The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1866-10-31
NEW ORLEANS CORRESPONDENCE.

New ORLEANS, October 25th, 1856.
Friend Democrat:--The Radicals are
iubilant over the result of the recent
elections, which have confirmed their
hold upon the country and given them
new life and power. Towards the
President their language is defiant and
threatening, while to the South they
show increased animoaity and unmiti-
gated tyranny. The observer here will
find that the public mind is bending
toward the adoption Of the constitu-
tional amendment proposed by the
North, and if assurance is given That
such course will secure the restora.
ton Of the South to her place In the
Union, the proposition WILDE accepted.
But the Radicals now say that this
amendment was not proposed as a en-
dition-the acceptance Of which would
be followed by the recognition Of the
Southern representatives, and hint
that further exactions will be made
That the South will be admitted, re-
constructed, restored or whatever else
you choose to call it, during the COM
ing winter think is certain, but with
her power so limited and curtailed that
she will be part of the Union more in
name than fact. Discussions about
negro suffrage will never better this
position-and the sooner we look atthe
real merits of the case the better for
ourselves and the world at large.
The "balance Of power" in the po-
litical machinery Of the country can
only be restored by energy and enter.
prise at home, and we cannot make our
influence felt in the councils Of the ma
ton until by the spread Of education,
the encouragement of mechanical arts,
internal Improvements and liberal in
ducements to labor and capital to settle
and improve our country, we have
gained a population and wealth COM
mensurate with the extent Of our ter
ritory. When our present political
troubles are adjusted, and the minds Of
our people allowed to settle upon plans
and enterprises for enlarging our COM
merce, extending agriculture, and the
improvement Of our local finances, the
work Of regaining our importance in
the Nation will have commenced-and
with the advantages which we possess
in soil and climate, inland navigation
and safe harbors all along our extensive
coast-our advancement ought to be
rapid.
We need rain now very much-and
many a wish for "a rightgood shower"
has been expressed this week, but in
in spite Of the "mackerel sky which
we have had during that time and
which the weather-wise tell us is q
certain messenger Of rain, it looks now
as if we were to be disappointed, for
the wind comes strong from the North,
driving the dust in binding clouds
through the streets-and the Dir has
a piercing, wintry feeling. Once more
winter clothing is fashionable and ex-
tremely comfortable. The people of
the Fourth District find their cisterns
almost dry, the streets awful dusty and
therefore the dry season is worse on
them than elsewhere.
There have been a great many fires
lately, a larger number than usual
which have destroyed an immense
amount Of property, and they are at
tributed to incendiarism--in fact it
seems impossible to explain them in
any other way. At these fires the old
complaint has been made of a short
supply of water, the hydrants Of the
Water Works company yealding an
amount inadequate to the wants Of our
gallant fremen. These fires have late
ly been Of nightly occurrence-andn ma
turally create great deal ofuneasiness.
If the work Of a regular gang of des-
peradoes, or the work Of men who act
singly and upon personal evil motives,
the cause should he traced to its course
and the offenders brought to justice.
The terrible disaster to the Steam:
ship Evening Star has called forth Sc.
we're criticism on the managers Of the
company by some ofthe Northern press.
Some of them have discovered that the
vessel was not sea worthy, that she
rated below A !, in some insurance
companies, that her crew were green
landsmen and many other serious char
ges were made. If the vessel was as
bad as they pretend to have known, it
was their duty to have made public
their knowledge before. As to the in
surance companies they always accept
ed risks by her at the lowest rates.
Some people are very apt at knowing
evil news, after a disastrous event..
and these editors evidently belong to
that class. The Evening Star was, with
both shippers and travellers, the favo-
rite ship Of favorite line. She was
comparatively new, and differed by
men Of experience. The details Of the
sad event as given h,s by some Of the