The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1859-04-06
Annnn.a no TILE PrnpLr OLE LOUISIANA

ADDRESS ~ The l. LOf1E VI
Fellow citizens: Existing circumstances IN our
political affairs, render it necessary, mite opln
ion Of tie undersigned members Of the general
assembly, to address you on the SubJect-9Iv-
inc you frankly our sentiments in the matter,
and inviting a free expression OF your opinion.
We lay this down as a fundamental PROPOSE
ton: that, among a free people, different par
ties, in a political sense, must exist, or else gen
eral stapnation, fatal to our interests, would en-
sue; or worse still, a discreditable squabble for
the spoils of office, and hence a lower standard
Of public virtue. Assuming this to be true, we
ask, under what form, and what banner. shall
we enlist for the future?-This was the subject
Of frequent consultation among us, and The pre-
vailing opinion was. that We would revive, and
assume the honored name OF the WIG PARTY
IF we look at the condition of the national
democratic party, (if indeed such an organise
ton can pc said to exist, what do we see? Is
there any unity Of sentiment amongst them, ON
the leading questions of the day? What are
The sentiments Of a great majority OF northern
democrats on the subject OF slayery?-adVerse
to the institution, and opposed to It's extension.
There is no unity of sentiment among them, on
any leading question of the time: on the tariff
question-on that of internal improvement-on
the acquisition of Cuba-on the PacItlc rail
road-on States rights-and lastly, on the At
rican slave trade, in one form brother: every
shade Of opinion has its opponents IN the bosom
Of the democratic party.
The proof Of the disbanded state OF It's forces
is found in the recent abortive session of con
gress, where. with a majority in both branches
of that body, it was found impossible to har-
monise its discordant elements, obstructing
thereby the most necessary legislation, and rem
dering an extra session, highly probable, if not
certain.
What is the state of the case in respect to this
party in our own State? We see around US
The discovered fragments OF a once harmonious
party; dissention has invaded its ranks, and the
trident Of power may soon be snatched from Its
grasp. We profess to know nothing OF the
merits of this schiSm, nor whether it arose from
a contest about men or principles-nor who Is
in the right or who in the w~rong--or whether
it is likely to endure, or to be healed; but we
were eye and ear witnesses to the authoritative
annunciation, that the schiSm existed, IN a Dig
nifed debate, in the senate Of the State. 1t sui
fees to say that we cannot act with either wing
of the democratic party in the State, neither re
fleeing our views or principles, and therefore
consider the time propiGouS to re-organlse the
glorious old Vine PARTY, and call upon al
conservative men amongst us, TO rally to oul
standard, and let us embody the conservative
opinions Of or people, in one loud, clear, EN-.
phatic utterance OF the sentiment, Liberty and
Union, now and forever, one and lnseperable.'
Action, action must be our Watchword; anC
we exhort you to send delegates, good men anc
true, to meet in convention in New Orleans or
the second Wednesday, IN Junen next, to assist II
organising the movement, and nominating q
ticket for lie approaching State elections. w
hope to see every parish in The State represen.
ted in that convention, by able and intelIigen.
men, and expect to prove to our political ad
versaries that the WING PARTY, though que
for some years, is not extinct.
The Vine PARTY has slumbered-it has no
died: the wisdom oft policy, the conservatism
of its principles, the unrivaled endowments o
It's gallant leader, Clay, who, for so long anc
|eyentful a period bore it's honored banner IN tht
thickest Of the fight, all betokened its indie
structability; and the effort we now make to I'm
furl its flag, once more, to the battle and The
breeze, farther evidences its vitality, and gives
token Of our devotion to the organisation OF oul
choice, gemmed as is its escuteheon with The
most brilliant portions of our political history
Lives there a whig with emotions so torpid az
not to feel his bosom heaye with patriotic pride
as lie reviews the past of our history, studded
as every page Of that history is, in characters
of electric briIliancy, with the proud names O
Clay and Webster. Their genius impressed it,
self with inefaceabIe durability on the policy
Of the country, whilst their profound states.
manship comprehending the diversified interests
Of this great nation, subordiuated them all te
the solution Of the highest problem of political
economy, in a republican government, the
greatest good of the greatest number; and the
wisdom Of their policy is proved by this that i
has inextricably interviewer itself with the sue.
ceeding affairs of our federal government, and
like a golden thread, ~re-appears in the current
history Of our national affairs, alone redeeming
them from The Just Reproduction of a disappoint-
ed and suffering people. All honor to the old
WHIG PARTY, for the past of its history is al
least secure.
In conclusion, we exhort you, in the burning
eloquence Of the gallant Harry of the West,
arise, arise, shake off the dew drops that
glitter on your garments, and once more march
10 battle and to victory"
P. CHEW, L. A. TREGRE,
FERGUS GARDERE, B. L. HODGE,,