The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1859-02-02

III announcer cOluuH. w hateNeF may De Sdlu Oh
Mr.. Benjamin's political fobles, it must be con-
coded by even his most bitter opponent that in
point ofintelect, craftsmanship, and fitness to
occupy a seat in the senate, he is long way
ahead of any of the gentlemen brought out in
opposition to him by the democracy. As an
evidence of the ferceness with which Mr.. Ben
jamin's reelection was opposed, we copy from
the Gazette and Sentinel, "a democratic paper
printed at Plaquemne, Iberville parish, the
following proceedings of a public meeting pro
mulgated few days after the assembling of the
legislature:
PUBLIC MEETING IN AsCENsIoN.-At mass
meeting of the citizens, occupants of Houmas
Land, held in the parish of Ascension, January
| 18th, 1853, Romanta Tillotson was unanimous
! y called to the chair; honorables VIM. r. Boote
and Simon ?. Eliser were appointed secretaries.
The meeting having been called to order by
the chairman, the reading of letter addressed
to governor r. c. WickIfe by Dir. Frederick
w Hart, was asked for, and after hearing it
read, 1t was unanimously
Resolved, That the said letter contains a full
exposition of our views, is endorsed by US and
meets our cordial appreciation.
The following preamble and resolutions were
then unanimously adopted
| Whereas, AT the last session of congress a
bill was reported to the senate of the United
States by the hon. j p. Benjamin. a senator Of
the United States from this State, who, as chair
man of the senate's committee on private land
claims, under the title of bill to provide for
the location of certain private land claims in the
State of Missouri and for other purposes, and
which bill subsequently became law, to the
great injury, prejudice and wrong to the resi-
dents and occupants of the Houmas Land, and
TO the great benefit of hon. j ohm Sidell, asso
ciate senator Of Mr.. Benjamin in the United
States senate, who claims TO be the owner of
twenty thousand acres of said Houmas tract
and
Whereas, The said act of congress contem-
plates the eviction of three hundred and seventy
Two electors of the parish of Ascension, and
one hundred or more electors in the parish of
| Iberyille, with their wives and children, from
lands they have long occupied, cultivated and
improved, and to which they contend they have
an incontroveruble title;
Be it resolved, That the introduction of this
bill and its passage through the senate by the
hon. J. L. Benjamin, is mischieyous in its ten
denotes; direct charge against his moral in
tegrlty, positive betrayal of the trusts conf
ded TO him, and violation of his oath of office,
intended to benefit his colleague John Slidell,
and entail the ruin of at least five hundred
families IN the parishes of Ascension and her
vile.
Resolved, That our senators and represen-
tatlyes in the Legislature be requested and ear
nestly urged to oppose the reelection of J. 2.
Benjamin TO the senate of the United States TO
fill the vacancy from this State i'll that body, en-
the 4th March next, on account of this act of
unparalleled turptude by which it was sought to
aggrandize a servant OF the people, sworn to
guard and preserve their interests against all
assailants, by the voice of five hundred free
white electors OF the parishes of Ascension and
lberylle, IN the State of Louisiana
Resolved That petition be drafted to the
legislature to take such action in this matter as
it may properly do TO have justice secured to
the residents of the Houmas Lands, and that
similar petition to congress be prepared and
sent to the hon Miles Taylor for presentation
to the house Of representatives, asking lor such
legislation as may be necessary to obtain the
repeal of that Missouri bill, or of that part of
it referring to land claims in the territory of
Orleans, introduced into that bill with SO much
subtety by j. =. Benjamin
Resolved That the thanks of this meeting
be given to its chairman and secretaries for their
attention and poiteness in conducting its bust
ness, and that the proceedings be published in
the Baton Rouge Advocate, True Delta of New
Orleans, Coast Journal of Donaldsonyille, Pla-
quemne Gazette, Crescent of New Orleans,
Washington Union and National Intellgencer
RoMANrA T1LLoTsoN, Chairman.
w +. Boote S. ?. EIiser, Secretaries.
The president in response to letter from
the "board of representatives of the United
congregations of Israelites, in New York, in
relation to the Mortara case, refers them to the
letters of general Cass for his opinion, but
adds: q have long been convinced thatitis
neither the right nor the duty of this govern
ment to exercise a moral censorship over the
conduct of other independent governments, and
to rebuke them for acts which we may deem
arbitrary and unj Just towards their own citizens
or subjects. Such practice would tend to
embroll us with all nations. We ourselves
would not permit any foreign power thus to in
terfere with our domestic concerns and enter
protest against the Legislation or the action of
our government towards our own citizens. I'll
an attempt of this kind were made, we should
promptly advise such government in return
to-confne themselves to their own affairs, and
not intermeddle with our concerns. 1t is per-
haps fortunate that the assertion of the princi-
pies of non-interyention on the part of the U. |
States between foreign soyereigns and their
own subjects has arisen in case so well cal I
culated to enlist our sympathies as that of the
Mortara family. For this reason the precedent
will so much the stronger, and be entitled to
the more binding force. 1t is enough for us
to defend the rights of our citizens, under trea
ties or the law OF nations, whenever and wher
ever these may be assailed by the government
Of any foreign country whatever. Had Nor
tara been citizen of the United States the
case would have been very different, The Is
raelitish citizens of the United States have had
occasion to know that / have not been regard
less of theirj just rights in foreign countries, ard
they may rest assured that they shall receive
the same protection when domciled abroad
during my administration, which is extended 20
all other citizens of our common country
They would ask no more and shall receive