New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1858-12-21
GEOGRAPHY AND THE UNITED STATES
SENATORSHIP.


: The above may appear rather strange juxtaposi
ton, but it is nevertheless perfectly correct ant
appropriate. The geographical locality an aspiran
Is to have greater bearing upon his success than his
services talents and patriotism At all events, this
is the doctrine that is being now enunciated by the
North Louisiana press and shall not be profoundly
surprised if our eloquent and distinguished Senator
]. P Benjamin, goes down before it on the fourth
Monday Of Janury next, although we duly appreciate
the efficiency Of the matchess managers engaged or
his side.
The North Louisianans cannot be blamed fol
desiring an equal divisionof Senatorial honors And
to their credit be it said, they name very good and
able men as candidates. But while not blaming
them for asserting their alleged rights in the premises
we cannot subscribe to the dogma that geographical
divisions should have anything to do with the election
of United States Senator A Senator is the repre-
sentative of the whole State, and will conduct himself
accordingly, if he is fit for the position Andf heis
not fit for the position, it would be apoor compliment
to the intelligence and patriotism of our people, TO
say that the doctrine of geographical distinctions
electedan unfit to misrepresent the State on the
floor of the Federal Senate.
But we did not start out to write article on this
topic, and will, therefore, close, by directing the
attention of the people to the following strongly.
written efasion, taken from the Monroe (Ouachta
Parish) Register of the 9th instant
UNITED STATES SENAToR.--A successor to Mr.
Benjamin. as United States Senator will be elected
4 at the ensuing meeting of the Legislature, and it
/ becomes question of grave Importance upon whom
the mantle of this distinguished statesman shall fall
IA question affecting not merely the representation
of the State in the national councils but the strength
| and ascendancy of the Democratic party as the
great and only important party Of the State. Conse
| flo t1o Iia ipfar
Democratic organization, as the custodian Of those
/ interests should be the sole consideration governing
members in their Official action this subject. Gould
we allow ourselves, in matters OF party policy to be
swayed in opinions by admiration Tor exalted
4 talent and genius fervid eloquence and profound
| knowledge of public measures, as well as for the
punctilous integrity and aithfulness with which he
has left the impress of these great qualities upon all
/ questions discussed, we should say, that no more
able ndeatigabe and gifted representative could be
found than the Hon ]. P. Benjamin himself 1t will
not be the policy of the Register to make war upon
men. We scorn detraction of the merits and worth
| of individuals
But in our opinions Of the availability Of particu-
lar persons acknowledge duty to the abiding in.
teress of our party paramount to all other consid
erations III the defense and diffusion of Democratic
| doctrines. Not that we love Caesar less but we
/ love Rome moren The spirit and practice of our in
stitutions announce the principle, that all interests
shall be fully and faithfully represented in our poti-
cal councils, and none can be so fit representatives
1 ton, and property, are personally identified with
them. Hence Representatives in Congress are re.
strlGted in residence to the geographical limits of
their districts and Senators the boundaries of their
respective States, that they may become intimately
acquainted with the various interests which they rem
resent, and in this become the more complete
opponents of the sentiments and opinions Of their CON
stituences the same principle justly governs the ac
ton Of political parties in States Giving in our ad
hesion to this principle, matter of equitable con
/ cession to the claims of different sections of the
State, we say unreserVedy and uneqniv0cay, that
North Western Louisiana should have one Representa-.
tive in the g United States SeRate,p and that the
members of the Legislature from the northern and
western sections Of the State, should act as amt in
demanding the recognition Of their claims in this par
titiOn oil Senatorial hOROTS.
The present Senators, representing with so much
ability and e0qaence at Washington are both resi-
dents of the city Of New Orleans. For a series of
years that city had one Senator and should Mr. Ben.
amin be returned this unequal representation will he
continued for years to come. Their acquaintance-
their business and social reaons-their interests are
located in the city and while these associations there
lit them admirably for representing the commercial
and political interests of that great CITY, it is equally
undeniabe, that their isolation from the dgTcuitrGl
portions OF the State and their necessarily restricted
acquaintance and intercourse with the citizens rem
der them less efficient representatives of their pecu
lar interests, than one whose residence in the North
ern and Western part OF the State identifies his inter
ests with those of the people of the country parishes
Our objection then, nures not against the character
OF integrity Of Mr.. Benjamin, but against the geo
graphical position, taking it measuraby ont of
his power, sinCe he is not ubiquitous to attend to
the interests Of Northern and Western Louisiana as
those growing interests demand 1t may be said that
the Senator in his Senatorial nvestture loses his local
character ana becomes at once the representative of
the whole State, as his constituency But it NAV he |
answered that this is the case only in the sense that
the successful candidate after election is necessarily
the representative Of the opposing minority and the
argument cannot avail against the selection of one
Senator from the country since in that case one /
could have watched and promoted the interests his
constituency efficiently as two. Should the coun
try parishes attempt against the city Of New Orleans
what the city is undoubtedly attempting against I
them, and she by these means find herself without |
representation in the Senate, the Crescent Queen
would deem herself MORALLY aggrieved. Bat con.
seious power blinds her to the fragrant injustice which
the country may at some time be tempted to retort
upon herself.
Populous cities always have the advantage in the
Capitalization Of population and wealth. talent and
political concert and in the event of conflicting in.
Iefests tue country from It's scattered and mperteGty
organized forces, stands in imminent danger of del
feat. This consideration should teach caution vigil
lance, and union to members from the country in re.
curing the concession from city Representatives of
thelr just and reasonable demands. But another con.
sldeIation which adds Cogency to our claim is the
distribution OF Democratic strength The srOngholds
OF the party III the pine hills and in the fertile
nott9ms 81 North and Western Louisiana. Here the
battles have been fought. Here the victories have
been won. Here her CoiOrS hare neUer been struck |
while they have been ngloriousy tyaied in the dut
o. the city which now asks at our hands the honor
Of an undivided Senatorial representation, while the
old and scared veterans Of the Democratic army
who have borne the heat and buifhen of the daV';
are cooy told in deeds il not in words that they are
incompetent to represent in the Federal Senate the
interests OF their State. But it may be asked 'Who
have you in North and Northwestern Louisiana
worthy to fill the the seat of the retiring Senatur?
we say IN reply, where are sandidge, LandrQm,
Gray, Parham, and others, who though they may not
be the peers Of Benjamin in learning and eloquence
may very safely claim the more esseatiai qualities Of
the statesman, capacity, integrity, industry and
stern determination to guard the zeal Of their State
and constituency State Senators and Representa-.
tlVes from the country parishes see to it, that your
j4St rights are respected. Unite boldly fearessY and
firmly on the plost acdilabie from Northwestern
Louisiana and we shall be satisfied that the honors as
well as the bRithenS Of political strife are equitaby
distributed.
Ponce OFFICER soLp."-The Baltimore Clip.
per says that atew evenings since, police officer of
that city saw two boys carrying heavy trunk, and
that on seeing him they dropped it and ran away
Surprising it to contain stolen property he shouIdered
il and lugged il to the police Office The u,ystariors