Pointe Coupee Democrat. [volume] (False River [i.e. New Roads], Parish of Pointe Coupee [La.]) 1858-1862, 1860-04-28
saEThe following amusing instance

artistic and felicitcus style, completely
turns the tables on our n~eighbor of the
Echo. The latter sheet, whenever it
speaks of men in public office, always
INDUCES in billingsgate so ridicu'ously
scurrilous as to defeat it's own object,
rendering reply on ours side unnecessary;
while on the other hand the unfortunate
whom it selects for it's laudations are so
preposterously bepraised that their in
d%ividuality is completely lost in an ocean
of incongruous attributes:
CHICKENS CoM1NG HOME TO Roosr.-
The Pointe Coupee Echo, one of the
most bitter anti-Slidell papers in the
State, and most unsparing in it's violent
~denunciation of the Houmas Claim, nomi-
mates and places at its masthead the
following ticket:
FOR PRESIDENT.
STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS.
FOR VICE PRESIDENT,
COL. JOHN S. PRESTON.
That this ticket has been suggested,
if not agreed upon, by others besides
the Echo, we are fully convinced. In its
formation, and the editorial remarks
upon hosting it, the ear marks of an
er-tinguished medico-political %accouch-
er, from this parish, is plainly visible.
Speaking of Col. Preston, the Echo
says:
In Col. Preston family there has been a GU
rious combination Of the renowned men of our
country. Five of them have been Governors of
Virginia. Old Tom Benton has; left his mark in
the history of our nation. VIM. c.. Preston.
while representingS South Carolina in the United
States Senate, was unrivalled as an orator and
man of genius. Robert Breckenridge, the cele-
brated Presbyterian preacher, as well as John
G. Breckenridge, is of the family. George San
ders, the fllibustering London Consul, as well
as J. Fremont, who once ran for President of the
United States, is of the connexion. And last,
though not least, is Wade Hampton, Jr., a mem
Der of the Senate of South Carolina, and author
of the most statesmanlike letter that has ever
emanated from any politician since the question
of a Southern Coniederacy has been on. the
taps.
Col. Preston has been in Europe for some
years and is in no way mixed up with the petty
Vaccinations and paltry schemes that the trad
1USa LafS oSCh u lctf
personal interest. He is a high-minded, honor
able gentleman, and above the meanness that
THE MEN NOW IN OFFICE resort to for the purpose
Of continuing their depredations upon the
public.
If nominated, Col. Preston will make an eff
Gent and dignified presiding officer, and will
give additional lustre to his own name and re-
feet honor upon bis native State.
Now, we most cordially endorse the
foregoing compliment to Col. Preston.
He has been our neighbor and resided
on the Houmas lands for many years;
he is most deeply interested, and was
one of the largest owners of the Houmas
Claim. We know that Col. Preston Is a
"high-minded and honorable gentleman,
who would be above the meanness,"
which many things calling themselves
men, resort to for the purpose of pulling
others down to their own standard. We
believe that Col. Preston would be the
last man on Gods earth, who would rob
his fellow-man, Of either his good name
or his property. We believe he would
be as far from urging a fraudulent claim,
as he would be from co%untenancing those
who ignorantly or maliciously make false
charges.
To our friend of the Echo, and all who
are so violent in their denunciations of
Messrs. Slidell and Benjamin, because
of the "Houmas Immigrant fraud,o we
submit the following extract from the
memorial Of Col. John S. Preston, OH be-
half of Mrs. Mary Hampton, widow of
the late Gen. Wade Hampton, and of
Caroline Preston, his wife, and of Susan
F. Hampton, which was presented in the
United States Senate and referred to
the Committee on Private Land Claims,
on the 29th January, 1888. Afterlucidly
setting forth the facts in support of the
Houmas Claim, the memorial concludes
as follows:
Your memorialists have thus presented to
Congress thatstOag and conclusive title to their
claim which was presented to the board of Com
missioners more than thirty years ago, and which
was then adjudged to be satisfactory. In the
vast number of claims confirmed in Louisiana.
some were of a most doubtful character: others,
it has been ascertained, were false, yet none
have been invaded in violation of law by officers
of the government, but the claim of your memo
~rialists.
II there had been the slightest foundation for
the pretext seized upon by the ignorance of
those officers, still the decision of the commits
%sioners, the acquiescence of Congress, the fact
that the land was in the possession of innocent
third persons under that confirmation and acaui-
~escence, and express acts OF Congress, ought to
have restrained them. But the injury has been
done and their lands have been sold by the gov
eminent to individuals, as appears by the plats
and schedules annexed. Your memorialists can
not and will not attempt to obtain redress by
suits against those individuals. The reasons
are obvious: 1t would be necessary to COM
mence suits against each individual for 80 acres.
The expenses, trouble, and v~exation, would be
equal to the matter in controversy, and those
persons holding title under the United States
would hold in, what is called in our State, good
faith: which hY law entities them To recnHar in