The Feliciana Democrat. (Clinton, La.) 1855-186?, 1857-06-13
TO THE DEMOCRACY Gr THE THIRD
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

al District arc of 30 gross character rs to impose
upon the duty of yindicating the conduct Of the
Democratic party in the parishes which compose the
Eighth Judicial District. from the condemnation Of
The man who has caused its defeat
Although have been frequently urged by some
of the worthicst Democrats in the State. to make
statement of the facts In relation to onr recent Judi
cial election have not hitherto done so, because
Mr.. Davdson's position towards me was entirely dit
fcrcnt from that assumed in the circular alluded TO
above. lie had stated to me aud to others that
Judge Penn wrong-that was right-nnd that
he would have voted for me but for my consent to
do otherwise.
Under these circumstances further silence on my
part would he criminal.
must he permitted, then. to contradict positively
the declarations of Mr. Davidson and TO show that
he has violated his fidelity TO the Democratic party
and that in defending himself from that charge he
has violated his prolcsscd allegiance 10 truth.
The assurance which he gives of his own candor
and rerocity may he properly questioned, when his
own statements contradict IL.
Unable to rid himself Of the artifcc Of his profess
, sional practice. or his principal complaints
against the action ofthc Convention. whose scIcc-
ton he assumed the authority TO reject originates
in the selection Of the r'acc of meeting. which he
describes as 1.-THE old knowNothing Lodge What
foundation he may have for such course II is not
necessary to inquire and 1t is proper TO dismiss IL
with the remark that no better could he made of
such resort than the change of its purpose and
that it had long since been rid of ts former visitors
by the occupancy of gentleman well known for his
ardent and consistent devotion to Democratic princi-
pies, Col. Ell. Floyd.
lie insists that the action of that Convention was
null, because certain Mr. Roual was not allowed to
assume the responsibility Of representing the parish Of
Livingston in is deliberations, although he had con
sented to do 50. mM arored preference for he non
ndion IF Mr.. Penn.
} Has such prcsumptnous attempt been heard Of
before? Has it ever been known that person with
out credentials, without light Of proxy. has been
permitted to Introduce himself into body Of dele.
gates, simply because he has formed opinion end
chooses to take the responsibility of acting for those
who have not appointed him. particularly when
other and different men (nineteen in numbcr) had
been appointed delegates to that Convention, by the
parish Of Livingston?
II has not been shown that this Mr. Roual controls
the opinions Of the Democratic party in Livingston
and his influence may be doubted when it Is rcmcm-
bered that the candidate (whosc representative he
really was) received smaller number of votes in
the parish Of Livingston than either of his oppo-
nenis.
In the course of his "truthfd and ca,dd' statement
of the facts with which he attempts to Justify his de-
fiction. he asserts that in district composed Of
hrm Democratic parishes. and one Know-Nohng
parish. Mr.. Bowie was opposed by the former. and
supported by the latter alone. Where mday Demo-
cratic parishes are to he found in the Eighth Judi
: cal District il is difficult 10 undersand-snce he
did not develop their political resources ut the time
he was elected to Congress and lift he true that
} the Democratic party have the asccndcncy in 81.
Helena i; fair to conclude that he had nottlc con-
! ildcncc or support of his party in that parish.
But the audaciiy OF the assertion that / was oppos-
ed by three parishes out of four is unparalleled
except in his own conduct.
received the vote Of Washington; and two Of the
delegates from st. Helena declared their preference
for me. as the statement Of Mr.. Iosmcr will demon
: strolc Mr.. Strickland himself. the only supporter
of Penn in the Convention. subsequently transferred
bis adhesion TO the nominee. expressed his satsac
e ton with the result and approved fully the action
Il 4
:. No opposition came from Livingston except from
the dsaumd responsibility of Mr.. Rona which the sub
dnen vote of Democrats of that parish did mo-
It sustain. And If the vote in st. Helena he test
o Mr. Davdson's veracity it will he found that biz
assertion of opposition is of his habitual ctions
The objection to the youth and inexporicncc Of thu
II delegates from Washington may be answered by sim
It ply stating that the people Of Washington have
l. thought them old and experienced enough to cec
ono OF them to the Shernnlty. and the other TO III,
" Clcrkship in that parish nor did the Democratic
r party suspect the weakness Of their tender wears
n when they chose them as delegates to a polca
J. Convention.
J. Those gentlemen thought proper to exercise SOM
discretion in the selection of nominee for the Judge
ships they thought it advisable to set aside the name
T. Of man who Gas they bcicved) could not he elect
i ed in favor OF another who was supposed to he NOR
popular: they were DESTROYS of promoting the inter
e csts Of their party, and If they erred they
sponsbe to their con stitncnts, not to Mr. Davidson
v They had assisted to make n nomination which th
Democratic party bound to receive n deber
u ate act of one Of the Conventions and when MI
Davidson assumed the arbitrary authority of gon
behind tic proceedings of such body, he set an cS
ample which, if followed. will destroy the harmony
l. and the very existence of political organization
10 But moreover. on the Gath of March. 1857, Judg
ID NJ G. Pennbccam an Independent candidate for th
y, .Judgcship. not abiding to any of the objection
VI raised by Mr.. Davidson, and dsclaiming all part
Up appeals.
y true copy of that circular is hereto appended
n Such then. are the tmsy preteys, and ncorrec
. differences of Mr. Davidson. must now go further
l. | must give positive contradiction to some of hi
al pretended facts.
no declare that it is no, hue that the st. Helena de
y, egation ever withdrew from lhe Convention allui
y ed to.
OF The testimony of Wingfod and Strickland, whic
to he introduces, conradcts his statement.
n 1t is not true that | requested him to vote for MI
- Penn. fit be justice to him to show that he ha
80 perverted the tenor of an expression which mad
e. to his son, he shall have that justice
er only remarked to young Davidson that | did NJ
~, seek the vote of his father but that insisted upo
g his neutrality.
'w With that should have been satisfied. cannot sa
er that the Democratic party would have been conen
m But he paid no regard to that request. lie gay
- his support and his influence to Mr.. Penn If he di
~ not urge voters to sustain this candidate, it is nco
or rOyerable that certain mhom he controls did excl