Thibodaux minerva. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 18??-1858, 1856-01-26
Hon. George Eustis on Americanism.

speech made in the House of Representatives O
Monday, the 18th inst, by the Hon. GEORGE EUs11s
JR, the young and talented representative in Cor
gress from the First District of this State. We civ
his speech publicity in our columns the NOR
willingly from the fact that he is the only repre-
sentative in Congress from this State, who sus
taines, and advocates the principles of the Ameri
can party Of Louisiana, as laid down in the plat
form adopted by tie Grand State Council, ON tn
4th Of July last.
Mr.. Eustis reflects in his public speech, delivered
in the American Congress- the true principles o
our party; and none have the right to impugne hi
honesty. The sentiments that he has given utter
ance to, touching the religious question, are the
true sentiments of the American party of Louisiana
and are identical with those which our party have
that Mr. Eustis has taken this early occasion, even
| before the election of Speaker to preside over
the deliberations of Congress- to make known the
true sentiments of the State which he in part
represents on subject of such vital importance to
the future of party which he, in his American
heart, feels proud to be hailed as a member; a
party which alone should rule the land, pronded,
land we have no doubt that such will be the case, J
that our sister States will conform to the principles
Of the Louisiana platform, that is, to protest against
any abridgement of religious liberty, holding it as
cardinal maxim that religious faith is ques-
ton between each individual and his God; and
utterly condemning any attempt to make religious
belief test for political staten.
We are surprised, Notwithstanding this public
expression Of opinion OH the part of Mr.. Eustis,
utterly dscaiming the charge of religious proscrip-
ton on the part Of the American order of Louisi-
ana, to note that the French Editor of the Union
is not yet satisfied and like drowning man still
catches at straws. He accuses our representative
ofblowing hot and cold in the same breath. But
how does he endeavor to reconcile this course Of
action? Why, simply because Mr.. Eusts in his
place as an american representative sees proper
to cast his vote for Mr.. Fuller, of Pennsylvania,
the American nominee of the Southern members
Of the American Party, and those who concur in
the opinion, that an individuals religious belief
should be no hindrance to his occupying the
highest Office within the gift Of the people. Mr..
Fuller gave this guarantee even before his name
was proposed. He stands, in fact, upon the Loui-
siana platform. If the aforesaid French editor Of
the Union would but remove his magnifying
glasses and behold things with the eye of reason
and justice, he would at once admit the fact; but
when blindness and hnaticism usurp the place of
reason and justice, we have no grounds to antici-
pate any such results, and thus do we account for
nearly two columns of matter composed of nothing
but tissue Of misrepresentation, in the Union Of
Thursday The Editor has submitted himself to
great mental labor to prove that Mr.. Eustis re-
pudiates Northern Know Nothingism in his speech,
but sustans it in his vote by supporting Mr. Fuller
He must have very little respect for the intelli-
gence Of his readers, if he expects to so blind them
with assertions which have SO little foundation in
act and based merely upon presumptive n.y.
oothesis. The Editor of the Union must not infer
rom this that we would willingly accuse him of
lttering falsehood far from it; for we have too
much respect for him and his standing in society,
o advance any such accusation. We would
merely wish to intimate that in his great anxiety to
;ounteract the noble conrse of Mr. Eustis on the |
eligious question, that has drawn more from his
imagination than the facts in the premises will
possibly admit Of
Here is Mr.. Fuller's profession of faith. We
give it in full and entire, suppressing not even the
irst letter. We would especially recommend it |
o the attention Of the aforesaid French Editor of
he Union; and that he should read it well, and
sentiments therein expressed:
mr. FULLER answered that he in favor Of the reso-
ration Of the Missouri restriction, and opposed to
the abolition OF slavery in the District Of Columbia He
did not believe in the equality Of the white and black ra
ces He thought with Washington that the best policy of
the Government was to appoint native born citizens to
Office in preference to those Of foreign BIRTH He would
prescribe no for his religion but would accede to all
clude foreigners from hither, and would advise them to
settle the public territory and build up for themselves
homes But in all matters Of legislation and the admins
traon OF the laws, Americans should govern America
Could purer sentiments be expressed by any one?
there ever was a true conservative representa-
We in Congress, that man is Mr.. Fuller, the nomi-
ee Of the Southern Americans; and Mr.. Eustis
effects the greatest credit on himself and his con-
ttuency, in according him not only his vote, but
is entire influence. Had Mr.. Fuller taken grounds
nd stood upon the platform of the Northern
now Nothings, in their crusade against American
atholics, we should have been among the first
} raise our feeble voice against the Hon. Mr..
ustis. But it is not meet that he should be CEN
lred and villifed for his support Of gentleman
no stands pledged to accord to al the largest
ossible liberty of religious opinion. |,
We deem it useless to animadvert further upon
10 course that the editorials seen proper to pursue
wards Mr.. Eustis for having sustained Mr.. '
lller for the Speakers Chair, as nothing that {
. could advance would cuuse him to re-
quish his unjust and uncaled for attack upon the
olives which caused him to accord Mr.. Fuller 6
) support. Had the same sentiments been G
tered, and vote given by Taylor, 8 sandidge, a
4 Davidson, there would have been no ends to Z
. eulogies that the same Editor would have
nned in their behalf But, unfortunately we a
Q in an age when "that which is flesh for the Q
ose, is not meat for the gander." Circumstances &
yava alter casoa otc otc