The Feliciana Democrat. (Clinton, La.) 1855-186?, 1857-01-24
NO. 80.
Tbs fsIitiana lemotrat.

HOr Message. III TtlulOn 10 tnt acts Ol violence.
which have for long period disgraced the city of
New Orleans.
The Act passed by the Legislature for the
registry of voters in the City of New Orleans
was duly put into operation during the past
summer From all thut can learn, its prac-
tcal working has been found far more efficient
details may doubtless be pelected ] cannot but
consider it "A wise stepin legislation. In order
more eilectually to protect the purity of the
ballot-box, | commend that its provisions be
made to extend over the entire parish of Or
leans, and the ncighborng parish of Jefferson.
BY reference 10 the Statement Of the Regis
ter of Voters, | find that the total number of
the city Of New Orleans, registered OH the 3d
November, 1856, was IL ,Sl7-whilst the to.
tai official vote cast Oh the day following was
only 1888. In the Fourth District of the
City, more than GOO voters did no. exercise
the right of suffrage, out of Il list of 900 reg
istered voters In the First District, over
800 persons did not east their ballots, out Of
Il list Of 300 registered voters, and in the
whole City there appears to have been over
3, 400 registered voters who did not, or could
not cast tntr a,llots at 50 important an clec-
tion aS iha III Electors for President of the
United states.
Tnr>a l'iris demonstrate that some cXtraor-
diniry rans vas NJ work TO prevent q large
proporl ON ol lawful voters from enjoying the
sacred franchises Of the Constitution. 1t is
well known THU NJ the two last general ccc-
'iuu. many o. .hc ,treetS and approaches to the
pol. we're completely in the hands of organz-
pl rHilinns WHO committed acts of violence on
mu0t.rulns of our naturalizcd lcllow-citizcns.
who dared vaurlr TO exercise the right Of If.
ir7-r Thus n,lrly ont-tlird Of the registered
,otyr, Of Now or ns have htan deferred fro
exercising thrir igba ..a most sacred pm.
rogallyc The expression q. swl r.ae-.a,l.
al open and papahf trui III thc people ant
recommend You to adopl 1lld r.aaswrs as
shall elcrtuny prevent the true viii q! lh5
majority from being totally -iianacA
The Rcpart .! the tt'on GaHar' wI
furnish yor Will fu ,tutcm"b Of HE ai'"
nal statistics of the city or hnw Or.aau. aud
yonr attention is earnestly Invoked to FL ctn
consideration Of the topics 81. forth 0y the
chief law-o1ccr Of the State lou will o0-
serve that disregard for the Inv aud If. mim
istcrs and contempt for the right, j persa.#
and property Of large CLASSES Of oar sir,.oe
citizens, continue to exist IN our commrlci.
TO and dcplored in my Inaugural Aadne,.
But the alarming growth and increase pi 'ty
evil. renders it important that | should again
advert to the subject and ask that it receive
your matured, deliberate, and impartial con
sidcration Whatever Of Constitutional pow
or is vested in You, you shouli vigorously eH-
crt TO protect every class of our citizens in the
exercise of their rights, at any and all times
and chiefly mt that most sacred moment when
they gather at the ballot-boX, to indicate their
choice of principles or rulers A recent Grand
jury Of the parish Of Orleans, penetrated with
sense Of the evils existing in the City, have
formally recommended an organized armcd
police on the days Of election.
Nor have these disorders ceased with the
momcntary heat of t. warmly contested can
vas, but brutal assaults, riots and murders
have disgraced even the calmer periods Of or
binary months.
To such an extent have these evils been car
ried that good men of all parties are at last
being aroused to some feeble sense of the gen.
cral danger The tendencies of these social
disorders are plain and evident to every good
citizen; but their cause is not the less appa-
rent, because it may not be so universally re-
''Sh"'N' Ill'n lfue ollSll may nc lOuNu Iii
the Inherent nature of that secret political or
gonizaton which arose in our midst to divide
our people according TO the accidents of relig-
ion or birth However attractive might have
been its general theory of political rights, how.
ever pretentous its patriotism, and pure its
professions, the social evils that aillict New
Orleans are as legitimate and logical srquens
OF its peculiar tcnets as if those evils had been
the very aim and end of its existence. Such
has, and always will be, the fruit of any dvs-
ion of any people on such principles as were
proposed, No surprise should be felt at the
bitter passions it aroused, or the hcart-bnrnings
il displayed amongst those who were led away
by its delusonS Rather let us rejoice that
it has so soon been rcbuked by the people of
the Union, and that with its death we may
hope TO see Il timely burial of all those excess
es and Strfes which have been displayed in onr,
midst. II is for the great lawmaking depart.
mcnt of our government to perfect our criminal
law and by wise, impartial, and vigorous on.
acments, to apply remedy for the evils of
our great commercial centre ere it be too late,
and reaction, terrible as and equalled ONLY
by the wro1gS endured, shall be aroused and