The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1871-08-09
Death Of the Hon. John SIidell.

Death Of the Hon. John Siidell.
We are panied to learn that the Hon.
John Slidell died recently at Brighton,
England. Though he had almost at
tanned the age of fourscore years, he
was, at last accounts, enjoyinghis usu-
al good health, and his many friends
in this State had INDUCED the hope,
that he would yet come among us to
spend the last years of his useful and
eyentful life. But we presume that
he had but little disposition to mingle
again in the heat of political cam
paign, now that personal hate and NAL
ignity towards his cherished South
have become the main-stay of Ameri-
can politics. He was content to leave
to younger heads and hands the man
agement of political affairs, and to
spend the remnant Of his days in peace
and quietness, far from the turmoil
and excitement in which he formerly
took so much delight. Only a few
months ago we chronicled the death of
Mr.. Mason, whose name was so prom
ineDtly coupled with Mr.. Slidells a few
years since, on account of their capture
together On board the Trent while on
their way to Europe to represent the
Confederate States with foreign pow
ers., From that journey Mr.. Slidell
neverreturned.
John slidell was a native of the
State of New York. After engaging in
tho mercantile business for a while in
the city of New York, in which he was
quite successful, he came to Louisiana
and was soon admitted to The bar rs q
legal practitioner 1t is so common
with the men of the present generation
to think of Mr.. Slidell as great poll
tician, that the fact is not generally
known that he was once an able and
successful lawyer. He rose rapidly in
his profession and laid the foundation
of the wealth he enjoyed in his rieer
years. The bar, however, was only a
stepping-stone to political promotion,
and his profession was relinquished as
soon as the prospect of realising his po-
litical aspirations seemed to brighten
before him. He was a middle-aged
man before he ever held an Office. He
was elected to Congress from the first
District of Louisiana in 1913 but retir-
ed after serving a single term. In 1916
he was appointed by Mr.. Polk Minis
ter to Mexico and represented the Uni
ted States in the differences which led
to the war between the two nations.
In 1910 Mr.. Slidell was the choice of
his patty for Che United States Senate,
but owing to the detection of two OF
three Democrats he failed to obtain a
majority on any ballot and Mr.. Soule
was finally taken up as compromise
candidate and elected. On the APP
pointment of Mr.. Soule as Minister to
Spain in 1858 Mr.. Slidell was elected to
the Senate to fill the vacancy, and hav-
ing been reelected in 1885, remained
in the Senate until lie withdrew on
the passage of the Louisiana ordinance
of Secession.
At the time of his retirement no man
commanded a greater influence in his
party than John Slidell. Nor did this
arise from any particular ability as a
parliamentary debater. On the con-
trary Mr.. Slidell was an uninteresiing
speaker and seldom occupied the at
tention of the Senate even when great
questions were under discussion. But
it was his Incompatible skill as a pol
itical manager and as party leader
which gave him so much power in the
/ Democratic party. His judgment was
scarcely ever at fault and his kpowl-
edge of men seemed to have been de-
rived intuitively. Hence it was that
men of more genius and greater brilH-
nncy were content to follow his lead.
His leadership of the Louisiana Dem
ocracy, in times which required the
greatest tact and ingenuity, will be re-
membered for many generations to
come. Often Of late years, when the
party appeared to be going to destruc-
| ton for want of head, we have sigh
ed for the return of those happy days,
and have lamented that. we. could not
enjoy even one hour of our Lanished
Slidell. If he had been permitted to
return and had put the party once
more on the road to success it would
have been fitting close of life so il
lustrious as his.
] '~~~~~~--S-o~->
HoM1C1DB.-We are sorry @
have to chronicle the following
Dick Kirk, colored, a well known,
well behaved and good man, was
killed on last Sunday, by Charles
! McNutt, also co1ored. McNutt dis.
charged one barrel of a revolver at
him, which took effect in the breast,
causing instant death. Up to the
present writing McNutt is still at
large; he was seen in town several