Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1851-04-12
The Planters,

W. ~ ~ AAsASA SSe
an assertion, made by a highly respectable
gentleman, to the effect that he believed there
was a feeling Of satisfaction among many, in
consequence Of the crevasse, for the reason
that it would inyure the planters! We trust
that his belief or %supposition is incorrect, and
that no mans mind, nor the minds of any class
Of men, are Influenced by principles SO PERM
cious-pernicious not only to the good order
and moral feeling of a community, but PERM
cious to the business and pecuniary inter
ests Of every member Of it. Why, the plan
tiers are our bankers. Sweep them from ou'
parish, and The wheels of every description Of
business you'd stop as suddenly as the paddles
Of a bursted steamboat! 1t is through Their
wealth mainly that we all prosper; and with
out it, we would most assuredly make a retro
grade movement not at all pleasing or desira'
bic, or delightful to contemplate.
He must be short-sighted and narrow-mind.
ed indeed, who would wish to destroy the very
elements of his pecuniary existence. If it
should be envy which pervades the minds of
some, in consequence of the wealth Of our
planters, which gives origin to their rejudices
or hatred, we pity rather than condemn them.
Such feeling can only exist among the ill'edu-
Gated; and to those rather who had charge of
their infancy and boyhood, must be attributed
the evil tendencies of their minds; not having
any foundation Of learning upon which to
stand, they are governed in their opinions or
sentiments by chance or circumstances, and so
powerful is the influence Of ignorance, that it
is almost impossible for them to swerve from
the path Of error and vice.
No sensible, educated and enlightened citi-
zen could for a moment entertain a feeling Of
prejudice against the planters Of our parish
From personal observation, and from the inter-
course which our business has produced, we
have ever found them hospitable, courteous,
high-minded and just. If they are wealthy it
is the fortune of life, and instead Of creating
enry or jealousy, we should be thankful that
there are SO many of that character in our pa
IRISH. As for our part, we wish that every nook
and corner Of Iberville were filled with "rich
Planters" We should then have some hopes
of becoming rich ourselves. Their money,
generally speaking, is not boarded up; and al
though wealthy, the majority of them are Of
ten as ''hard run" as the lowliest of us all, in
consequence of their enormous expenses
They are public spirited, too for we could
point to various instances, and mention various
names, where and with whom Enterprise has
had its ~votaries among our planters, and, in 1
which, the mechanic, and almost every branch
of business, has felt the invigorating influence
of their wealth. Without such influence, our
beautiful and furnishing town would soon
dwindle down to nothing-bui!ding would stop
at once; our stores and mechanics shops
would close; our dwelling houses would be
evacuated and fall into decay; rank weeds
would grow in the streets; neither church nor
would be visited; no property
could be rented or sold every thing would be
value'ess-and Plaquemine would be as the
sCity Of the Dead" Instead, then, of having
a repugnant feeling towards the planters, as a
they should be sustained, in interest and
equation, by all the means possessed by citi-
'ens Of other pursuits.
But, if there are any who exult ut the loss
# property by a fellow-citizcn because he is
planter, in consequence Of the power Of Om-
in inundating his lands and destroy
ng his present years crop, they must take into
consideration that this very disaster may prove
0 him the greatest pecuniary blessing that has
to him, for the reason that his land,
ecoming worn out by frequent cropping, is
by the ~alluvial which the overflow
which, in all likelihood, will more than
epay him for the loss sustained.
In conclusion, then, we would say, do not
It US permit any reproaches to be cast upon
re planters Of Iberville; from our general
nowledge and acquaintance, we know them
be a high-minded, honorable, courteous and
class Of citizens, liberal in their 9
elings, and generous to an extent that cannot !
} excelled by those of any other section of :
lis country. t
RATHER IN A HURRY-On Wednesday last the