Sugar planter. [volume] (West Baton Rouge [i.e. Port Allen, West Baton Rouge Parish, La.]) 1856-1925, 1859-02-05
The Right. Spirit.

1900 ~
must accord to thera5ti,es right OF acting in
accordance with the wishes of their consti-
tuents. This is 4 rsast1r too often h neglected
and trsaed With=byS ttpsseAWho merely exer-
else delegated arthotty, and when we find
in the actions Of thosa placed in authority by
the popular voice, a 3Fict adherence to the
wishes OF those who hdnored them with dis
tinguisheI positions. hh*echo of applause finds
its way into CUR breiSt, despite the, oblIga-
tons of parity The fqrse Of party 4~restric-
tons has beea carriel:to too far in Louisiana,
and it is time the people were becoming
sensible Of the fact, and endeavor to institute
a new order o: thinsS wherein they shall be
consulted and: not th4 mandates of knaves,
who, under tie g~uise:!Gf party, enforce an &C
ton in accordance With their OWE private
wants and wishes,Eatd then humbug the
people with the hack1eyed cry Of I our par
typ Chickering's and strife have heretofore
prevailed in both Houses of. our General
Assembly, to=an exEaEt totally. incompatible
with the interests oil bubble welfare. Party
spirit had become 50 violent that. measures: of
the greatest ::iimporh zee to the State have
been killed Of, through theinauense of those
dislikiug theaoarty fiitozn which. they emanat.
ed. Both political p~aities can oe successfully
charged vita this c4ime~-for crime tits
and it is to be hope!la that GsuchEhehavior will
be forever rea'udiattd land that OUT legislators
will attend To the l~usiness for w~hich4they
occupy those pcsitiD1s,-the welfare and i'll
terest ofour State. III ~ \ f tHl H. H:<tj'a
! Asthe neutrality-suspicious. Of the present
Legislature gre deYaFoPed by its action on
matters in which Tile general interest est is in
volved, and even OH questions which cannot
be placed n: that cFategory, we are by de-
gfees, led TO- form The pleasing conclusion,
that the PARTISAN spIrIt SO long and so bane-
upholstered in our Legislative Organizations,
has power M longss TO thrust itself into the
deliberations Of Legislators, and enforce that
political discipline which sacrifices every
thing to the ;perpet'iarion or political ascend
ancyg. Democracy still stands at the helm of
the good shIp, of stth.e,, but the Democrats, of
the present sLegfTslas |ture seem to have enfran-
chised theraselvess + % . great extent, from
the rule or suinousET||oliey which has charac-
terized the 'courrseIEof their. predecessors. for.
se:ree.ral years praust|J the House OF Repre-
sentatiyes, PARTED agiy4 there have been re-
peated lnaniIestatlpia@ Of q general disinclina-
ton among II the 1hsmbers Of both parties to
allow political. prsudicesi any undue %slnflu7
enc esssi IN t!le dis 'ffs Of their legislative
duties. u st4...% ,~t .5~.t. ~,
sfWetake the rndrs pleasure in commencing
this spirit of tolssnnce, if not entire unity,
among oux law makers, as we had in the
earlier portion of Vie session seen nothing on
which to found afhope that party discipline
would be relaxed in favor of a liberal and
dispassionate consideration of the welfare Of
the people$at large or that the politicaliegis-
latlon so l~nirnical to the1general good, would
be in so great a measure ignored. But, while
we hail the genera adoption o fthis comproom-
Using polieyJin the House, we: do not lose
sight of the fact that there are those h
essay to be leaders in the Democratic army,
who see noth:ng in. it to commend, and who
use their best efforts to thwart it's healthy
action With THE strongest political t~enacity
they adhere I'd the principles Of making
party instead of E:ttse people, the grand objec-
ton Of legisls ti3an--of continuing, the aLegiis-
lature in all its great measures ii thee. capacity
Of a mere political engine. But the 'nu''nber1
Of those who. ard ready to act in all emfeirgen-
cies upon this pernicious principle, is small
and we have abundant proof already, that
their power is i,npotent. We have abundant
evidence: that there are men in the body OF
which we are Speaking who, dare question
the prop<<ieet:y. Of Democratic discipline as ap-
piled to them while acting as legislators for
the people, and have the moral courage to
act upon.their Independent convictions, The
sentinels on: The. Democratic ,wateh-towers
may become alarmed at the progress q. these
hieretlca} sentiments, and. command. a return
to sthriictt=allegiakaee; but it is not in. the conn.,
: mon 'ps' order 'nhr. Of If t4a II ggs.d that IL revolutions in opin
IONS asss p: 4'ld retfpsade, ; ao @:ea4 j voa 3a|
q the American members Of the House,
who compose, in every sense Of the express
sion, a highly respectable minority, we are
proud to tsay,ithat as a body, their course.
thus far during the session, has been without
reproae@h, ard has won good pinliioaas sias as vide
spread as the ftate. A Ii eraI and impartial
policy has been the guide Of eacD,; ana while
they have nesfsr been found wanting IN Leg
'slatiSe sconrtasy to their political opponents,
not thtashaaoW ola ~factious demonstration
can be- chargsf against them. u #*4 a@1