proudest positions on the face of the
earth! AS a coadjutor of the American party,
Mr.. BENJAMIN was hopelessly prevented from
ever reaching this GROWING height of his am"
hilton, and he knew il. Why? Because the
very foundation Of the American Party is
faiihJulness TO The Constitnion-the Constita-
ton as ii is, nOsO and 6oreUer! The very name
of the party, even, gives full guarantee of its
fidelity to the instrument of our nationality
Upon that instrument its hopes are centred
if it falls in its struggles for the realization
of those hopes, SO must fall the liberties of
our country!
With his present friends, the ambitious pros
poets of Mr.. BENJAMIN are far different. The
Of the Democratic Foreign party are
not the interests of the American party. With
the latter, "TnviolabiIity of the Constitution"
is its watchword and its text. But, whatever
may be the assertions of the former, a steady
for the Constitution will not be con.
for any length Of time. The reason is
easy of solution.
The boast and the cry of the Anti-Ameri-
cans to their natuFalized friends, is '%'politicGl
squalay!"-a principle antagonistical to the
Constitution, and the first step taken towards
It Infringement. With this inscription upon /,
banner, they have gone on triumphant {
It is a cry ladened with many sweets to the
ears Of Senator BENJAMIN.
Let bat this cry prove triumphant in Novem-
next, and the mask on the face will fall a ,
title, when holder strides will be taken to
make political equality something more than i
windy shout and a flaming banner inscrip~
ion! Then, those who constitute the foreign :
Of the Anti-American party, with the as- ,
Of such spirits as BENJAMIN, will take I
God care not TO drop or lose sight Of the bats
le-cry that led them to power. When the ;
inc is ripe-when the American party is hope /
ess, its strength gone, its leaders disheartened, =
God grant that day may never come D-when
he present naturalization laws are abolished +.