New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1857-05-30
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THOSE FAILURES.

The recent failures Of the Democratic party Of New
Orleans to hold City Convention for the nomination
pfmunicpal candidates. abound in significance, and af
ford theme for abundant reflection particularly on
The part Of those Immediately interested. With a |
brief recurrence to the facts we shall proceed to offer
some observations of own the past and exist
ing condition of political affairs in this metropolis,
combining ourselves, however, to two or three main
points.
On Monday evening last, after suitable notice had
been previously published in the newspapers, the
Democrats of New Orleans proceeded to elect, in
heir respective precincts, delegates to City Conyen
ion which was to meet on the following evening ac-
sording to official announcement of the Parish Com
mittee The precinct attendances, we have been in
formed were meagre and devoid of the slightest en-
thusiasm, and in many precincts no meetings were
held at all. Such delegates as were elected met in
convention at the appointed place, and, after some
adjourned to Thursday evening last
Thursday evening came and delegates from but eight
precincts ont of the twenyhree in the corporation
appeared The consequence was necessarily, an ad
journment, without any nominations whatever for
Monday rendering the probabilities ten to one that
the American candidates will be allowed to walk
the course without encountering opposition of any
character.
These two failures demonstrate the utter hopeless
ness of the proud, enthusiastic and triumphant
Democracy of the Crescent City. They are SO la
mentally situated that they cannot even get up
respectable semblance of opposition or resistance
Now, what is the cause Of this decension of the
Democracy? What has banished enthusiasm from
their ranks? What has snperinduced impotence where
all was life, animation and yigor? In the city
the public know full well the prime moving and rul
ing cause, and none better than that portion of it
known as the Democracy but as our felow.citizens
Of the country may not be well posted they ought
to be- we will state few leading facts for their infor
.lation. The highest authority vouchsafed mankind
states that !" a house divided against itself cannot
stand" The Democracy Of New Orleans are divided,
and irreconcilably divided. That branch recognized
the Soule Democracy, although the members
thereof have done for the cause than their house
hold rivals, although they possess more eloquence
and vim, and although they capable of arousing
tenfoid the amount of enthusiasm among the masses,
nevertheless under the ban of memorable ostra
csm From the powers that control the movements
otheir own party they are well aware they have less
to expect than they have from lifelong political oppo
nents. Without word Of explanation, they are ar
bitrarily excluded from all participation in Federal
employments. An anti-SlidelI Democrat, no matter
how clear his record how valuable his antecedents
stands no more chance of preferment than the most
radical Know Nothing ~ in the commonwealth
The same influence, farreaching and relentless that
operates to their detriment from Washington perme
ates every district of the city and Stateconros the
primary meetings and conventions of the metropolis
seeks to govern the Congressional conventions now
striving to crush Heron because he is independent
and outspoken and to nominate Davidson because he
is facile and useful, in the Third Distrct-and is en-
deavoring to bend everything to its single purpose
throughout the length and breadth the State.
We submit to all candid readers whether, under
such circumstances it is at all wonderful that snpine.
ness and apathy have taken the places of enthusiasm
and activity Men will not work to advance their
enemies no matter how loud and thrilling the party
slogan peas upon the 1t is not in human nature
that they should. Besides, the autocacy of "a wheel
within Wheel is Objectionable in many other re-
spects. An intelligent and minded people do not
like to be eyerlastingy used to promote the selfish
designs of particular clique of partsans.
Besides this serious family quarrel there are
other reasons for the declenson of the Democratic
party in New Orleans. It might have survived its in
ternal discussions, and became again victorious but
for the acts Of the last Legislature. Those acts were
the finishing .blows-the coup de grace. They dis.
gusted all decent people, necessarily producing wide
spread disatiecton and alienation. With the excep.
ton OF few holders of office, expectants of Office
and party hangers waiting for something to turn
up according to the manner of Wilkins Micawber,
Esq, the Election Law is universally denounced and
execrated. Most of our people regard it despotc
attempt to rob them of their civil and political rights
view it with equal indignation and alarm--very
properly arguing that il they can be plundered OF
their prerogatives citizens by partisan Legsla
ture another partisan Legislature has to go but step
further to plumber them Of their individual property
The efforts to dvest the voters of New Orleans of the
right to elect their Constables, Assessors snd Tax
Collectors and vest the appointment of the same in the
hands of the Governor to which end bill passed one
branch of the Legislature, augmented the feelings
detestation to which the Election Law gave rise ani
made the dominant party, so far as that party wa
represented in the Legislature, odious to the last de
| gree.
We might bring forward other reasons to substan
tiate what is said above but shall not do so-deemn
it unnecessary. We think we have demonstrate
that the declension of the New Orleans Democrat
is owing more to divisions among themselves, and t
the wretched policy that prevailed at Baton Rouge
than to the strength of their opponents. And,
they would ever regain their supremacy, they mus
discard the autocrat who pampers one portion an
persecutes another portion of their party, repudat
the acts Of the late General Assembly and nominal
men for office who will openly denounce spec'
legislation calculated to insult and Cypress any clas
of their fellow citizens, because of primary vol
disagreeable to the majority
This is independent counsel, is given gratis and
, it is not followed, it is none OF our business.
American Meetings this Evening
Pursuant to the recommendation of the Executi,
Committee, the American Clubs of the city and