Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-06-08
(Ffoni the Louisville Jouyndl.)
The New Orleans Affairs,

There remains no shadow of a doubt that
the revolutionary movement in New Orleans
is altogether a concerted plan of the Demo-
cratic party to get possession of the city gov
eminent. 1t is a sequence of the infamous
army bill, passed by the Democratic Legisla-
ture of Louisiana more than year ago, which
was so plainly and unequivocally infamous
that even the Democratic Governor, aided by
his Democratic State officials, dared not at
tempt its execution. That bill like this Vigil
ance Committee movement, contemplated
the subsection of the city of New Orleans to
the political control of the Democratic party
by force. All that is surprising to us is that
the city authorities have been so blind as not
to anticipate and prepare for the result which
has happened.
1t is evident to every reader of the New Or
leans papers that something of this nature
was brewing, and that a desperate coup d'etat
was contemplated by the Democratic leaders.
In the Delta of the 18th, the rabid organ of
Democracy in that city, we find the following
conclusion of an article upon the Mayoralty
election which will occur on Monday next:
'sWho shall say that in order to purify the
city, crush rufianism at the polls, to make
the balot-box common receptacle for the
vote of every qualified voter, to reform the
abuses that have crept into the city govern
ment and thereby assist us to a better repu-
tation at home and abroad, and put a new
spoke in the wheel of our prosperity-who
shall say, we repeat, that. If necessary, the
well meaning citizens of New Orleans should
not compel obedience 10 the La,o? And tce think
they ,ciA do it if required; at least they only
have to resolve to bring about a reformation
and the event will inevitably follow.
This is the key note. Ii is the harbinger of
the storm that was expected. Ii is a certain
indication OF the movement that found its con-
summation in the riotous and unlawful pro-
ceedings mentioned in the Geographic dis
patches on Thursday. Both of the Democratic
organs in New Orleans, the Delta and the
True Delta, made light of the rumors of pre-
parations for an armed Intervention in favor
of the Democratic party. They treated such
reports as mere jests, yet the result has prov
ed that the editors, at least of the Delta, were
all the while cognizant OF the arrangements
for this outrageous enterprise to take posses
sion iof the city government by force and
arms.
The pretext that this so-caled vigilance
committee has been organized for the purpose
of suppressing crime and insuring the convic-
ton of offenders against the laws is too trans
parent to deceive. We have been assured by
gentlemen who are familiar with New Orleans
affairs and with the proceedings of the courts
there for years, that the number of convictions
for criminal offences in that city for the last
six months, in proportion to the number of Of
cedent- The suppression of crime is merely
the excuse for the organization of a band OF
lawless rioters. The purpose is the suppression
of the lequI pote of he city in the approaching,
election, and nothing else.
There is no ostensible Democratic candidate
In the field. The Democratic party there is
fighting under the name of the Independent
party. They have been so often defeated as
Democrats that they have abandoned the
name, and, in accordance with deeply laid
plan, have assumed that of the Independent
party with the hope of deceiving into their
support men who could never be induced to
vote for Democratic candidate. The very
name of Democracy Is so odious in New Or
leans that in all contests ut the ballot-box they
have for several elections been most signaliy
defeated. They assumed the name of .'inde-
peudents," and called upon Mr.. Beauregard TO
become their candidate for mayor. This call
is signed principally by the leading aud active
Democrats, and by few OF the personal
friends of Beauregard who have not recently
taken a part in politics. The whole move
ment was initiated and carried on by leading
and active Democrats, who openly boasted
that they had raised the large sum OF hfty
thousand dollars 10 insure the election Of their
candidate. and, II that wouldn't do, they in
tended to resort to force and arms.
This Beanregard, the Democratic candidate
for the Mayoraity, although put forth Is an
independent candidate, Is an Office holder un-
der President Buchanan He Is the Supcrin-
tendent Of the Custom House at New Orleans,
and of course is an out-and-out Buchanan
man. II was useless for the Democrats to at
tempt to elect him as Democrat. and his par
~ assumed another name and determined TO
resort TO force 10 secure success. The indie
pendent movement was we'll understood to be
nothing more thaa Democratic trick We
find in the New Orleans papers OF the 2sth OF
Mar 9 card from one Of the gentlemen nomi-
mated by these Democratic independents. in
which be declines the nomination., and says
IL think understand the independent move.
II is to get the control Of the city out OF the
hands OF the Americans and place u la the
tender arms Of the old Democratic wlre-work-
err. The whole business looks little John
SIideliish. Ihave nothing ~ say against the
nominees Of the Independents As BODY
they are bigh-minded aud honorable citizens,
but slightly mixed with old fogyism-