The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1868-07-29
A Pattern Radical State.

A Pattern Radical State.
From the Springfield (Mass.) Republican, June i5.]
The LOBBY AT HoME.-The good people OF Masss
chusetts have been accustomed to plume themseive
greatly en- their political and legislative propriety bu
few citizens to-day can be so i'll informed in regard
which has taken place in our public character within
/ few years past 1t is easy to see looking back upo
the recent history of the State, that growing out
the original struggles upon the tunnel question, KEEP
in service and practice by the continually recurring
necessities of that enterprise drawing to itself frs
two faithful allies in its legislative campaigns
and finally becoming the centre of a powerful coali
tion the lobby of Massachusetts has steadily increases
in audacity and vigor until it has reached the poin
where it practically commands the legislation and con
trolls the politics of the State.
To it every public private interest that seeks pro
lection enlargement of the General Court has ha
to pay tribute, willingly or unwingly. Any man ant
any that could and would bring strength to
has been sure, in turn of its unfnching support al
those in the State who aspired political preferment
whether as Governors, Councillors Senator's or ever
Representatives to Congress- have early, and perhaps
painfully, been made of the necessity of concili
ating the legislative and tunnel lobby. To declare in
dependence of it has been sacrifice all chance Of ad
vancement in office.
The tunnel, which was originally suppliant for ia
vor and aid, and which had, at the frst to seek it
own ends by these means, has in recent years grown
~
longer maintained simply to push through its OWL
measures but to control the whole body of appropria
tions for the State. 1t has become the stockntrade
ofa certain set Of SMALL vulgar village politicians who
make of its solid phalanx of votes to pursue any
and every scheme that promises profit power. With
it have become affiliated large number of interests
great and SMALL having sort of natural relation
to it; others connected with it only from sense OF
mutual usefulness some of them but occasional ap-
picants for State favor; other traditional and hope
less beggars at the doors of the treasury. These yar
GUS interests and their representatives, which, having
all common purpose, easily agree to help each other
on, form the Massachusetts lobby. The State House
has been placed almost entirely under its custody.
man might as well hope to approach guarded maga-
zine without challenge, any object whatever to come
before the representatives of the people for patronage
or protection, without meeting the loud and nsolent
challenge of the lobby. 1t will be required to give
its name and explain its case; to tell what money it
has got and what it expects to get If it satisfy
these vgiant sentines of the treasury in their way
and according to their IDEAS of what is right it is per-
mitted to pass Otherwise, especially fit comes from
section Of the State regarded inimical, under
the conduct OF member who has yentured on any
occasion to assert his independence its fate is sealed
Its doom pronounced. 1t may be allowed, for greater
aggraVation, to proceed through two stages :;
or it may be set upon and worried to death st its first
appearance. ...
Such, overgrown, insolent dominant, is the lobby at
four of the most Insignificant abilities and con-
temptbe character, although for special purposes it
occasionally calls in the assistance of respectable gen.
tlemen, representing particular interests or fees an
eminent lawyer to appear before a committee, and
buttonhole leading legislators, even to "see the
Governor" Such as it, has completely mastered the
legislation of the State and directs whole fnan
cia policy The kind of work it most effects may be
judged from the schedule of the appropriations made
by the last Legislature, in which it found than
usually congenial elements and where it had more
perfect sway than ever before.
But it does not only mold the legislation of the
State it takes time by the forelock, and provides
that as far possible-and great deal is possible
such agencies-those who elected to Office shall
be such as it control The gentlemen who all win
ter keep open legislative exchange, where poker,
whisky and dealt in with equal freedom and
where the bargains for the day Or week are arranged
as soon as the session is finished, and their little
counts adjusted close their establishment in order
to devote the summer and fall to the manipulation of
the party caucuses and conventions. These boast
that there has not been convention in the State for
ten years which they have not controlled, and
who has been accustomed to attend them will greatly
doubt it. They are always the ground to read over
the resolutions to take the peges of the nominees to
receive the confessions of pentents and to distribute
rewards to the faithful. The proudest politician must
get off his high horse for these fellows and satisfy
them that he has the shibboleth of the lobby on his
tongue, and the sacred cross upon his shoulder.
The coLoRED DEAocRArs-7zs Way 10 Talk and
the Way to Act Respecting Ihen,.-We find the fol-
lowing in the Mississippi Southern Journal The SEN
timents there expressed should be reechoed every
where in the South wherever colored men have shown
or may hereafter show desire to stand by the white
men of this region in resisting the encroachments of
migratory partisans and place seekers under the pre-
tence CT being the better friends of the colored man.
but who are in reality bis worst foes:
The Democratic party of this State owe deeD and
lasting debt of gratitude to large portion of our COL
ored population-to those who assisted in gaining
such signal triumph over the common enemy The
victory thus gained is due to the freedmen in great
measure, for without their assistance enemies
would have proven victorious. 1t is evident that
the black man is desirous ocutivatng the white mans
friendship, and should recprocae that friendness
should prove to them both by word and Decd that
their confidence in US has not been misplaced-that
they have not misjudged US; that are, as ever
have been, their only true friends.
Let US, in return for their confidence in and kind
ness towards us, aid and assist them far as
able to do so instruct and counsel them, teach and
anlighen them to their duties and responsibilities
citizens aid them in building their schoolhouses
and churches; sell them lands long credit and
aid them in erecting thereon comfortable houses for
themselves and families Do this and instead of only
portion Of the colored race being with US now in
short while the entire black population of the South
will become allies they will cast their destnes
with ours!
The impression prevails in the minds Of large ma
ority of the freedmen, that the Democratic
party gets in power the elective franchise will be
ken from them. Let this erroneous impression be
erased let their minds be disabused of this false dea
and the colored men will 60 to a man for the Demo
cratic party. ..u.
We cannot close this article without paying de-
served compliment to few of the more active and
Jealous of the coored Democrats of this place. for their
manly conduct and personal influence among their
race; they have the confidence of their white fe
low citizens, and deserve the highest praise at
hands. They have made us their friends, and we will
shield and protect them to the last extremity Here
the of those who took the most active part
md did the best service for the Democratic at
ibis place:
Sam. Lightfoot, Milo Cooper, Asa Webster, Jim.
Allen, Albert Stewart, VIM. Cutler, Dudley Twyman,
Rppen Lightfoot, Jim. St. Clair, Henry Allen, John
Robinson, Jack Curtis, Armstead Lightfoot.
1t is duty which all Conservatives and all perma-
lent inhabitants of the State to the colored men
Who support and sustain their rights, which the
lights of all such, white black to agive the latter
he most complete protection and preference in all
'espects those, white black, who go against
hem. There should be no violence or wrong done
The latter but the former should be protected against
hem and be preferred in all things.
New Orleans Picayune.
We copy as follows from special Washington dis
patch to the Louisville Journal:
Grants runaway trip to the Rocky Mountains ex-