Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1850-06-15
Our Paper, Politics, &c.

BraupaJ Improvement IN the appearance ant
usefulness Of onr paper Is time wears on and
it gains strength with the growth of the com
munity. No ope can realize the obstacles
and membranes we had to sprmount-the
labor to perform-to sustain our sheet in the
Offset of its career. But thanks to friends
such as we never dreampt of gathering around
US, our exertions were looked upon fayorably
and we feel, as the dawn Of a prosperous fu'
ture seems to be opening before us, that no ex.
ertions or expense are commensurate with the
kind feeling hitherto exhibited in our behalf.
While we never can, under any cucumstan.
ces, make "ore step backwards" in those poll.
teal principles which have heretofore character.
lied this paper-wtlile we shall ever be found
fighting with all the weapons Of skill and truth
at our command, for the extension and supre.
macy Of the wing party-the Union party OF
the eountry-upon all necessary occasions, yet
this political right and liberty is not the only
aim, nor the only use, of our columns. In mo-
nents of peace, when all breasts are free from
political passions, the pen and the scissors
should be devoted to other themes than politics.
A continual devotion to this subject, without
regard to its appropriateness, is rot only rldl-
c%ulous, but it destroys whatever of influence
on political questions which such journal might
otherwise have possessed.
As our paper now appears, it cannot fail to
be acceptable to all classes of readers. Our
columns are diversified with subjects of inter
est and intelligence of every description-the
planter, the mechanic, the merchant, the loafer,
whatever their politics, cannot fail to be inter-
ested if they will read it. It's main feature is
to instruct and elevate the mind.
In this view, then, Of the Importance of a
newspaper, we trust that those who have hith-
erto held back from subscribing because We
differ with them in political sentiment, will do
SO no longer. Ours is the only sheet now is
sued in the Parish and a. il is in our power
to conduct it upon an expense less than, per
haps, fopr-dfths Of the journals of the State
for the reason that the hand which writes can
also perform the mechanical labors Of the office
-our permanency here fears no competition or
loss Of patronage.
In our columns are the proceedings Of the
Police Jury, and all the judicial advertisements,
including sheriff S sales, just commenced to be
under the new law. This feature
should induce every citizen in the Parish
te become a subscriber. But notwithstanding
valuable addition to the columns of a pa
Notwithstanding that our columns have
sver been free from political defamation, person
Il scurrility or low blackguardisms, even in the
heighth Of political warmth and contention, we
lever yet had the pleasure Of sending our pa
per to but one democratic subscriber, and he a
'esident Of West Baton Rouge. We had one
'ther in Plaquemine; he is : man Of taste and
Utility, and Notwithstanding that he sloped, we
reason to believe that he has n a pretty
reader Of our paper ever since that
,eriod. z1 5s4.{ 1la Ms
The importance Of q newspaper in . Parish
be evident to all. Is it not q shame, then,
hat political prejudice should exert an influence
detrimental to the true interests Of its citizens!
that it should prevent them from supporting
he Press, the right bower Of their moral and
salvation! Should political differences
tho editor and the citizen ALLEVIATE an
interest 90 high As this! It is not to be ex-
ected Of us, nor Of any man who has = mind
his own, to agree with the mass on all poll
subjects. y 50,
Bpt we are constrained to say, as matter
t fact, and with all due Difference, that a ma
Of our political opponents, although they
vould really be pleased to have our paper,
their subscription through the belief
nat such an act would assist in keeping alive
thunder Of the wings. Such opinion in re-
to ps, had as well be banished-the
~ has past when such an idea might have been
ntertained with some plausibility. We have
wan thus far without the necessity Of hang
on to the willows, and our breath is not yet
pent; the bright, clear slream on which we
[oat j. free from bars and quicksands, an in
gale sweeps over its bosom, and
hose who enter upon, with Truth, Sincerity
nd Energy for their companions, may laugh to
the Ignorance or the malice of scribbling
ppcnents, OF the prejudice OF. spleen Of mar
ow minded demagogues and stools.a.
5%AE
DEATH or JuDeE Durros.-A letter has
cen received in this place from Monterey,
.fexico, giving intelligence Of the death Of
udEe John button. Few menpossessed bet
y qualities ct the heart, or ! more cultivated