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

From the Alexandria American, I'd in..l
The Democratic organs exhibit no small degree
of impotence and petulance when they are re.
minded of the nisdeeds Of this Ajax lebanon OF
the Louisiana Democracy. When we tell them Of
the election and land frauds Of John Slidell the
slick officials Of the Ctstom-house and Postoffice
turn up the white of their eyes in holy horror, and
excaim, !" what lie" When we tell them that
the pure Democracy Of other days has degenerated
Of late into unmixed Sdellism, they reply, in their
classic phrase, what a lie."
Hence we propose to drop for the nonce gene
raliZing and go little into the truth of history.
Mr.. slidell first became known to the people OF
Louisiana as an INSCRIPTIONS political intriguer,
from the Inauguration Of the stupendous Plaque
mine fraud in the election of 1874. The result of
TINS frand gave the electoral vote of the State to
.. n. POLK. Worst of all, this result was not ac-
| compisfed by Mr.. Slfdell for the sake Of and his
devotion to the Democratic party, but for the base
anu lehopie purpose Of winning his bets on the
| election-it was a gamblers trick. He had bet.
WIN one OF the Senators of the State over s. 900
1t mas been estimated as high as $50 900 The
LegislauFe then sitting in New Orleans, appointed
committee to investigate the fraud. In their re-
port they censured Mr.. Slidel in severe terms and
expressed the regret that he was not within reach
! o. thelf body-he was then member of Congress
u, NE eIcitemeat and strife produced at the polls
by the horde OF loafers, thieves and ruftians sent
from New Orleans to PIaquemine by Mr. slidell
several Of the most respectable citizens were
knocked down and driven from the ballot-box. A
naet srem gu. Of IT, ~ y which Judge Leonard
particular friend OF slidel, and commissioner of
the election, fell by the hand of Mr.. Toka.
Ihese sad events caused deep and ineradicable
hatred to Mr.. Slidell in Plaquemine and even now
1t would almost be worth his life to visit the parish
Retrlbutlve justice in part overlook him in his first
attempt to get into the United States Senate for he
was defeated by the vote of Col. NJ. White, then a
democratic Senator from Plaquemine, because he
knew Slidell to be the author of the frands which
had disgraced his parish, producing death and
strife among its peaceful and friendly citizens
The ghost OF his Paquemne frauds, as has been
sad, pursued him and overthrow the Infamous
| plans by which he expected to be elected to the
United States Senate in l84S. 1t will not be nap.
propriate to dwell fer moment amid the scenes
Of this kindred fraud 1t was asccrtaned that upon
JOINT ballot Of both houses Of the Legislature the
| Wing and Democratic parties were pretty equally
divided--the Wings counting a majority of two
| votes This state of affairs was quite inviting to
the peculiar talents and indomitable energies OF
John Sidell: and the result of his labors in this
| held, although not rcaped by him in consequence
of the detection of Col. White proposed defeat to
d. F. Kenner, the Wing nominee-as was face
tiously said on the occasion: Sldell opened the
| shell, and Soule ate the OYSTER
\ 1t was arranged in the Democratic caucus that
Sdell was to be voted for the first ballot if not
elected, Soult was to be taken up on the second.
When the result OF the first ballot was ascertained,
it would have been truly difficult to describe the
CONSERVATION that was visible on the countenances
| OF the members and the spectators assembled to
witness the interesting spectacle Of electng
United States Senator-a spectacle well calculated
to produce glow Of patriotism in the hearts of all
| true American citizens. The Senate is the great
| conservative arm of Government, and the sta
ton in dignity and Importance, is second only to
| the Presidency: and in accordance with the high
estimation with which it is held, the election of its
| members should be pure and uncontaminated by
the low crimes and vile tricks of demagogues-t
should present scene upon which all could look
with pride and eXultation. We are DEPRESSING
when the first balotng was over it was too palpa
bic that bribery and corruption had done their
dirty work 1t was discovered that two Wings had
bolted-the one hadn't the conscience to face the
public gaze, but absented himself, taking home
with him the two or three negroes he had received
as the price of his degradation the other stood his
ground and voted for Sidell in the weak. faint
voice of periured villain. He received Judas
like, his ill-gotten gold for the betrayal of his
party; and it is to be hoped that the resemblance
did not stop there, but that he likewise went off
and hung himself.
