New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1857-10-01

tr0lng sway OF his country in her own government.
This alarm, common to every true American; ID;
naturally heightened in the Southern mind ,by the
wellknown and avowed prejudices Of the Immigrant
hosts against the institutions of the South The tide
of population still flows westward and the new States
that are sprnging existence are populated chiefly
by foreigners averse to slave labor and sympathziDg
with the abolitonists by whom they are surrounded
and influenced. ~ fe-ss; fss4544,a sa ls4ss3sIi
The dangers to our liberties and our peculiar in
terests, from these sources, are increased, fellow
citizens, by the course pursued by the Democratic
party on the subject Of the right Of suffrage. The
right to vote correctly said to be the right govern
and is inseparable from just idea Of citizenship.
Nevertheless the alien who, under the law of nations
can not present a petition to our Government, and
claim its protection, and who, in the event Of war
tween this country and that to which he owes allie
glance, may beordered to leave our dominion is now,
by virtue of Democratic policy if he is resident of
territory, entitled to vote and by that means to in
fuence and it may be- control the government Of the
Territory The history Of several of the State Go
vernments shows the right to vote in the Territory
will be converted into right to vote, without any
process Of naturalization, as citizen of the new
State bya provision in her Constitution, upon her
admission into the Union.
q
in the government by voting for members Of Con- I
gress and for members of State Legislature having
the power to choose Senators of the United States
Under these circumstances it becomes the duty of
every voter in Louisiana to give his suffrage in the
approaching election for one only as member Of
Congress who is prepared to advocate and uphold
the policy of the American party, and the institu-
tons ofthe South. Another motive for the perform.
of this duty is to be found in the condition of
affairs in Kansas The Governor of that Terri
tory, not cohining himself to bis appropriate func-
tons assumes to dictate to the people what course
they shall pursue with respect to the approval of
new State Constitution. In violation Of the funda
mental principle of noninterventon on the subject
of slavery in the Territories as laid down in the
Kansas and Nebraska bill, he gratutousy throws the
might of his judgment and official position against
the ultimate success of the prosavery party and die
taoray threatens the rejection of the Constitution by
Congress should the convention, alone empowered to
form constitution for that Territory fail to comply
with his mandates; and he is countenanced in
these acts of usurpation by the President who is,
doubtless anxious to secure to his administration the
powerful support of the North. The Representatives
from Louisiana should be men above servty to
party-men of spirit and understanding, ready, at
the same time, to respect popular rights and to de-
nounce executive usurpation. : s..- r 8 4
The American party remains faithful to the prin-
ciples and purposes connected with and incident to
the great object it avows. 1t ncucates the love of
Union and enons upon every patriot the duty of up.
holding and maintaining the Constituton-the great
bond of Union-asth only safeguard of the rights of
the States, and the sure guaranty Of harmony and
fiaternal feelings among the citizens of the several
States of the Unons III bal. s.s. 4 .1s ....s-.,
1t procaims its devotion for religious as well as for
civil and political lberty-its hostility to any re-
lgous test for public office and its abhorrence and
denunciaton of any interference with OF infringe
ment upon the rights of conscience. .srI
1t advocates honesty and economy in the conduct
of public as well private affairs, and avows its de-
termination to support candidates for public office
those only who are capable and honest, and who will
truly endeavor to preserve the purity and ndepend
ence of the elective franchise. I ..rpl.
Passing from these general Subjects your attention
is invited to consideration of matters of immediate
interest to you under the State government.
brief reference to the legislation of the State
will suffice to show the mis-government, the usurpa-
tons of power, the open contempt for the nunctons
of the constitution, the corrupt and wasteul expen-
diture of the public moneys, the unconstitutional and
tyrannca oppression of portion of the people Of
the State, the increase of the executive power and
patronage, the distractions to Commerce and Agri-
culture and the neglect of the great interest of pub
lie education, that have signazed the rule of the
Democratic party of Louisiana for several years past
Under the 7th title of the constitution of the State
of Louisiana of 1s52-the present constitutional is
ordained that !" there shall be Board of Public
Works, to consist of four Commissioners y that the
General Assembly at its first session. towt, in 1885,
shall provide for the election and compensation of
the Commissioners and the organization of the Board
"and that the Commissioners shall exercise diligent
and faithful supervision of all public works in which
the State may be interested except those made by
joint stock companies y and that they shall " commu-
nicate to the General Assembly, from time to time,
their views concerning the same, and recommend
such measures as they may deem necessary, in order
that they may employ to the best advantage and for
the purposes for which they were granted the
swamps and over1owed lands conveyed by the United
States to this State" "- ~
It should be kept in mind that the terms g Public
Works mean " all the public works in which the
State may be interested, except those made by joint
stock companies" and embrace such may be neces
sary to reclaim the swamp lands, and render them
most available for the purposes for which they
granted to the State by the United States.
The object Of the trainers of the constitution is
here clearly stated, and their wl-their injunction
in regard to t-positively declared. What has been
the action of the Legislature upon the subject?
In 1858, the Legislature, at its first session after the
adoption of the constitution treated the object of the
trainers Of the constitution and their positive nunc-
tions, with supreme contempt. They made no Board
of Public Works, and provided for no election OF
commissioners; butin lieu of their prescribed action,
passed act dividing the State into "three leyee
and draining districts,n and creating distinct and
independent board of three commissioners. called
"the Swamp Land Commissioners" comforting on the
Governor the appointment Of the commissioners
and on the commissioners so appointed, the appoint
ment of three engineers, for each district, aid
providing large salary, $4,000, for each commissioner
and for each engineer.
| Thus instead Of Board of Public Works and
Board of Commissioners to be elected by the people,
the Democratic Legislature created a Board of
"Swamp Land Commissioners" with attendant eng
neers, and gave the appointment of the commits
soners to the Governor and the appointment of the
engineers to the Governors appointees.
In 1854 an act amendatory of that described was