The Feliciana Democrat., 1857-09-19

fabric of civilization, whose foundations were
laid by the Fathers Of the Republic, we would
urge that there is neither wisdom nor policy
in forcing the South into position which re-
pcs all reasonable support and that it is neith-
cr Just nor generous to assail with terms of
rcproach and contumely those eminent North
ern patriots who in every issue involving our
Constitutional rights have shown themselves
our friends, and who under circumstances of
trial and difficulty, which no Southern states
man is compelled to encounter have without
calculation of personal consequences assisted
us in beating back the wave of fanatiesm,
which so recently threatened our safety as
united people.
Equally unwisc and futile will be the at
tempt to stigmatizc as disloyal TO the Consti-
tuition party which presents an unbroken
and unfaltering record, for fifty years. of con-
stant devotion to its support, and which, but
recently, by the united efforts Of its Northern
and Southern supporters, has eXpungcd from
the statute book an odous and unconstitutional
restriction, which had disgraced its pages for
more than quarter Of u century. Fellow
citizens, if we wish our institutions to be per-
manent, they should rest in their practical
operation upon the broad basis of justice and
fair dealing; let us not, therefore, repel from
our support, by ungracous denunciations, the
only men at the North who arc pledged to the
maintenance Of our constitutional rights: let
us not assume, by anticipation, that those
rights cannot be maintained in our present
relations to the Federal Union; but rather let
us manifest, by an earnest and honest effort in
! their support, our confidence that the "princi-
pies and compromises of the Constitution are
broad enough, and strong enough to embrace
and uphold the Union as il was, the Union as
| it is and the Union as it will be, in the full
expansion Of the energies and capabilities Of a
great and progressive people" The Demo-
cratic party presents no new platform Of vary
/ ing doctrines 70 meet the exigencies of tenn
porary expcdency; but it stands now, as it
stood more than fifty years ago, the steOdfast
advocate Of the integrity Of State sovereignty
Of Il strict limitation Of the powers coded to
( the Federal Government, of liberal welcome
to that emigration from abroad which has con-
tributed so largely to the increase Of our pop
ulation and the development Of our national
wealth 1T has, moreover, been the consistent
and uniform opponent Of any attempt to intro
duce q scctarian religious element as an innn-
encc upon political action, and has ever main
! H.,
/ that we "should throw down no mans altar,
that we should punish no mans prayer" and
that we should impose no disabilities upon
any form Of faith, in accordance with which
any man may deem it his duty to manifest his
dependence upon his Maker.
These doctrines have become hereditary in
the councils Of the Democracy, and it is hoped
will be transmitted in unimpaired lustre and
efficiency to those who may succeed us. All
change, however, is not to be deprecated, at
least where error is to be corrected; and, in
this connection, it is gratifying to observe that
the "1mericaR' presses OF the South have,
since the last Presidential canvass assumed a
more decided position in support of the equali-
ty Of the Southern States They no longer
contend for the constitutonality and policy OF
the Missouri Compromise, and are now found
combating with extraordinary energy the re-
Gently expressed views Of Mr.. Fillmore on this
subject. This may be attributed in part to
that c0eryescence Of zeal which usually ami
mates new converts; but TO whatever cause
attributable, we hail it as confession Of past
error, and as pledge that they will not again
give their support to q candidate for the Presi-
dency who advocates the doctrine that the in
Istitutions of the South should be restricted by
Legislation within fixed geographical lines,
while the Northern States are left free to oc,
cupy the whole field without any impcdiment
or restriction.
Prominent among the objects which will en-
gage the attention Of those who will represent
you in the next Legislature are the obstruc-
ton by which violence and outrage have sue
ceeded in suppressing the right Of suffrage in
the city of New Orleans and in the adjoining
parish of Jefferson. If any one Of the guaran.
teed rights is beyond others entitled to the
special protection of the Legislature it is the
right of suffrage. Those who framed the
Constitution Of 1852 manifested their socitude
on this point by cmbodying in one of the arti-
cles of that instrument the provision that "7He
privilege Of free suffrage shall be protcctea bu
lars regulating elections and prohiJiting, under
odeqnated penalties, all undue influence Mereoa
from pom >, bribery tumuH or other impr0per
practice" The history of political events in
the city of New Orleans and in the adjoining
parish of Jefferson, for the last three years
presents record of outrage and violence upon
the personal and civil rights of large proper
ton of its citizens Upon the recurrence of
every election orraniZod hands of rulIions bovo