The Constitutional. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1860-1861, 1861-03-09
COMMUNICATED.
Vox POpuli, VOx Del.

period in the history Of this government
the freest on earth--could greater evidence
be furnished of the decadence of this pop
ular sentiment, than can be drawn from the
scenes that are being enacted around US.
And in none of the seeding States has
so little attention been paid to the popular
will as in Louisiana.
Immediately after it was known that
Lincoln was elected, the disappointed
ofice-holders and disconnected secession
lists seized upon the fact, as popular pre-
test, to arouse Southern indignation against
the Republican party. The Governor If
the State in hot haste convened the Legis-
lature, large majority of the members of
which had warmly advocated the the Sc
crssion candidates for President and Vice
and the work before them was
labor OF love; and in very short space of
time an election was ordered for delegates
to convention which was to decide tor
veal or for woe the fate of the Union, so
tar as Louisiana was concerned.
The result of the action of the cOnvcn
ton is known. 1t is known that MAORI
ty Of the delegates decided at once, and
almost without deliberation and discussion,
to strike the star that represents Louisiana
from the bright galaxy of Siates-to throw
our once peaceful, prosperous and happy
people upon sea of unknown, but certain
and inevitable troubles. Indeed so eager
and determined were the defeated and dis
appointed office-holders of the Breckin-
ridge party to dissolve the Union--to ruin
because they could no longer rule--that
Every thing was cut and dried by the New
Orleans Democratic Club. A plant and
Governor was prompted to
take the initiative--to disregard the ex-
preston of the popular will which had
scarcely had utterance. Setting aside his
oath of office, he seized upon all the prop
erty of the United States--Arsenals, Gus
TOM Houses, Mints-even casting out from
their sick beds two hundred invalid mari
ners, thereby forestalling the action of the
and forcing the State into an
aggressive and hostile attitude.
Although it was well understood that
in the aggregate vote cast for Delegates,
there was a majority against immediate
separate State action, yet the Convention
had the daring hardihood to refuse TO take
the sense of the people upon its action.
Was there ever such high-handed injus-
tice and tyranny practised before upon the
people Has il come to this, that mi
rority can override and Cypress the major
ity, and no recourse left to the latter but
revolutionl What an alarming and mel
ancholy spectacle is here presented! A
of the people are opposed to i'm
mediate secession, and desire to bring
about consultation and cooperation of all
the Southern States-but the minority ac-
cidently obtained the control ofthe Conven-
ton, boldly and de6antly repudiated the
expressed win Of the people at the polls
and forced the State intoseperate secession
Such conduct involves the very essence
and quintessence Of despotism, and should
receive the stern rebuke of the masses of
the people throughout the whole country.
Now, Mr.. Editor, as one of the humblest
Of the people, | would ask what is to be
done. How can the voice of the people be
heard l never have dispaired of the Re-
public. | believe in the good sense and
patriotism of the masses, although under
the fascinating delusion of Democracy, they
have often been cheated and deceived.
The Peace Convention, as it is called,
sitting at Washington. will present TO the
country basis upon which all the troubles
can be settled. The Southern Congress
at Montgomery will adopt Constitution,
and unless they are determined, in their
madness, to erect Monarchy, it will be
submitted to the seeding States separately
for their adoption. Then the Union-loving
people of Louisiana can and will be heard
Then it will fairly beleft to them to decide
whether they will consentto an adjustment
of all our troubles, or whether they will
adhere to a separate Southern Republic
whether they will go back under the glo-
rious Stars and Stripes, or take the chan
ces of Military Despotism.
Mr.. Lincoln is inaugurated, and the
agony is over. No more are we to be
tainted and derided with the absurd
idea that it is insulting aud degrading to
permit him TO take his seat-an idea
gotten up to frighten those who are
i