Year: 1859




TRICT.


This District, under the apporonmcpt Of last
winter, consists of the parishes of East Baton
Rouge, West Baton Rouge and East Feliciana,
Two Senators, under the old apportionment-
Hons. Edward Dclony of East Feliciana, and
J. Il. Sterling of West FeIiciana-dhe latter elected
in part by the voters of West Baton Rougc), hold
over for two years. And a gentleman Understood
to be in favor of Mr.. Slide) of West Baton Rouge,
has been nominated as candidate at the ensuing
election.


This leaves BATON Rouge, in which the capital of
the State is located, and which outnumbers in pop
uation both West Baton Rouge and East Felicana,
without an immediate representative on the floor
OF the Senate There is nothing fair, or Demo-
cratic, or republican, in this kind of arrangement.
1t gives, if it is carried out, doubly represented
minority q treble advantage. II ignores the fun
damenta principle on which our free government
is foundcd-upsets in practice the theory that ma
jorities should govern-and adopts altogether a
new rule of political action.


These occurrences have led to considerable es-
ctement in the parish of East Baton Rouge, and
the people there seem disposed to assert the in
aenablc prerogative of self government and to
oppose clique domination. In this they are right.
One might az well be under the government of the
Gustom-Hcusc. They have brought out DR.. Thos.
j. Burlington, their old and faithful Senator as
candidate for reelection. We hope they will be
successful in freeing themselves from the sway of
the oligarchy. His election will accomplish that
object. He is an able faithful, true nan-entirely
worthy the confidence and support of any intelli-
gent and patriotic community. We know him well
have known him long-and speak by the card.
We have watched his Senatorial course carefully
the past four sessions Of the Legislature and
know Of no man who has fully come up to
the Jefersonan standard-.which prescribcs that
honesty, fidelity and capacity, should be the only
passports to oilice--than Dr. Burlington. There
fore, we trust our friends in all the parishes of the
District viii lend his election strong helping
hand, and thus assist in freeing themselves from
Sldell scrfdom.


The Baton Rouge Gazette of the 25tIl inst has
vigorous article on this subject. From it we pro-
pose quoting several paragraphs. Under the head
"Shall East Baton Rouge be Represented in the
Senate?" the Gazette says


ltappears now, that it was not sufficient punish.
ment for the rebious spirit in this parish to dis.
eniranchise her in the Senate Chamber under the
apportionmcnt bill Of the late Legislature, but now
our masters would force us to ratfy their action
by electing Senator from West Baton Rouge-a
parish already represented the floor of the Sen
ate by Judge Sterling.


Of the well-devsed scheme to violate our cousti.
tutional rights and completely disenfranclsc us in
the Senate, We have before expressed an opinion
and often, since the scheme consumInated,
stopped to speculate on the quiet manner in which
our people submit to such an outrage their
rights.


What are the facts? The parish of East Baton
Rouge, under the Constitution, is entitled to one
Senator by virtue of her population. Is there any
one at home, or abroad, who denies this fact? Dr.
Delony is the choice of the people of East Felici-
ana, and holds over in the Senate for two years
Judge Sterling, of West Fclciana is the Senator of
the old district, and was elected by the people of
West Felicana, West Baton Rouge and Pointe Cou-
pee, and in the face of these facts Mr. Barrow, Of
West Baton Rouge, is the " Democratic nominee.
How is this? Let each citizen of this parish who
believes in the doctrine that Democratic govern
ment is a government of the people, pause and
consider the position in which we are about to be
placed, and then let us call on fellow -ctzens
of West Baton Rouge and Feliciana to do unto us
even IS they would like should do unto them
under similar circumstances. Our population out
numbers the combined population of the two
parishes to which we have been united, and cer-
tanly the parish in which the capitol located has
some interest in the legislation of the country


Further along the Gazette says:


What is this done for? We presume there is not
citizen in East Baton Rouge so blind to passing
events as not to that it is punishment for this
people, devised by our masters. Here, the rebel
lion against the power that claims the right 10 rule
the people of Louisiana with iron hand has its
head-lere the best half of the Democracy have re-
turned to the true faith of their fathers and claim
the right to select their rulers without the arbitrary
dctaton Of single man, the command of a
half dozen tricksters in caucus.


The above we believe to be strict truths. As.
suming this to be the case, the question arises,
will the people of the Capitolian parish strike for
their political liberties? If they do, they should
with anything like an united voice. Dr. Burlington
will be elected by large majority. AS it is, his
prospects are extremely favorable.