Pointe Coupee Democrat. [volume] (False River [i.e. New Roads], Parish of Pointe Coupee [La.]) 1858-1862, 1860-08-18

President and Vice @President of the
United States-names which, it is conf
IDENTIFY believed, from the whole history
of their lives, their known ability, patri-
otism and integrity, are entitled to
the support of every true Democrat and
every lover of the Constitution and the
Union.
1t is now proper to present to the
voters of Louisiana a correct state
ment of the present aspect of political
affairs.
The nomination of Mr. Douglas by a
fraction of the party, mostly from North
ern Abolitionized States, his declaration
that "no matter what the decision of the
Supreme Court may be on that abstract
question, still the right of the people to
make slave Territory of d free Terrific
ry is perfect and complete under the
Nebraska BILL" and other declarations
equally Objectionable, showing, in the
language of the eloquent Wise, that his
principles are not only "short cut to
all the ends of Black Republicanism,"
and the fact that with the largest liber-
ality in calculation, he is not likely to
receive the electoral vote of a solitary
State, places the candidature Of Douglas
and johnson out of the pale Of serious
consideration. Moreover, whatever claim
Mr. Douglas might have had on the De-
mocracy, Or whatever sympathy may
have been felt for him, we think has been
entirely forfeited by the recent acts of
his immediate adherents in other States,
| when in the most meagre minority they
have refused all honorable overtures,
with the patriotic men Of other parties,
for a union against the common enemy,
showing that they are solely animated
with reckless purpose of ruling or
running the Democratic party.
Further, it being conceded on all
hands that in this State Mr. Douglas be-
! ing in a hopeless minority, therefore his
support by Democrat can only be re-
garded as furnishing "aid and comfort
to the enemy and wanton abandonment
of the Democratic party
The divisions in the Democratic party
have inspired some activity for Bell and
Everett with portion of the lifelong
and ancient enemies of the Democratic
pdIASj usS iulO
more from hereditary hostility than from
any reasonable hope of success or belief
that their support will arrest the rapid
encroachments of Northern fanaticism,
or avert the terrific but feartully i'm
pending ills of dismembered Republic
and of internecine strife. There is but
the feeblest hope that this ticket might
carry one or two States, and the effect
of supporting it is, consequently, in this
hour of peril, only to weaken, by sdivis-
ion, the moral force Of the South, and
destroy that safety to onr most cherished
institutions, which would be found in an
entire unity for the defense of our COM
mon honor and our common interests.
Without quoting from the expressed
opinions of Mr.. Bell, on questions of vital
Importance to the South, or referring to
the vague and unmeaning platform con-
tanning no distinct avowal of principles,
upon which he is running, or of going
into critical examination Of his politi-
cal antecedents, which it behooves every
Southern citizen to do, let it suffice us,
on this occasion, to present candid
statement of the only grounds on which
his election to the Presidency can be
predicated 1t will be conceded, by his
most sanguine supporters, that he has
not the remotest chance of being elected
by the people, and his sole reliance is
that the election may go into the United
States House of Representatives In
this event, from what .quarter can he
reasonably look for support? The few
adherents of Douglas could render no
efficient aid, and from the true Democ-
racy no support whatever could be ex-
pected, for the reason that while the
dictates of patriotism would induce them
to choice of the least evils, to vote for
Bell, they would be driven to no such
alternative, as the Constitution happily
provides that in the event of failure of
an election by the House, the duty Of
selecting Chief Magistrate devolves
upon the United States Senate, at this
moment conservative and Democratic
body.
1t is therefore conclusive and beyond
cavil that the only possible hope for the
election of Mr.. Bell is solely from the
Friends Of Lincoln, the sworn enemies of
the South - the mad devotees of the
bloody announcement of the "irrepressi-
BILE conflict" and Of a "higher law" than
the Constitution of our country. Can
any true Southern man conscientiousIy
give his support to such ticket, with
such prospects, and such inevitable con-
sequences?
In short, the main issue before the
people of Louisiana is the preservation
OF her equality as sovereign State of
this great confederacy, the protection of
the institution of slavery as it exists
nnder our Constitution with all ita enr