Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1851-08-02
PLAQUEMINE:
SATURDAY, AUGUST ?, 1851.
70 = xaw-abiding and Unprejudiced
s}4I7E e.. Public,

A most base and unprovoked assault wa
committed upon the editor of this paper las
Sunday; and it is proper that all good citizens
should reflect upon the nature Of that assault
If such acts are suffered to 60 uncondemnee
by the voice Of the people, others as we'll al
ourself had better sacrifice all that we posses.
in the world, and search in other parts of oul
country for a spot where we can pursue oul
avocations in qnietness and in peace.
While quietly leaning against a table in
coffee-house, waiting to speak with a gentle
man engaged in conversation, a man whom
we afterwards learned was named McLain
rushed in upon us, and demanded why We had
published his name in the paper" and without
waiting for any explanation or listening to a
denial, commenced his attack, when a crowd
Of highly excited men, evidently his friends OF
supporters, thronged in around US. Unarmed,
resistance, we saw and knew, was fallacious,
and We made none-and wasat length suffered
quietly to walk off, leaving any who were dis
posed to do so, to exult owe. a victory acquired
under such disgraceful circumstances.
In the editing of a newspaper it frequently
occurs, that the selections an editor makes
from other papers, and from episodes origina-
ting with himself, they may have some distant
application to certain individuals, when the
editor, in fact has NO such intention of the
kind. We have frequently known editors to
be attacked for editorial articles which have a
direct bearing upon individuals whose names
have been used in a ~disrespectful or disgraceful
manner, through personal or private causes.
Such course by a publisher we consider mex
cusable. But this is the first instance on re-
cord, that we have known an editor to be as
saulted for a selected article upon his first page
something Of an anecdote, containing no.
thing insulting that we could perceive, and the
proofsheet Of which was read without giving
it a moments thought that it alluded to any
one in this place. But, what must the public
think, after reading the statements made
below, to learn that the man who took
umbrage at the article, himself gave origin to
a!-that he wished a "funny article" put in the
paper-that our carrier-boy, who acted as some
thing Of an agent In this business, replied to
his request that he would insert ssomething
funny about him" which seemed to be highly
'pieaslng-that the article, which, from the boys
statement, the compositor in our Office had
partly selected and made up during our absence
atl Baton Rouge, was inserted without our
knowledge-and that the pretended aggrieved
individual had expressed his satisfaction after
having read it, and remunerated the carrier
boy for the part he had acted in the affair
we cay, what must the public think, after read
ing the unquestionable evidence of these facts
Is not q man, under such circumstances, justi-
fed in saying and believing that personal Sc
curity is slightly guaranteed here, if such out
rages can be perpetrated with impunity, ire
spective Of the feelings and opinions of the
community? We are, however, proud to say
that in our behalf the kind and sympathizing
feelings If all good citizens, as far as we have
been enabled to ascertain, have been enlisted, |
and that the outrage alluded to is directly and
unequivocally condemned by them, as one dis
graceful in itself and disgraceful to the town.
These are the statements alluded to, which
deyelope most astonishing baseness;
70 tho Public,
This Is to certify that early last week the APP
prentice in this Office, who acts as carrier for the
Sestina, told me that Mac or McLain, wished
Something funny put in the paper about him.
Bradburn had always allowed me to make
Of literary articles for the paper, during
absence; wishing to do what McLain request
and not conceiving that any harm could possibly
from it, partly selected and made up the
which appeared in the fourth column of the
page in last weeks paper, wherein the word
Mac is mentioned in il, After the paper was is
on Saturday, lMr. Bradburn knowing no.
about the circumstances connected with the
lrticle, Is far a my knowledge extended / wrote
. McLain saying that | hoped be was pleased
the article, On Saturday evening and Sunday
he expressed himself to me as being
tightly delighted with it-and I understood he
enumerated the carrier boy for the part he acted in
laying it published. He lMcLain) knew that
was unaware fthe circumstances which
aud tie article d 3 inserted-that he knew he
originated Il andwss well pleased with the
.rticle-which M, ii fad, nothing more than .
onsenaical squib. wasperfectly astonished At, .
.rwards 70 hear that he had assaulted Mr.. Brad ]
,,r rr about il. ibid previously told his friends
ut MI. Rradburn knew nothing about il md how
came to b inserted. Why be. lMeLainl chan !
a his opinion y ssdasnly, and actsd = sngularly y
"a snnjustly, Is probabay - known a. himself =
". HAYNES. :