The first ballot being over, recess was taken,
and thereupon followed a scene of utter confusion
and dissension. Mr.. Bell, whose name stood first
on the list, led off on the second ballot for Mr..
Soue, and some half dozen faint-hearted Wings
took the stampede and voted with the Democrats
from their great dislike to Slidell. But the Judas
of the Wing party, as it was not nominated in the
BONE would not vote for Soue, but returned to
his first love and voted for kenner, which neon
sistency at once banshed all doubt as to the fact
that he had sold himself to Slidel.
The next step taken by Slidell to promote his
chances to seat in the Senate of the United States
was in lS53-a year never to be forgotten by the
people of Louisiana, as that in which occurred the
most destructive epidemic ever known. swept over
their proud metropolis with the Bosom of destruc-
tion-vsiting many portions of the State with ter
rible fatality. In this dark hour of her deep woe
when all the land was draped in the habiliments of
solemn mountaineering over the awful dispen-
sation of Divine Providence, there was one to be
seen pacing the rounds-seeking the dark corners
and hidden recesses of the desolated city-one
who looks upon men as playthings, and their souls
as mere stepping stones to power.
The naturalized voter dies, but his papers are
not buried with him. and it was these that were so
perseverngly sought amid the terrible gloom
they must be preserved for the election was close
at hand-the political complexion of which would
Slidell to the Senate. The election for members
of the Legislature came on, death and sorrow gave
him clear field; and voting his dead mems
papers from ward to ward, an aggregate vote of
5000 is polled [over ID 900 votes were polled
Eds. Ores. ], and large majority of the members
elect are Slidel men (9000 votes, we believe, is
the largest ever cast in the city before or since
1881
The election for United States Senator is over,
and John Slide bears the certificate of the Cover
nor of Louisiana to Washington; and his garments
rocking slime from the frauds through which he
had passed, takes his seat in the Senate Chamber
of the Republic temple dedicated to the honor
and glory of our free Institutions.
Mr. Slidel not satisfied with limiting his services
in election frauds to his own State, but Senator
launchd out into wider sea of politics. 1t 1858
lHe party lell lildl WOHlu De l0Sl II
the October election of Pennsylvania went against
them and the bold and reckless tactics of John
Slidell were called in requstion and the State was
carried for the Democracy by small majority,
and thus it was, the world believes, Buchanan was
elected President.
As an evidence of the stupendous character of
these Pennsylvania frauds, of which John Slidel a
Louisiana Senator, the master spirit it is only
necessary to state the fact that, in an attempt to
purge the polls in contested election for the city
of Philadelphia $500 illegal Democratic votes were
discovered i'll one 'cUrd sufficient to reverse the
election in that case.
Mr.. Slide is now thrrstng himself forward for
the Presidency, not of fraudulent election club,
but of the United States and his qualifications are
those only of great intriguer Everybody knows
who know anything of John Sidell, that he has
neither the qualities of statesman orator or law
yer above the commonest mediOcrity, and his pre- |
sumng to think that he has the slightest chances
for the Charleston nomination is only evidence of
the depraved state of public sentiment, and the |
bitter decentralization and degradation of the De-
mocratic party.
People have wondered why it was Mr. 7. 0. |
Moore was selected from thousand others the |
Democratic candidate for Governor. To those |
who know John Sdell and the means he depends |
upon to carry election the reason is obvious. |
Mr. Sdell's term of office will expire in 1s6l The
members to be elected at this election to the legis-
laturc will be called upon to elect United States
maiority of the members to the Legislature iayora-
bic to linn is the thing to be done or John slidel
may hang his harp upon the willows.
The extravaganza of the State Government -
i'll wasting the Swamp Land fund the |
and q n of Rurhnnan's Il