Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1857-08-29
Harmonixine of southern Political

Harmonixim9 OF Southern Political
Feeling
The recent elections in the State Of North
Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama and
Texas, have gone Democratic las everybody
who is general reader knows by this time) by
a largely increased vote-.demonstrating the fact
beyond doubt, that the "American" banner in
these States is struck, and forever, however
congenial it may be to the wishes, the feelings
and the hopes of the adherents Of that party.
This is nothing more than what we anticipated
after the result of the Presidential election. It
musthave been evident to any mind of relec-
ton that that result, weak as it showed the
American strength TO be, would tend still fur
Their to the weakening and ultimate destrue-
ton of that party; and the recent elections have
verified the assumption. We feel confident in
the belief that this last blow will be felt to be
Of such weight as not only to destroy the pros
pect of another National American Convention
but be the deathSkueIl also to all future Amers
lean Conventions in these States. Indepen-
dents will next run, at the ensuing elections,
against regularly nominated Democrats, and
gradually party lines will be so effaced, that
none but one party in the South will prevail,
entertaining however, Of course, different opins
ions upon matters Of local policy.
These remarks are based upon facts, not sta
ted as a p~artizan, but as an independent editor
biased by no political sympathy; but whose aim
is to speak truth, and so far as it is in his pow>
CT, to portray those events in the future which
arise from, or are consequent to, the events Of
the present.
That a concentration Of opinion, or harmony
among the Southern people, upon matters or
policies Of national interest, will be beneficial
to them, socially, politically and pecuniarily, no
one can doubt. Let the demoralizing excite~
ment of politics or party contentious be in a
great measure erased from the public mind,
and the useful and noble pursuits Of Agricul~
ture, Manufactures, Commerce, the Sciences
and the Mechanic arts, will occupy its place, and
give evidence of their predominance by the in
creased wealth and happiness of the people, by
the prevalence of a more social and friendly
feeling among the different classes, in the in,
creased cultivation of a literary taste, and in
the display of greater ability and virtue among
our public men.
No good man can fail TO hope that such an
era is close at hand. Sincerely, we believe it
is. When that time does ~arriVe-when the
Southern people act as a unit--as they now
think as a unit-with reference TO their rights
and to great National questions of domestic
n dforeign policy, Of importance to them from
the peculiarly of their institutions and climate,
men of merit will alone fill public places; be-
cause. cliqnes and conventions (whose life
blood is party differences and distinctions) will
not then exercise their influence in lifting into
power VIGOROUSLY bad characters, or men who
have no ability whatever, as a reward for their
n~efarious actions at elections and other helm
Gus offences. But men will then have to en-,
ter the political field upon their own merit and
ability, and if elected, for their success in fns
tuFe, not as now, by wasting the peoples mos
ney, in framing acts that will weaken the OPP
posite party, or acts that will distribute more
of the "spoils'' among the faithful" but by the
efforts they make in the cause of State Agri-
culture, Manufactures, Internal Improvements,
&C., and an economy Of the public money bass
ed upon pure principles and legitimate rules.