The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1857-06-24


The minghng Of national politics with the
questions before the people IN every State can
vass, has enabledparty discipline to perpetuae
evils of which the whole community have had
cause Justly to complain. There is still a Pc.
tent skill in the national rallying cries Of old
political organisations even when their cor
ruptons have made their acts odious to intelli-
gent men, and their departure from principles
most sacred has excited universal surprise
The facts not generally appreciated, that the
policy of a dominant party IN State may be
condemned without casting censure upon thai
party Ar the nation:
In tie approaching, canvass for the reorganl-
sation Of the Legislative body Of Louisiana, and
the selection of new State officers, it becomes
the people to lay aside all questions Of purely
national politics. There is no great national
question that will come within the scope of the
members of the Legislature, or Of the officers
who fill departments of State. The interests
of this State are alone TO be subserved; those
evils which press upon US with growing force
are to be redressed; thespecial legislation that
dsgraces the statute book and does violence
even to republican principles, must be arrested;
the violated constitution must be obeyed; the
industry Of the State is to be developed; econ
omy in public expenses to be reestabshed; f.
deity to public trusts restored; and the great
enterprises of internal improvement to be sus-
tanned. What of national politics is found in
any of these great measures of public reform
measures which are essential to the prospe-
rity of the State and the rapid development Of
its resources.
During series of years the great labor in
the legislature of Louisiana has been to consol~
idate mere party power, Selling upon the first
moment of lassitude resulting from the great
struggle to inaugurate the policy Of internal
improvements, and aided by the profuse ibe-
rality of a leader ambitious of position in the
senate of the nation, the democracy carried
the State Legislature by handsome majority;
and from that moment to the present time, a
series of acts have been passed, with no other
object than to consolidate the power thus gain
ed, and render their possession Of it perpetual.
The success of one led to others more OBJECTION
able, until there is not one single principle dear
to the democracy of former years, that has not
been deserted, nor an idea of individual free
dom and PERSONAL responsibility which has not
been assailed. 44s+s4s
To-day the people in this Stateare not called
upon SO much to decide SO much between the
capabilities or qualification of men for public
station as to defend liberty ITSELF not invited
to decide upon two lines of policy, but to de-
fend their personal rights and constitutional
privileges.
For four years, q positive direction of the
constitution has been disregarded. Officers
have regularly been appointed, whose election
by the people was constitutional provision.
Districts have been divided to destroy oppo-
stion majorites. Moneys have been misap-
propriated to change the vote of single parish
es. Public works have been undertaken at
enormous expense to enrich partisans. Con-
trary to law, disbursements have been made
from the public treasury to enrich or sustain
party paper The will Of the people has been
disregarded and representatives appointed, CON
trary to the constitution, by the majority Of the
democratic legislature. Officers elected and
declared by jury of their peers legally ent-
tied to their Office, have been addressed out of
office, and others substituted by the governor
of the State. Laws have been repealed and
others enacted fer no other purpose than to
enable a democratic contestant of the result of
the ballot box to have another chance to retain
a lucrative post. The election of the most
petty officials has been gravely attempted to be
taken away from the people, that their appoint
nent might be placed in the hands of the ex-
ecutve.
The school fund, which the representatives
were bound by the most sacred obligations to
preserve inviolate, has been squandered, and
he State reduced to dealing in stocks to regain
he lost treasure. The treasury notwithstand-
ng the increasing taxation, and the onerous
burdens imposed to keep the machinery of gov
in notion, is empty and its receipts
insufficient to detray necessary expenses.
During all the period that these wrongs up
IN the people have been attempted, there were
reforms neglected, which had been
Urged upon them by the bar, the mercantile
and the press, with singular una
Unity.
Have we not in even this brief catalogue of
treat State wrongs, sufficient interest in ma
ing the coming canvass one of State issues
lone? We cali upon our friends in all parts
# Louisiana, toleave national politics and con-
inc themselves to matters which concern this
commonwealth alone
With Mr. Buchanan we now have no contro-
'ersy. The ac,sof the administration will call
or praise or censure, according as they are
ational, conservative, just and statesmanlike
rthe reverse The future must decide wheth-
+ we approve or condemn. But the matter
With which we have now to deal is different
Democratic Journals and democratic leaders in
Their States have condemned in no measured
erms, and stronger than we can use, the acts
f the party for which we arraign it before the
tribunal of public opinion. In this State and
nd city, intelligent men and patriotic demo-
rats condemn without stunt, the measures of
which we complain. Let our watchword be
tate issues, land State issues alone, for the next
ampaign. Creole.
The CRIME+S WAR.-General Jesup, the
uartermaster general of the United States ar
ny, and an old soldier of experience, comment
ng upon marshal Vaillant's exposition of the
]rimean war, says he was never able to com
rehend before that exposition the operations of
he allied armies in the Crimea, which were
! violation of the military axiom, which re-
uires the army in The field to be driven out
efore an Important fortress is attacked. The
'rench were not able TO do so for want of the
leans Of trans portaton, which prevented them
DING twenty-five miles from their ships. For