The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1867-10-09
The Trail Of the Serpent.

From the Georgia Constitutionalist
Gen. jeff Thompson, now an adhe-
rent of Congress, is popularity supposed
to be the author of mode of pacifying
North America which required the par
alysis of every Yankee, male and fe-
male. He seems to have changed his
tactics, in these latter days; but, when
free-lance on the Missouri border, he
evidently believed that some violent
suppression of nature was necessary
in order to exterminate the seeds of
Puritanism, though sifted and refined
through many generations. BY what
glamour or magic he has been convert
ed from the radical method of cure we
hint at, it is impossible to say; but
this, at least, seems certain that, how
ever he may have relented from his
harsh resolve, the malady exhibits no
Sign of abatement, but, on the contrary,
is more malignant q type than in the
'days of witch burning and scarlet let
tiers. But, though more angry in its
manifestations now, tits the same old
disease that blighted every healthy
body it confronted. In proof of which,
we give an extract from Judge Story
who, treating of the intolerance of his
people in the seventeenth century,
says:
"The truth of history compels us to
admit that from the first settlement
down to the charter of William and
Mary, in 1862, our forefatbers, in pro-
~. ,.ivn as ..o; j; s "a cred internal
strength, were less and less disposed to
share it with any other Christian sect.
In the intermediate period, the Quakers
and Anabaptists, and in short all other
dissenters from their creed, were unre-
lenting prosecuted by fine, imprison-
ment, Punishment and even death it
self. Episcopalians, too, fell under
their special displeasure, and notwith-
standing every effort of The Grown, by
threats and remonstrances, they stndi-
ously excluded them from every Office,
and even from the right of suffrage. =
No person but a freeman was permitted
to vote in any public affair, or to hold
any Office; and no person could become
q freeman but by being a member OF
their own church and recommended
by their own clergy. The single fact
that under this exclusive system not
more than one-sixth of the qualified in
habitants were frecmen in 1876, affords
an ample commentary upon its injus-
tiee and folly. Five-sixths OF the Colo
ny were disfranchised by the influence
of the ecclesiastical power.n
The same prescription that ragged in
the long ago RACES at this very day.
Then, it was confined to eircumscrib-
ed area; now, it has spread like foul
ulcer over the fourth of a continent. -
All its pseudo-religious instincts have
been made cohesive and, however ta-
bernaeles may rejoice in the nomencla-
ture of denominations, the coalition of
members is in one great creed, and that
creed men call Radicalism. Dissenters
from this creed are prescribed, hunted
down and menaced with infamy forev-
en- The grand syllogism of Puritanism
that; "fhe world belongs to the Saints.
We are the Saints. Therefore the
world belongs to us"-this grand ex-
position of faith had its political par
allel in another form and that form is
sought to be made permanent in the
nineteenth as it was in the seventeenth
century. The political syllogism is
ehus evolved: None but a freeman
gan vote. We the Saints are the only
vote.
That was the mean and despieable
system OF New England domination
prior to 100, and we do not hesitate to
aate that the gross disfranchisement
p5acuced upon the South and threaten
W against the North is but an out
topping Of the times when Praise
noa. Bareboncs of Massachusetts held
Me Northern colonies in thrall. 3
Il one OF the descendants of these
.,ue or ruln men could describe, after
s sue lapse OF centuries, their action as a
sOlly and an Injustice, we do not de-
sipair Of some future historian who will,
~, happier epoch, brand the Puritani-
1 aggression of our ewn day as a
Dlpnder aud a crime.
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