New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1857-09-22
Democratic Legislation.

Upon examining the election law we find that it is
made the duty of the Sheriff to furnish to the Com
mssioners Of the Election copies Of the mock oath
therein contained. Heretofore, when the oath was
in conformity with the requison Of the constitution
this not the duty Of the Sheriff and we still con
tend that the oath, printed in the act Of 1885,
nulty, and that all action under it is unconstitu-
tional
I The Legislature may, by amisinterpretation Of
clause pass unconstitutional laws but can the Les
ature alter the phraseoogy Of clause, and thereby
destroy its intent and meaningl The acts Of 1856
omits the words free trte, which has the effect to
destroy the most essential requisites of voter as
prescribed by the constitution. There can be no
doubt that this niquitous act of modern Democracy
was drawn up and intended as cheat upon the bal
lotbox, and was designed for the meridian of Ten
Mile? We are justified in making this charge by the
whole course OF the party legislation OF the modern
Democracy. 1t belongs to the tactics OF that party
and is in keeping with all its highhanded usurpar
tons. We have now law promulgated by the au-
thorites Of the State, and Incorporated among the
acts of 1857 exempting the town of Alexandria from
parish tax, ,rich did not pass the House of Repre-
sertdtires and is nowhere to be found in the Jour
nails of the House, and yet the law has the signatures
Of the President Of the Senate Speaker of the House
of Representatives, and the Governor OF the State
This is modern Democracy. IL ~ .s,.s,s.s3,s
II members, who swear to support the Constitution
would suffer the clause of that instrument specying
that the voters shall be free white to be abrogated
they are tit or treasonS stratagems and strife. II
Fortunately the oath contained in the Act Of 1856
retains the saving word, citizen. A voter must be
citizen of the United States in accordance with The
oath, and it was decided BY the Supreme Court, in
the Dred Scott case that free negroes cannot become
citizens Of the United States. Louisiana does not re-
cognize them citizens At the meeting of the next
Legislature the Representatives Of the modern De-
mocracy of Rapides (f elected can go to work and
have the Act OF 1856 amended as to strike out the
word Citizen and until this is done the free negroes
Of TenMile will be just liable to prosecution for
false swearing as they would be if they were to swear
that they were white. .
All the frauds that have been committed, and are
being enacted in the name of modern Democracy, re-
suit from partisan motives. Men cling to Office with
out any regard to the oaths they take, and with
Indifference to the moral sense of the community or
its general welfare. a, 80 r yea 5.sa
This Ten-Mile vote is the lifeguard Of the Rapdes
Democracy, and they will hold to it with their Lies
blood Mr. Wise received at that precinct in his last
election, from fifty to sixty negro votes, and he was
elected by only thirty majority who, then elected
the Sheriff OF Rapides r The free negroes at Ten
Mile. Who will elect the next Sheriff? Perhaps the
free negroes at the same place.
41' [Red River American, 18TH