The Feliciana Democrat. (Clinton, La.) 1855-186?, 1857-04-04


abuse of the power which a generous constitu.
ency had invested their representatives? They
did not choose to do SO, because they knew,
that such course would have enabled the
democrats most successfully to defend their
action and their votes thereon. General asscr.
tons without specifications suited their purpose
better.
The items Of appropriation for the yearly
expenses of the state, and for paying just and
equitable claims to individuals due by the
state, are each and every one embraced either
in the general appropriation bill, or in special
acts, published or to be published in the acts
OF the legislature. Let any one so disposed
take up each and every item, and show if he
can, why it should not be made. 1t is easy to
find fault, but to shcw wherein the fault lies is
much more difficult. We defy any one to
point out single appropriation that was made
in bad faith, or single one which the honor,
the interest or the plighted faith of the state
did not require to have been made Those
wise men of the Know Nothing party may
effect to believe otherwise, but their conscen-
ces must condemn them whenever they do So
They know better. Ignorance may excuse
some of them, and account for opinions, that
knowledge would disdan to own or Intelligence
would fail to inspire.
Charges of recklessness, extravaganza and
incompctcncy of democratic rulers are no new
thing under the sun. They have been made
against every democratic administration, eth
er State or national since the first inauguration
of the first democratic public functionary down
to'the present moment, and will be made again,
and again by those politicians of u different
political party who are out of power, and are
ever anxious to get the democrats out, that
they may get in. These Senators and Repre-
scntativos of the X n order, very modcstly
ask the dear people to rise in their might and
hur the democrats from power Very modest
and easily understood gentlemen. Yes hurl
the democrats from power, in order that you
may get in. The people will understand that,
you need not fear. They will know as well
how to appreciate this bill ofindictment against
the democratic party Of the legislature and the
Governor, as they did your bill, Of indictment,
preferred against the Hon. james Buchanan,
last summer when he was a candidate for Pres
dent.
The browning charge against the democratic
Legislature, was the passage of the New Orleans
election law. They think it so very odious
that they do not desire to analyzc it,
This law, that is so very odious, simply
empowers the Governor to appoint supcrin-
tendant of elections, with certain specified
powers, to guard the ballot box in the city of
New Orleans, at each and every election from
now until 1860, that the qualified citizen vo-
ters of that city shall have security of life and
liberty in the exercise Of The election franchise.
1t divides the city into more than double the
number of election precincts that have hereto
fore existed, so that all who have the right to
vote may do so as conveniently as possible 1t
S true that this is an extraordinary law, but
t is clearly constitutional and an cXtraordina-
y state of affairs there, calls for it, Is it right
hat the people should vote, and if they cannot
10 so without the aid of extraordinary means
he laws should furnish those means. Every
body expected of the legislature to do some
hing to correct the evils, which were becom
ng more and more alarming at each succeeding
election. If the Legislature had adjourned
Without making some effort to protect the PEG
,lc of New Orleans in the exercise of their just
egal and constitutional rights which privilege
las virtually been taken from them by the
hugs, assassins, and Indian warriors who in
cstcd the streets of that devoted city Oh cleo
ion days to alarm, mistreat, and kill if need
&c the unoffendng citizen, who did not vote
according to their dictation it would have
oeen derelict in duty. If there be anything :
wrong in taking measures to secure the people
n their rights at the ballot box, / should like
o know how it Is. The meaning of all this
uss about the army bill as it is called is sim
'y this. The American party Of New Or
non nd Of know