The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1857-08-05
The Commercial Bulletin advocates the in

The Commercial Bulletin advocates the in
PRODUCTION of the reading clause into the con-
stitution of Louisiana. It says:
Those who oppose this new test of the cleo
tive franchise point to its injustice to many old
citizens who have for years exercised the right
withoutany detriment to the public interest, and
whom this provision will deprive of their just
rights; and furthermore, that some who have
| fought the battles of their country will come
under this category, old citizens who, through
the inadequaey of the means for obtainingt the
rudiments of education in their youth, have not
been able, for some reason or other, TO supply
the deficiency in maturer years, but who, never
theless, have discharged their duties to the
State, and are justly entitled to the right Of
suffrage, as much SO as any Of their more for
tunate and intelligent neighbors We think
this objection to the reading and writing quail
| fication to constitute man voter good one;
and if there were no way by which this injus-
tice to class of voters could be obviated, we
should be decidedly opposed to the principle
under any shape Or form whatever, IN any OF
its bearings But we think that the principle
is susceptible of being modified and brought to
bear prospectively, SO as to make it unobjec-
tionable, but highly desirable and worthy Of
adoption by every State in the Union. The
modification which we propose is that which
would apply to prospective voters only, to such
young men as by age would be entitled to vote
for the first time Whatever excuse there may
have been for young men of the past genera
ton for neglecting to learn how to read and
write, there can be none now. The means of
education through the public school system,
which nearly every State in the Union has
adopted, not to speak Of the innumerabe pri-
vate educational facilities which everywhere
abound, leave no excuse for absolute inability
to read and write. The young man who is SO
lazy and so stupid as wholly to neglect them,
and grow up in ignorance SO disgraceful, ought
not to be allowed to vote.
We hope that every State in our widespread
and continually extending republic will adopt
this principle, and allow no man to vote for the
first time hereafter who cannot read, and, If
necessary, copy the constitution which he will
be called upon to obey. This would, in many
instances, be powerful stimulus to young men
in the portions of country that are sparsely set
tied to exert themselves to acquire the rudi-
ments of knowledge, which in this country and
in this age of the world, it is so necessary that
all should possess.
"Ion," the intelligent correspondent of the
Baltimore Sun, in has letter of the 10th, thus
alludes to the Spanish Mexican difficulty:
A new impulse to tilibustering, both by land
and sea, will be afforded to American adyentu-
rers by old Spain when she shall be so unwise
as to attempt the invasion of Mexico. There is
a reason to believe alat president Comonfort
embraces in his plan for the defense Of the coun-
try from Spanish hostties the issue of letters
of marque and reprisal against Spanish COM
merce, and the enlistment under his flag of
volunteers both for naval and land service
A fleet of privateers under Mexican colors,
with Mexican commissions and Yankee officers
and crews, will soon be in readiness-some- to
meet Spanish commerce upon the ocean, and
others, perhaps, to land marauding or revolu-
tionary forces at various accessible points on the
coasts of Cuba.
If England and France should approve of the
invasion of Mexico by Spain, they will no doubt
undertake to put down privateerng, under what
ever coors it may be employed, and also to aid
Spain in protecting the Cuban coast. But it
would appear, from recent advices, that Spain
is not likely to heed the advice of these powers,
and that their aid can not be relied upon as
means of extrication from the difficulty in which
Spain, by her perverseness, may become in
volved.
The New York Day Book charges high
government official n New York-a recent ap-
pointment of Mr.. Buchaaan-with giving aid
and comfort to the aboItionists Hear what
the Day Book says:
owe have no hesitation in stating that one
individual who thus supports abolition papers
is George N Sanders, MIR. Buchanan's navy
agentin this city. Thank fortune, we can pub
lsh democratic paper, even in the north,
without the assistance of the government adj
vertisng, of which we are now mainly deprived
Those who are democrats from principle recog-
nize and support us, but it is none the less con-
temptible for men PROCESSING to be democrats to
be in league with our enemies. We shall be
guided strictly by our principles, and whenever
we can, give Mr.. Buchanan's administration
warm and cordial supper, even while his Off
Gals are building up by t1eir patronage gigan-
tic opposition presses to overthrow it."
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UNGRAo1oUs.-A dispach from Washington
states that the administration has determined
to firmly sustain governr Walker. Of course
it has. We knew that from the first. The same
dispatch says that the ''atacks' made on gov
ernor Walker by the southern democracy are
"considered ungracious' ~ his mighty high
ness, the president of the United States! What
will our cotemparies Of the Sentinel, Mississippi
plan and Sun say now? Will they include the
president and his cabinet in their denuncia-
tons, or will they quietly come down and hum
bly, apologize for having leen "ungracious?''
We shall see by-and-by. [Vicksburg Wing.
What will the New O,eans Courier, and
other prominent democratic organs say? Will
they stand by the south or by their president?
eve pause for reply"
-o~~-~~~~-o-~~~~ !
THE "HARMoNIoUs."- a mass meeting
Of the democrats of the parish of St. Tamma-
ny, held at Coyington, on the II tn ult, the
resolution was unanimously adopted:
tResolved, That the democracy OF, this pa
IRISH OUGHT not and mill not sunnort IT C. 10