New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1859-10-17
CnTJNTRY DEMOCRACY AND MIR.
-, Sv.JnEIJ.T..

!
xh;ch we considered inimical to Senator Shdeii,
on yarious grounds and on one particularly, that
b;s ;nepence tended to concentrate the Federal
na,ronsye of the Government almost exclusively
in tho citv. We combated this idea, to some ex-
tent Nv mounting 10 the fact that two occupants OF
tbo f;rst Federal Offices hailed from the country
IA, .o,frare referred to our statement as invalda-
a.. .ho ,easnc postion of our Madison Parish
contemporary.
To tb;s the Richmond Journal takes exception,
and \ ts issue of the It'll inst, it devotes long
article to the subject, and sustans its points quite
,;corouslv. Stating that its Opposition to Mr..
slidells pretensions" is not g founded upon per-
sonal, but strictly upon political reasons it pro-
ceeds to state that it would require but little in
genuity or power of invention to harrow up sutt-
Gent matter of attack without resorting to cleo
tioneering subterfuges.
After this rather tart preliminary, the Journal
proceeds to comment upon Mr.. Slidell and his con-
duct, in the following severe language:
We might with much truth allege against him,
that he through his personal friends, advocated ct
| the last State Convention the nomination of Mr..
Hunter of Rapides for the Office of Auditor, after
| the candidacy for the Governorshp had already
| been conferred upon Mr. Moore VINO aiso resides
\ in Rapides, and who was his first choice for that
Office No other man but MIR. Sldell could nave
had the cool impudence seriously to propose 10 a
i Convention of intelligent gentlemen and polltlcans
the nomination. for two of the most important Of
fees in the State of two aspirants not only resi-
dents of the same section, but of the same parish.
\ How infatuated and blinded a party mustb which
4 can for one moment, tolerate and acknowledge as
leader man whose principles of action entirely
| controlled by self-aggrandizement, and who acts
IS much upon the principle that concentration IS
/ po,rer as Napoleon the Great-the very arch-demon
4 Of concentrated government. New Orleans and
Rapides, the most populous and weathest parishes
\ in the State, are used as means to advance the
ambitious projects of Mr.. Slidell. If we had any
ground we might with no less effect advert to the
4 fact that Mr.. Slidell never operates by means OF
free and oral discussion before the people to sus-
tain his political fortune such course would be
beneath his dignity as Senator; but he visits his
fayorite country parishes and sets the machinery
in motion by the aid of agents and hirelngs; he
dispatches his emissaries In a certain direction,
whore the signs Of the times are somewhat unpro.
ntious with instructions in their pockets to act
with circumspection, to observe the veerng OF the
winds; to bring about division of the Democracy
+ 4 if the measure would have tendency to improve
the Slidell stock; or incite Opposition and hide
!, | nendent men to ruin, and undermine the Demo
e cratic organization.
Rather severe upon our distinguished senior Sen
. ator, And it seems to US that there is a hard hi
at the Independent American" organization il
this city in the closing lines of the above paragraph
!. Still there is truth-much truth-in what is said
Where independent men y will serve the purpose
, Of the oligarchy, the Democracy is given the COB.
| to, inmemorial party usage'' is trampled unde
foot, and where it is deemed most profitable ant
expedient to preach and practice Democratic rules
= Independence y is whistled down the wind. n
:. ! wonder the honest Democracy of the country ar
!. astounded, and that they inquire in amazement
where will all this end? Their brethren in the me
' tropolis are astonished, and outsiders general
stare curiously upon the incongruous, incompreher
sible spectacle.
Further along, in continuation Of its argumen
= after stating that we would not impeach the pei
y sonal character Of Mr. Sidell if we could;'' thu
.. "he is pleasant and amable gentlemen" and
:. man who freely disposes of his treasures
e. wealth. if it contributes to advance his ambition
!. designs the Journal proceeds to pitch into tn
concentration Of Federal patronage in New Orlear
!. in the following trcnchant style: o0
Y We were indeed apprised of the fact that NJ
u Hatch and Mr. Marks hailed, at the time Of the
y appointment, from the country, before the gentl
y manly editors of the Crescent generously furnishe
be us the information. But no one who has been a
attentive observer Of human affairs can be deceive
er by such speSiois subterfuges Shakespeare say
Of that the devean cite Scripture for his purpose
Sc Now, if his Satanic majesty is permitted to dabb
4 with Scripture texts, we who do not claim to belor
to his household must be excused if we avail on
l. self of passage of the Bible in support of tru
10 against falsehOod. The Good Book tells us, TIL
Il .where the carcass u.s. there the eagles are gat
IN ered.'' This fact Is as true as gospel, and cam
ID be controyerted, and we draw the following NOR
90 from this quotations: The patron saint of all Fe
'n | eral appointments, the dispenser of patrOnag
MT permanently resides in New Orleans Every Of
of the ambitious underlings who is eager to snat
. morsel of the valuable Government pap, offer
81 for distribution, as he is attracted to Il
ats center of political favoritsm, becomes mu
al identified with New Orleans as if he had been Dor
bred and educated in that city There he has
Ids domicc, and there he permanently resides, ev
ill after his official term expires. But if the cent,
in power for the disposal Of political patronage we
of located in the country, the country appointees
New Orleans offices, would find it their interest
return to their former home, and pay some atte
i ton to their neighbors and friends.
ie Besides, we regard the Custom House and Pc
err Office patronage in the light Of magnificent pri2
ILL., in the lottery of political gambling; and if the fl
III, ltunate winner happens to reside in the count
led even according to that elegant maxim OF ethi
icy that there is honor among thieves it would
lnt considered dshonorable to cozen him out OF
just dues
The appointment of country gentlemen to t
r. lucrative offices, to which great influence but
inc honor is attached, is a sheer accident, CONTROL
zoe by the fatally Of circumstances IT would lnde
- be an outrage against the dignity and ndepender
-. of the State of Louisiana if her Senator could
w. permitted to act in manner to suit his perso
u whim or caprice, and deliver over, unc!allang
|
flee, to the New Orleans offce-hunters and til
)le thousand and one subordinates who being perm
th- nent employees, are necessarily taken from, or
hat least constitute part of the city population Ih
ors is no rule without exception, and If Mr. Slie
m could bestow all the offices of profit and honor VI
10 city gentlemen exclusively, he would be equal
r. the most despotic autocrat in the world. He wo
-. be the embodiment of rule without an eNcept'
"s he would be more logical than logic itself, wlic
sa', an absurdity.
eut Well, our friends of the Journal, it is quite Gle
have arrived at the conclusion we arrived at mon
and years since, that there is an autocrat in Lo
gu lana THERE'S an " autocrat'' in Louisiana. Th
,ib has been an "autocrat'' in Louisiana for nj
els, long years, and his autocracy will continue
mes til the country gentlemen rise in their might
throw it off That autocracy il even now wind
inf its coils around the body polite of the comm
mld wealth more firmly than ever and if its folds
ars not cut in twain, or rended asunder by 81
mes, means the Government of the State will reside
'on the Custom House. instead of the Capitol at Ba
yer Rouge.
Which alternative do you prefer, gentlemen OF
country Parishes? With you rests the deter
nation of this vital question. The city will do
r II duty in striving to throw off the tyranny Of vi
ents you complain. Will you do your duty! Ihi
70 is the question. We shall see.
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NJ