The Feliciana Democrat., 1857-09-19
THE FELIClANA DE MOCRAT.

had not then become familiar with the idea OF
n wholesale suppression Of the right oil suffrage,
and though the vote fell short OF the full num-
Der unon like occasions, the number OF Demo
cratic votes polled in the city of New Orleans,
excluding those on the broken ballot.boXes, 1T
amounted to 1880; including those in the pro-
ken boxes it exceeded 5000. At the municl-
pal election which occurred in the ensuing
Spring, nearly every poll in the city was, AZ
an early hour in the day, seized upon by oahuS
Of lawless men, the friends Of the Democratic
candidates were driven away by violence, ana
the Mayor, to whom an appeal was made ior
that purpose, frankly admitted that he W. was
unable 10 eriead 10 them any protect,on me
consequence was, that scarcely one-hag % Me
Democratic roters Of the city were permitted TO
exercise the right of suffrage. In the succeed
ing elcction--that for Presidential electors
the same system of terrorism and violence pro-
duced like results. Many citizens refused to
register their names rs votes, considering II
vain formalty; and out of 1921 voters who
did register their names, nearly 5000 were eX
cluded from the right of voting or prudently
abstaincd from the exercise Of q right which
was attended not only with personal danger
but with sense Of degradation. Mr.. Fill
mores majority, in the city Of New Orleans
fell short Of the number of excluded votes
On this occasion, mt onehdT Of The Democrdi
eaters or The citg exercised The rigM Of suffrage
In the neighboring Parish Of Jefferson tht
system of exclusion was even more electual
Nearly thrce-fonrths Of the Democratic voters
OF that Parish were debarred from the right
Of suffrage at the last Presidential election
Fellow.citizens the foregoing is mere com
pilation Of statistical details. A reference tc
official returns will show that the fact are no
oyerstated. The result Of this successful ca
reer Of outrage is manifested in the diminished
efficiency Of the laws The victims Of violence
have been afraid to prosecute the aggressors
witnesses have been deferred from testifying
/ inres have been either overawed, or otherwis,
so influenced that the community have los
confidence in the administration of retributivt
justice.
II is not pretended, nor do we wish to b.
understood as charging upon the whole Amcri
can party. participation in acts whichInony o
them severely reprobatc Political necessit,
does not require, nor does political or persona
propricty permit, that an entire body of cti
. LtilS SUbNIi wv utitt ItNnDHNlIIC lol atNn WV
reference to which many Of them have ayaiIct
themselves Of every suitable occasion to cx
press their destestation and adherence. !
is cheerfully conceded that large portion o
the intelligence and respectability of the STATE
is TO be found in the ranks of the American
party. This portion Of our citizens have ncve
pretended to deny or to defend the acts 0
which we complain; but Of such we ask in al
candor and honesty, what practical result cal
yon expect to attain bya persistent support o
the American organization? 1t is eviden
that, with every disposition to 10 so, gou an
naGJlc to regulate its action in accordance
with the civilized usagcs Of parties. Are 20,
willing that under the shelter of your gooC
names and respectable characters the right 0
4 suffrage should be reduced as it has been
to a shadow and mockery? Is there an,
result, even supposing it one which is attaina
BILE, which can compensate for the evils Incl
/ dent to the employment of such means? w
would ask Of you in the name of that common
justice to whose appeals you hold yoursclvc
amcuable and by the impulses Of that com
mon humanity, which makes kinsmen of us all
! it not time that this condition of thing
should cease to exist? 1t is in vain to suppos
that you can set limits to the progress of un
checked rullanism, or to suppose that ont
class Of rights can be trampled upon with i'm
punity and that erey or indeed any othe
class Of rights will continue to be respected
The uneXampled growth Of the American
cities in the last few years, while it is an indi
cation Of extraordinary prosperity on the ont
hand, has on the other developed elements o
disorder which the existing state Of Legislation
is not adequate to control; aud it becomes
question which those who represent the con
seryative interests of society are called upo.
to decide, whether the organized destructive
Of our large cities are to control the law or t.
obey it. Such question should find no plac,
in party issues. 1t may have connection will
party asccndency, but it has nothing to dc
with party principles 1t involves simple
issue between law and violence, between ordel
and anarchy, between civilization and rufian
ism.
AT the last session of the Legislature, al
act was passed to protect the right of suffrage
in the parish Of Orleans. 1t was based upor
the necessity growing out of the condition O
things notoriously existing in the city of New
Orleans, upon the official returns of broker
,,pan Ia N, locc nj r., 81