The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1886-07-31
ADDRESS TO THE DEMOCRATIC
VOTERS OF THE 5th DISTRICT.

Fetto,c- CttiseaS:
aspire to represent you in the 50th Con-
greSs of tho United States ani to that end
l will submit my name to tho Democratic
convention which assemblies at Ruston,
September 18TH, 1856. In accordance with
time-honored usage, respectfully ask tor
your assistance and votes to enable me to
obtain tho nomination of that convention.
am u Louisianiau, educated here, and
the highest aspirations haye, the dearest
wish and purpose entertain, imrel me- TO
do sthing laudablc for Louisiana.
I am u Southern Democrat, brought up
to manhood since tho war, surrounded by
the harsh and huniliating expressions Of
reconstruction, and taught by instinct, od-
ucation and necessity to sympathize and
cooperate with every measure to put down
carpetbagisnl and negro domination, to es-
tabl,sh and maintain tho political and
social supremacy of the whito people of the
South, and to develop and advance her ma
torial and moral prosperity. Every fibre
OF my being. every moment of my life
stands pledged to the defense and justiiica
ton Of the mon whose courage and solf-
sacrifice rescued the South from an im
pending fate that was worse than death. l
could not feel otherwise and retain my
self respect.
l am "a Democrat i'll politics, with u de-
cided leaning 10 informal improvements
and tho support OF common schools Hence
/ ami decidedly i'll favor Of national aid to
education, always providing that therc
shall DO no Interference with State control
OF our schools. l believe that this measure
is sanctioned by the constitution, and wise
aud ncces sary, and III this opinion l have
tho honor to agree with many OF the truest
patriots and greatest statesmen of all peri
DDS of our Republic as we'll as with n,any
of tho most devoted SONS of tho South, such
as Whoolor Of Alabama, Colluit o: Georgia,
George Of mississippi and hosts Of others
that are "trna and tried II my advocacy
of national aid i'll the warfare against igno-
rance oltends the prido of any Southern
man, bog his pardon-but I am for the
education Of tho people. as the greatest
blessing to thom and the greatest bulwark
of tho happiness and pcrpotuity of my
country. If got to Washington promise
you will not be mere passive support er
of this measure.
l believe that the truo theory OF govern
mont is that it should be positive bone
factor, not merely restrictive agency, and
I want no bctter illustration OF tho truth Of
this theory than is afforded by tho incalcu-
lable benefits tlowiug from the postal de-
partment of tho government. Suppose, for
ono instant, that the post offices were run
by private individuals? What q sad ca
lamity that would DO! BY analogy, rea-
son that thore are other things which the
government can do better than they can be
dana NV ,,riy-otc
are vast internal improvements which
affect so largo portion of the people that
they may truly be called national. For
this reason. as we'll as for the reason that
Congress, undor tho Constitution, has ex-
elusive jurisdiction of all navigable streams,
believe it to DO the imperative and sacred
duty OF Congi ess to build levees to improve
tho navigation OF the Mississippi river and
to protect it's banks and its valley from
overflow. l do not believe that as much
has boon accomplished III this direction as
you had tho right to reasonably expect.
Year after year tho floods continue to co me
and devastatc your fair domain. Tho allu-
vial parishes strain every neryc and the
State devotos one sixth OF it's taxes TO ievec
purposes "a tax which is cheerfuIIy paid by
tho whole Statc) and yet tho Federal gov
ernnent will not do its duty. l believe
that we should ceaso to discuss plans and
devote moro attention to obtaining 4 full
recognition of the just principle on which
our claims for protection arc based. l be
tieve that the committee son I.cvces and
improvements of the Mississippi Rivcr'
should bo abolished, because it is not onl y
powerlcss and useless, but II cause Of irri
tation and antagoniSm. "o should nalS,
common cause with the other informal i'm
pro Yelnonts of the country and trust oui
| Just demands to tho committee "On Rivers
! and lIarbors." In my opinion thore il,
community, or rather. an identity OF i'll
forests between the sugar planters and the
| alluvial planters of Louisiana and they
| should stand shoulder TO shoulder. The
| construction Of lovoes from the Louisiana
tionably an Interstate matter. These state
cannot make treaty and neither can bull,
levecs for its protection along their adioin
ing boundary againts tho will of the other
Congress must build the evecs from Ash
ton norLhward Oh the plain principle
upon which Judge Roagnn champions Iii
Interstate Commerce bin, measure whiCl
sincerely nhorse. If lhcso Arknnsn
lcvoes are built and maintained by th
Federal govcrnmont, and L pledge myscl
con sam nation, the Tensas Basin ana Tia
| valleys OF PnUt river and Black river wi
he fully protected,