The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1857-07-22
REAPIsG HIS REwARD.-T.n months

sake ofthe south, to the support of Buchanal
t'e'was cheered and lauded to the skies by IL
democracy; was fattered and feasted by tt
leaders OF the party; in every village and han
let public levee was held for the purpose
making the soyereigns, the masses of the gre;
uhterrltied, personally acquainted with h
august Parsonage. He was escorted from p;
IRISH to parish by corps Enthusiastic democrat
and held up to the rising generation as para
gpn of disinterested patriotism; and as polisl
| iEg off the late democratic legislature passe
resolutions, and had them inscribed upon tn
official records Of the State, solemnly endorsin
and approving the political career of the hor
j! P Benjamin. But, now the presidential cleo
tipn being over and the harangues of the tai
efted senator having worked all the good an,
iii that can be expected, and bis term of ofic
drawing to a close, the democracy have sud
denly discovered that Mr.. Benjamin is no grea
shakes after all, and evince an unmistakabl
determination to pitch him overheard. As al
evidence of this fact, our talented friend of thu
Democratic Egis has already opened bis bat
teiies, and pours broadside after broadside into
the senator, without showing the slightest dis
position to grant him quarter. In the last edi
tiGn Of that journal, under the caption of 'Mr
Benjamin and the United States Senate the
editor uses the following language:
but admitting, for the sake ofargument, that
M. Benjamin was familiar with theinterests Of
tha country, we would still oppose his election
for the further reason that we think six years
quite long enough for any man to hold Office
in this country. This is democratic govern
mtnt, and it is not the example set us by our
worthy fathers, that man should hold office
always.
f'And last, though by no means least we know
Of no man in the State for whom, politically,
wehave greater aversion than ]. P. Benja
mia. He has always been a wing until within
few months since, and such has been his prac-
tices and prejudices that it is impossible for
hina to have the first spark of democracy in his
breast, although he processes to act with the
democratic party,
Immediately after the election of MI. Ben
janin to the United States senate, the great
wing party fell, and upon its ruins was estab-
lished the know nothing party. What do we
find then to be the course of Mr.. Benjamin.
Did he, like good and true patriot, like many
of the gallant old wing party, rush to the dem
ocratlc standard and offer his assistance in put
ting down the enemies Of the constitution? No.
Mr.. Benjamin stood aloof from the democratic
party. He did not join the know nothings, it |
IS true, for the best of reasons, for he is a for
eigner; but he exhausted every remedy that
human ingenuity could suggest, after the for
nation of the know nothing party until within
| few weeks of the presidential election, when
1e canvassed the most prominent portions ofthe
State, thinking, doubtless, that his exertions in
aVof OF Mr.. Buchanan would have the effect of
etuFning him to the United States senate, even
When he declared that, should the old whig
'artN be ever reestablished, he should be found
ghtEng under its banner. Well, it might be
esulrected while Mr.. Benjamin was in Office
nd 10 case Of such emergency, We would pre-
r men who would act with the democratic par
Z, if they had been elected by that party. Mr..
enjamin told us, in 1856, that he was per- f
:ct martyr; that he had been denounced by the i
now nothing party as traitor, when, in fact, c
e sincerely believe that, had hesbeen permit
ID SO to do, and had thought that that party :,
ould have been successful, be would have be-
'nged to 1t. And as an evidence of our posi- {
on, where do we find Mr.. Benjam during the q
ruggle of 1855? Did he come out like man q
i'd declare himself in favor of the democratic
'rty, when thatparty was stranng every nerve
ORDER to save the constitution, and to protect !
sturRllsed citizens in their rights, secured to t
EN- UNDER the constitution? We find Mr.. Ben t
min attempting to establish southern party; 9
1t, after failing in that and every other effort
overthrow the democracy, we find him taking
elter under our banner for mere convenience a
ke; Tor no other construction can be placed a
ION his language. His position reminds US of n
C fable OF the man who, in bis kindness, took y
g frozen viper and warmed it until it became
stored to life and afterwards came very near y
ing destroyed by it. We would like to have OF
me evidences that Mr.. Benjamin would never dt
andon our party in time of need. err
Fer these reasons we oppose bis reelection. Il,
ey should be the sentiments of every con- VI
crate democrat in the State 4 X az
Such are "the sober second thoughts of the ef
nocFacy in regard to the hon. J. P. Benja- e'
4, and such the fate that ever attends polil- m
apostacy. The Egis also, and very Justly, b
ltends that the country is entitled to furnish m
| of the United States senators-both of the pr
sent lncumbents being residents of New Or pr
MS. On previous occasion it recommend an
judge I. I. Land, of this parish, and VIM. tfy
Parham, of Madison parish, as suitable can err
ates to ill the vacancy which will occur by RIG
expiration Of Mr.. Benjamin's term in the CTS
eral senate. While in New Orleans, a few OF
ks since, we found it almost universally con- Al
ed that the United States senator to be elect to
BY the next legislature ought to be taken SOY
the north western parishes, and the hon. Una
and Jones, of this place, and general J. L. no
VS. Of Claiborne, were repeatedly named Tea
prominent democrats as suitable to succeed sus
Benjamin, whose senatorial career we NAV go
upon as drawing to close. But the demo- I'LL
had better wait until after the election. and Una
are assured of having secured majority
re members of the Legislature, and then hear rte,
7 the hon. John Slidel has to say, before lou