The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-10-13
HON. LOUIS ST. MAnrrN.

Editor CresceRt-The attention of the public has
been greatly, and must say not very fsvorably.
attracted by communication in the Commercial
Bulletin of yesterday morning, obviously designed
to ipjure the prospects and position of the Hon.
Louis st. Martin as the Democratic candidate for
Congress in the First District. Without stopping
to crticse the taste of this assault on the Demo-
cratic party, through its chosen candidate, or to
seek for the motives which prompted it, will
merely remark that Mr.. st. Martin is the regular
nominee Of his party. selected by duly author
lied convention of delegates, from whose decision
there is TO appeal. except to the people on the
day Of the election. Any attack on him is, there
fore, an attack on the party. However re ison-
ably it might be anticipated on the part of his
political adversaries, it certainly comes with a
very bad grace from those who pretend to be his
political friends. 1t eau do no good to the Demo-
cratic party; but may do harm, by furnishing our
Ell emies with pretexts Of which they will not be
SOW to avail themselves, and which will be the
more effective that they are furnished by pro.
resseoIy Democratic authority.
As to Mr.. st. Martin himself, the facts Of his
o )litical history were well known to the mem
btrs OF the convention. 1t was for them to de.
eide the question as to the expediency Of limiting
their choice by the requirements of tbs test-oath.
For their action on that point they responsible
to their constituents If they had chosen to nomi
nate o candidate regardless of that Limitation
they would have been supposed to represent the
wishes of the Democracy Of the district and any
subse ouent interference by unauthorized persons,
would be impertinent and uDjustifable. As it is,
however, whether guided or not, by the test oath
theory they nominated gentleman who can fulfill
- ~ $lo Las
believe that this result was due, not to Mr.. St.
Martins position with reference to the oath alone,
but to bis great popularity, and his steadfast de.
votion 10 tie Democratic party. If Mr.. st. Mar
tin said that be could take the oath, his statement
ought to be held conclusive, and any attempt to
contradict it is an implied assault on his personal ir.
tegri,y. As he is now absent from the city, shall
not dia'e on this point, but shall prove. by facts
within my own knowledge, that Mr.. st. Martin is
perfectly eligible even under the most severe inter-
probation of Radical legislation.
In the first place he never was engaged in the
I" rebelhop.r The office which he held, that Of
register OF voters, was . municipal Office, com
mission ed by the governor the oath Of Office
having been taken before Judge Saucier. 1t was
one OF the class of offices necessary for the con
duct OF civil affairs and the holding of which does
not imply any participation 10 rebellion" This
point is ruliy and clearly argued by Mr.. Stanbery
in his lucid opinion on the effect of the recon
siruction laws on the right of suffrage.
Mr. ST. Martin never levied war against the
United States, or gave aid and comfort to the en-
emies Of the United States. in the sense in which
those terms are used in law. This point also !.
| decided, as far as reason and argument can de
eide anything, in Mr.. stanbery's opinion.
He never took an oath to support the Confede
rate government, either as official or q citizen
The writer OF the communication in the BuIletir
refers to Mr.. Walshs resolution in the state con
vention, as if that resolution were binding on the
| district conventions. Such s not the ease. Thu
| resolution was referred to the committee; bu
was not reported back to the convention, and wa
never adopted. In the fifth district the conven
| ton even declined to consider the name Of an
person who could take the test oath. Thi
point, However, s, as l have shown, entirel!
irrelevant, because Mr.. st. Martin can take tn
oath with clear conscience, and fearless 0
any objection, except such as may be raised o.
preiexs furnished by pretended frisnds of tn
| Democratic party. eill T1F esq
If the Radicals have majority In the next Cor
gress, and they are determined to exclude me-
SIMPLY because they are Democrats, the obiec
40 be achieved in spite of the test'oath as in tt
case of Mr.. VOORHEES, and Mr.. Brooks, and Judg
Brown, of Kentucky. On the other hand, If tn
Democrats be in the majority, the pretende
"Democrst,u who attacks Mr.. 81. Martin, know
very well that only the constitutional oath win
required. i url s',.s ~.
In conclusion, cannot refrain from again n
ferrine to Mr. 81. Martins long and consistent %
hesion to the Democratic party, his large exp'
renee in public Affairs, and his great popularit,
not only in his district but throughout the Stat
and with men of oil parties with whom he b.
ever been associated. .s-t
A LIFE LONG DExocRAT.