The Opelousas patriot. [volume] (Opelousas, Parish of St. Landry, La.) 1855-1863, 1859-10-22
To my E~e,iuv-Cltizens of the Fourth S"h-
ErcssIouRl District.

To my EeliuW-Cltizens Of the Fourth Soh-
grcssionaI District.
Having. at the earnest solicitations OF many
of the voters of the Fourth Congressional DIS
trict of Louisiana, consented that my name
slould be presented to them as all Independent
Democratic Candidate. for their support at
the c,,sning election. | deem it bnt Dire, both
to myself and those whose snffrages 1 Solicit
to .p--~-1 in a short and concise manner, he
ia P'esAA III views or opinions that may enter
tain Regarding the particular line Of policy ,,9at
would pursue, or deem it my duty to adso-
cate and support. il honored by an election
More particularly do | deem it my dnty, whei
The sl,urt,leSs of time between this and the day
you will be called upon to make the seieetl"I.
of those whom YOU may desire to e|evatef
office, will prevent my presenting my views IN
"a more public and satisfactory manner, which
| sincerely regret, as it would have %sratliled
me TO have been able to state them from the
stump, and in a canvass Of the district with
my honorable opponent. believing the views !
would present would meet with the hearty ap-
proval Of a majority of my fellow-citizens.
All the old issues existing between the great
parties which have heretofore existed, being
reduced to but one. and upon which, fellow
citizens, we should and must be a unit. as upon
that principal and that basis, | believe, The
salty of our Institutes aud the Union OF the e,
States depend, u Edisis a question above an
party consideratiNsa4held for which we should
sacrifice all polititas~S party pref udices-it is
one IN which, tellow-citizet's. all parties should
unite-old line Wings, Democrats, Americans,
aud every other party or organization existing
in the sonth. 1t is the Slavery question:
question. the agitation of w0(;h has shook the
very foundation. Of our gloriuns and progress
sive Confederation a Confederation whose
greatness depends -ut'on their Union, | say
that upon that question we slnsld be as a
unit-"e should place ourselves upon the firm
basis of the Constitution, and the rights there
in guaranteed to all-uron the principles as
enuncla'ed and confirmed in the bred Scott
decision, which guarantees to us all we or any
conservative lover Of the Union can or should
demand. recognizing all the South could claim.
Upon this | say, we should stand, and present
an nnbroken front to all or any who may or
should attempt to violate its provisions. or IN
any way attempt the future agitation OF this
question by Congress, for the purpose OF legis-
lation on the subject, particularly any attempt
recognizing the right of Congress to confer
any power on the territorial Legislatures to
]egislate on the subjcct.-Upon this let us de
pend, and should we fail in that and our rigghts
be disregal1 I'd, let us be found fighting for the
preservation Of the principles of the Constitu-
ton and not OF sections or party. and thus
prove ourselves worthy to be the inheritors of
those glorious rights handed down to us by
our ancestors, and for which they so nobIy
fought. These are my views upon this subject,
briefly expressed, and upon which | will act
and upon which I will stand. believing as | do,
that the conservative portion Of my Fellow
citizens will be with me.
Another important subject which is now
agita1ing the public mind, | deem it my duty
to express my views. | allut!e To public ex-
penditures. 1t is bat too irie. that the en-
travagant expenditure Of the public funds and
public domain is a question which should well
cause the people to pause before e~ieyatjng any
one to political position, who wai,ld not use
every en1eavor to check the same. and cause
their curtailment within reasonable bounds. |
hold it this government can be carried on with
a greatly reduced expenditure and also hold,
that in the indiscriminate and lavish appro-
priation of the public domain, frequently to
the detriment of the actual settler, the repre-
sentatives of the people have usurped a power
not delegated to them by the reople-that all
such appropriations should be well and ma
turely considered, and the rights Of the settlers
well and carefully guarded while at the same
time I would consider aud deem it my duty to
advocate the aid of the General Government
to be extended in q liberal manner to the Pa
ci6c Rail Road, as a means Of cesnenting and
binding this Contederacy. and thus giving per-
petuity and strength to the Union. aud also
draw us into closer connection with our bro
Tiers on the Pacific. and enable us to protect
our line Of coast from all agggressors also as a
means Of securing the great trade that must
eventually arise from the late treaties which
have .been made with China and Japan. and
By advocating the line of this road, to be ex,
tended. from some of our southern roads, thus
giving strength and security to the south, and
ultimately eIeyatiig her to an equality with
the north, in respect to commercial Importance
+ | should deem it my duty to give these ques
tions my most careful consideration.
l should also give my most careful ano
prompt attention to the mail facilities Of oul
state. and more particularly our district, ant
use my utmost endeavors to enable my consti
] tuents to receive increased facilities of comm,
~nicatian 10 which they are certainly entitled
} from the Importance and value of orr great
. staples, and the rapid growth of our country
: This is a matter, l believe, has not met with
that attention it deserves.
{ / should also If elected, give careful ant
: prompt attention to all such personal ard pri
!, vate business my constituents may have, o.
%entrnst to my charge, ald use my utmost en-
: deavors to promote their interests.
!. Another matter of Importance I will con
slider it my duty to give special attention
which is, that under the provisions Of the Ac
n graduating lands to actual settlers. many hav,
entered and paid for lands, but owing to thei
n not knowing the law, or from some circum
stances which they could not control. the,
= were unable to settle on the land within tht
q time required, and consequently can not prov,
up and cobErm their title, and are Liable Il
loose their lands. | would deem it my impera
tive duty to endeaver to have an act passed
enabling them to perfect their titles, and thu
k secure to the actual setter his home. which h
may have entered in good faith whist mt I'll,
same time. l would embudy in The act sucl
II provisions. as would prevent spectators from
y taking advantage Of the same 10 the ininry q
actual settlers. which has been done under til
provisions OF the present act. .
u There is one Other question which l couside
of vital Importance, upon which | deem ii III
duty of any cand dale for Congressional bpl
e ors to express their views-tbat is, the mex
Presidential Election. As there is a possibl.
! ty if not a probability that the choice may b
II l lntopt,tpoI hr Tho po,% Ia-. -. Al e.