The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1859-10-21

Although at a very late hour in tbs
campaign, | have consented to submii
my name to you as candidate for the
office Of State Senator, for your dis.
trict.
In doing so, / shall perhaps
surprise many of my friends, who
have heard me declare, that I would
not, and could not, consistent with my
personal interests, be a candidate fol
That office.
1t is true, / have steadily declined,
after many respectable calls made on
me from all portions of the district;
and have earnestly solicited other gem
tlemen of more ability and leisure
than can command, to declare them
selves, for the office but as each has
refused, and those calls, again made
on me, under circumstances that hard
ly justify further refusal-I have
yielded, and am now before you in the
attitude of candidate.
Although ] am no politician bytrade,
and am not in any way learned in the
acisdo,a Of The trade, still hope / have
enough experience to be fully aware,
that the kindness of my friends have
chosen for me no 'sbed of roses" Col.
Pierce, the champion, whom am call
ed on to oppose is old and acGrg and
wise in the trade, an experienced tae-
tician, and an eloquent and ready de-
batter, and he who meets him in oppo-
sition has no child's play. But to
crafty the kind partiality ofmy friends
who hatter me with an opinion, that |
may be equal to the emergency viii
try and not disappoint them.
The time is now too short to enable
me to see the people of the district as
Iwould otherwise take pleasure in do
ing; / must therefore content myself
with giving the greatest publicity in
my power, of the fact of my being a
candidate, as well as to the principles
| occupy before the people.
In regard to my views as to matters
Of State policy
lst, | am in favor of rigid and rad
ically reform in the administration of
cur State government, to stopthe reek-
less extravaganza in appropriations,
and Tighten the onerous and CALLING
Eoad of taxation under which our peo-
PIE now labor And to this end will
oppose all every appropriation, not abb
necessary to carry on the ma
ehinery of the government or to sus-
lain its plighted faith and honor and
will specially oppose all appropriations
10 build the proposed railroad from
New Orleans to Baton Rouge; to paw
ing lawyers fees for private service,
gut of the State Treasury; to paying
the money of the State to carry out or
establish any special act for holding
elections for favored or particular To-
sal;ties.
I'd. | am opposed as a matter of
principle or precedent to the Legisla-
Iare, addressing persons, claiming to
be elected to any Office, out of and
from that office, under any prefix what
soever; but in favor Of leaving all
questions Of fraud arising in elections
for Judicial and executive officers. of
the parishes, corporations, and judi
eial districts, to the courts of compe-
tent jurisdiction.
3D.. / am in favor of a radical
amendment of our. judicial system, SO
as to keep our District Judges at la
Dor the entire year in holding two
terms of court in each parish annually,
md for tho establishment of court
of probate in each parish.
4th. am in favor of changing the
'eemiag policy of the State in the ad-
of the Swamp lands and
the Scamp land c6fce, which
las been the prolific source of so much
uption--high-handed swindling of
he State, and almost universal dissat-
lsfaction to the people; and in this con-
leotion declare my opposition, in the
Legislature and out Of it, to any sYs-
en- of levees on Red River that pro-
,oses to close the bayons and natural
outlets Of the river on the eastern side
"a policy that must inevitably injure
4 not ruin the navigation of Lake
Bisteneau.