French Opinions of the South.
--The New Orleans Propagateur Catholique contains the following extract from a pamphlet ‘"on American affairs,"’ recently published in
Paris:
‘
"The best proof of the intellectual superiority of the
South over the
North is the part the former has taken in public affairs.
Notwithstanding its numerical superiority and the jealousy of its antagonist, the Presidential chair has been filled during forty-four years (out of the seventy-two) by Southern men. No Northern man has been re-elected
President.
The South has had two
Presidents elected four times.
Of thirty-three
Presidents of the House of Representatives twenty-one were Southerners.
Of seventy-seven
Presidents of the Senate (
Vice- Presidents of the
Republic,) the
South has furnished sixty-one.
It has been the same in regard to ambassadors.
"To the
South belongs
Washington,
Jefferson,
Monroe,
Madison,
Patrick Henry, Clay,
Marshall — men not less distinguished for their exalted character and noble qualities of heart than for their talents and intelligence.
These men are not only an honor to their country and to their century, but the glory of humanity.
To these are joined others as remarkable, but less known in
Europe —
Calhoun,
Jackson,
Randolph,
Cabell,
Maury,
Pinckney,
Lowndes, and
Taney.
"To the eyes of whoever has examined it closely, the
South has nothing to envy in any nation in respect to civilization, right-mindedness, and elevation of sentiments.
"The women of the
South are tender mothers and devoted wives.
The Creoles are equal to the
French ladies in exquisite grace, distinction, sensibility, generosity, warmth of heart and ideas, with intelligence of all that is noble, beautiful, and good.
In the epidemics that have ravaged the
Southern coast, they have given a thousand proofs of inexhaustible charity, and of self-denial, lavishing their cares without distinction of rank or color.
And what is there so astonishing in this similitude between the inhabitants of the
South and those of our country?
Is not
Louisiana of French extraction?
Did not our religious troubles take to the
South thousands of families who were among the best of
France?
These families have taken root there, and their race has not degenerated.
The race has preserved that — I know not what — of the
French that never effaces itself.
Hundreds of thousands could be taken from among the first of those States where those families of old blood, could be counted, who think it an honor to recall the ties which bind them to the country of their ancestors.
So the
South loves
France.
Of all the nations of
Europe ours is one with whom they sympathize the most.
There is not a family that does not have its children taught the
French language.
‘"
France is, then, naturally called upon to pronounce herself in the quarrel, and to take part with the
South."’
’