New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1859-10-29


! he Country thinks Of Charley Dreas-0the',
Special Correspondence Of the New Orleans Crescentl
ALEXANDRIA,, October %, 1859.
After tedious travel in this time of low water,
| the Comet made this port on the morning of the
10TH after ten hours detention on the bar at
Shaggy Point Red river is a small and disagree
able stream to navigate at this season. and more, il
is an expensive one, the trip to Alexandria costing
from SO to $l5 and the charge to Shreveport from
SIS to $40. Passengers reshipped at this Point
on account Of the Falls at this place, which pre-
vent the ascent OF descent of boats; consequently
there are two sets of steamers, drawing about the
same depth of water, 1.-TWO feeD one below this
place running to New Orleans and one above run
ming to Shreveport. At Alexandria, passengers
are passed around the Falls, about one mile and
half, to the boat above the Rapids. The time to
Alexandria is about 81 hours or less and to Shreve-
port from here, probably as much more, making
the entire trip in six days. The fare and accom-
modations on the boats below the Falls are good,
/ but above, as far as have been posted, they are
! rather inferior.
\ Alexandra is the same place I passed eighteen
yaars 90 going to Texas It has stood still, Ioui-
siana fashion, all that 'sreach" OF tune put the
place now looks like it had commenced to improve,
for found two large brick buildings in process Of
construction, and vast number Of smaller houses.
| Gas is about to be introduced, and there is some
talk of building the railroad further into the inte
rior so as to connect this place with middle Texas.
If this is done, Alexandria must improve very rap
idly for in the season of low water it will attract
4 all the trade of Western Louisiana and Eastern
4 Texas and in the winter il will get great pro-
| portion Of the same extensive transportation. A
railroad is already built twenty miles out into the
country, and it will be easy matter to extend it
/ one hundred miles further, the entire grade is
easy and the country well settled with af1uent
planters.
The Falls at this point in Red River seem to me
to be standing indictment against the efficiency
| of the State and Local Governments. At moderate
| cost, this obstruction could be thoroughly re-
moved that boats might pass over it at all seasons
and yet the money and credit of the country has
been frittered away, and here we are bound up by
| a delay which the State is morally bound to des-
| troy The dredge boat Dick Nash is here with her
sand scraper, but people do not seem to think that
| she is doing her work with any spirit.
| Politically speaking, Rapides parish is in the
| same condition with her sister communities below
and above. The principal excitement turns upon
the election for Legislature, as the Senators and
Representatives in the next Assembly to decide
who is to hold the seat soon to become vacant by
the expiration Of the term of the Hon. John Sill
dell Many county or rather parish officers are to
be elected, and it is feared that great bargaining
will result to secure the return of men secretly
pledged to the support Of the present Senator for
it is only by such course that Mr.. Slidel has the
slightest chance. If left to the voice of the peo
pie eight votes ont of ten would be cast for some
other man but when this is the sole object, and it
is made the pivot upon which all other places are
made to turn, it is not surprising that profound
tactcian is enabled to control the highest body in
the State. For instance, here certain candidates
are known to favor Slidel, and it is reported, or
understood that to their election every other
office is to be yielded up to the Opposition, pro-
vded the Opposition will consent to the success of
the Slidell Legislators.
Such combinations as the above are known to be
in existence both here and in New Orleans for the
disappointed ones are to be fed from State and
Federal patronage. However, there are many
parishes where the Opposition is strong enough to
succeed without any such degrading compromise !;
and there others where the spirit of independ-
ence is too great to suffer such trades. Rapides is
both of these, therefore the fear which referred
to above is confined to few conservative men
who are always afraid that the people are to be
cheated. Without speaking of the right which this
section has to the Senatorial office, there is this
manifest erpediency in her demand, that she has
not had one for some time, and as the New Orleans
representatives do not appear to be very efficient,
why, man from the country might do better
1t is well known that where individuals have
their own purposes to attend to they forget those
of other people; and while Mr.. Slidell has been
and is negotiating for higher positions, the people
fear he has neglected those pressing interests ap-
pertaining to the State. For instance while he
was asking members for their influence in Charles
ton s. c.. it not notorious that he has been dere-
ict in calling Congressional aid to the mouth of the
Mississippi? Where the great works which
ought to have been built up at the Passes? Where
are the great Notifications which should protect
New Orleans? I think hear the people say, in
the language of very just old farmer met on
the river bank this morning, " they have been
traded off for influence at Charleston"
The people of Louisiana simply referred to the
record for these things. If they willing to be
gambed away, it is but little of my business, for
although suffer on account of the injury done to
the State if the State is satisfied, why, my COM
plant must go for nothing. have never seen OR
heard Senator Slidell. have not heard of sin
gle great measure he has ever passed through Con-
gress; he has made no speeches; he is connected
with nothing that is noble in the history of the
State, and therefore cannot conceive how he asks
to be sent back to Washington for another six
years. If any man can point me to a single item
in his public life which will justify in honoring
him above Gov. Wckliffe, or any of the lofty lights
of the State, will accept the evidence at its worth
but most peremptorily refuse to honor man who
has not earned the public gratitude and approba-
ton. ] believe that office should be the reward of
merit and talents see neither of these qualities in
the present aspirant of the Democratic party.
This is simply business transaction, and am not
| called to pay man what he has not earned any
more than am bound to pay laborer for work
he has not performed.
Considerable interest has been created even thus
far in the country by the opposition to the Opposi-
ton party manifested in New Orleans. That
bright particular star y of ornate lingo, Charley
Dreux, has lost many friend in the interior by his
singular course for, unhappily, there are many
people in this world who believe that good ges-
ture and well connected sentence is all that is re.
quired to make a great man. Mr.. Dreux, with
| these qualities, had these friends, and they think
/ hat 1,a,l