The Feliciana Democrat., 1859-03-19
Jbe fslitiana 9emotrat.
PASSAGE OF THE APPoRrloNMENT BILL.

ment bill has at length been passed by both |
Houses, and signed by the Governor. Its set
tcment is q source of qualification TO members
as well as outsiders. and both Houses are now
busy as bees in passing bills The Senate, af-
ter fighting so long for the bills presented by
four or five would he leaders of the Democratic
party, finally saw itself under the disugreablc
necessity of backing down and did so, though
with an exceeding i'll grace. On Wednesday
evening scene came off, and every one, who
witnessed itagreeS that it was the richest affair
Of the session Such speeches, snch PERSONAL
ties. ntver before, probably, disgraccd Legis
lative body.
The ball was set in motion by senator Pierce
of Bienville, a very good speaker, who in rising
to announce that he yielded to the House mea
sure. attacked in the icrcest and most violent
manner the course Of men calling themselves
Democrats, and elected ns such yet who acted
in open concert with Know.Nothings for the
purpose of dividing the party. He denounced
their course as undemocra,ic, and only yield.
ed ont of regard for the interest of the State.
Mr. Pierce was followed by DR.. Shadburnc,
the eloquent senator from Madison, who vim.
dcatcd himself, as one of those who had op.
posed the unconstitutional bills attempted to
be foistcd on them by the majority of the Sen
ate, from the charge Of acting against the in
tcrest of the Democratic party He deGcd
any senator to show where u single provision
of the House bill was un.democratic in its
features He was q Democrat and believed
in the sovereignty, and was opposed to high
protective tariff. What right had gentle.
man to say that he was no Democrat? Was
he bound by party ties to support nnconsti.
tutional bills, because they were endorsed by
a majority of Democratic senator's? If such
was required of him, if to be Democrat h"
must violate his oath Of Office, then he was no
Democrat.
Mr.. Tucker, of St. Mary, responded He
alluded to the gentleman's protesting to adhere
to principles which he characterized as "par.
cells Of detached IDEAS and wanted to know
how principles could 5c sustained without or
ganization lie then went off from his subject
to take up the occurrences of the Senatorial
caucus, which he considered as the key of this
whole trouble alb ut apportionng the State,
and ndugcd in violent attack on Mr.. Gray
which was very apparent, though this gentle
mans name was not mentioned
Mr.. Tucker sat down, and the tall, porly
form Of Senator Dcfreese, of fJackson attracted
attention from all sides. Mr. d., was known
to have voted on this question with the major
ity of the Senate but he was also known to
have been the proposer Of the withdrawal from
the Senatorial caucus, and curiosity was on
tiptoe to hear what he had to say in reply to
the violent personal remarks Of the senator
from ST. Mary, who had not gained much
sympathy by his attack on a gentleman not
holding seat ON the Senate floor, and unable
to meet attacks on his course.
Mr.. DR.. began by wishing it to be distinctly
understood that he was personally and politi.
cally responsible for what he was going to say,
and he repeated the words With this intro.
duction he took up the st. Mary Senator's at.
tack on Mr.. Gray, and portrayed the meanncss
of the act Such scathing as Mr. Tucker
received, was never witnessed before, while to
make it interesting, the speaker would occa.
sionally nterlard his speech with the agrcca-
BILE statement that he was personally responsi.
BILE for what he was saying He yindicaed
Mr. Gray from all charges, pronounced the
accusation of his trcache-y to his party,
untrue and ungentemanly, and gave history
Of the already famous caucus flom which he,
with the remaining friends of Mr., Gray, with
drew after submitting therein to insults until
human patience could last no longer; alluded
to the facts that the Gray and Parham men
were sllBHleu, usItguIucu, oAlTaclscu Ill lnaI
caucus, that, while the Benjamin and Sanddge
men were holding council together, cxchang-
ing propositions and they, the States rights
men, were left to chew the cud Of solitary en-.
.joyment; and wound up with an apt alluson
to tclcgraphic dispatch received from Messrs.
Benjamin and Sandidge, directing their friends,
in case it should be necessary, for the purpose
of defeating the disalfected Democrats, (Gray
and Parham men, to take one ballot and
drop the hndmost of the two. Could it be
wondered at that men born and bred with an
attachment for Democracy, should after such
insults vindicate their dignity as men by with.
drawing from council, where they were not
treated as equals! In his opinion they had
abundant cause to retire long before they did
The speech Of Mr.. Defreese, of which | have
given but an incomplete outline was listened
to with marked attention. The bold and fear.
less manner with which he hurled back on the
st Mary Senator, the charges brought against
him and his associate democrats who voted for
Henry Gray and the firm confidence with
which he ayowed his willingness to meet these
same charges before the people who sent him
to the Ierislature won him favor in the eyes