Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1851-04-19
The Present and Future Prospects
of 1berYiue. -

opposite SIDE OF the rlVer,-tnOsea at Iran0 1t
wee in Point Coupee, inundating the Gross
Tete section, and that in the Bayou below on
town a short distance, is sufficiently alarming
to cause rejecting minds to ponder seriously
not ouly upon present embarrassments, bu
upon the nature of those, apparently more fear
full, which await US in the future. Every de
scription of business in this town-there is N
denying the fact-has already felt the enerva
ting influence, or effects, resulting from tn
destruction Of property in consequence of tn
overflow. On the Sd Of April, q day which i
considered here as payday, for all notes givel
to be paid in March, but few made their pre-
sence to liquidate their obligations; and thos'
to whom they were due, had in turn to disap
point others TO whom they were indebted
Indeed there appears to be a perfect stagnatior
in the money market, and a complete stoppagt
to the progress and prosperity Of every descrip
ton of business. Coffee-houses seem to b,
the, only places where silver is heard to rattle
and precious little there~-and collectors with
pockets full of bills, of every size, class ant
complexion, the only necessary evils which ap
pear active and Furnishing amongst us. Eve
rybody is after money, four-6fths for the pur
pose Of paying their debts, while not one dol.
lar in twenty of the bills given can be collect.
ed. This is a most melancholy state of af.
fairs-but a state which well accords with the
ambition and principles of swindlers, knaves,
and souzess humanity. A creditor who would,
in a period like the present, push lis debtort to
the extent that he would be obliged to make
sacrifices tor the purpose of meeting his de-
mand, deserves the opprobium and contumely
Of the community, and should be marked as
unworthy to receive the encouragement or
support Of any honest Or good man. A reci-
procity Of feeling should pervade the breasts
Of all upright and high-miaded citizens, and
while we hope and expect others to be lenient
in their demands, in the present notifying con,
dition of things, we should be SO to those
who are indebted to us. Let a feeling of this
kind be general-particularly in favor of those
who are Woodworking and energetic-and the
paralyzing stroke that has been given to our
interests, will be but slightly felt, comparatively
speaking, and in a short time the prosperity of
Iberville, and of Plaquemine, will be as fair and
as exhilirating as it was q short time Stree.
While upon the subject Of the misfortunes
caused by the crevasses, we would here remark
that it is our decided opinion that it is the du-
ty Of the Legislature to create an act giving to
the State the entire charge ofthe Levees with
in its boundaries, to create a tax upon all per.
directly or indirectly interested, for the pur.
pose Of paying the expenses necessary to car
rying out the provisions Of such an act-and
that such Levees be under the supervision of
proper officers, receiving an annual salary for
their expected unceasing inspection and
upon the work which they are appointed
to perform. In our humble opinion, this is the
only successful method that can be adopted
with regard to the leveeing systematic only
one that will ensure permanent safety and con-
ddence, and uninterrupted progress and pros
perity to this as well as the other river parish
- Of the State. The planters would not then
" cursed with the ignorance, idleness, partiali-
and enmity Of the commissaries, who, often,
through personal or political reasons, will per-
nit one mans levee to remain in a dilapidated
to be repaired when il is optional with
while another will be forced to act
with the letter Of the law. WI make
10 personal illusions, but merely state what
70 believe to be true, and which was remarked
. us a few days since by an extensive planter
this Parish. And, moreover, were the State
o take charge Of the Ievees, the poorer class
vho own fronts on the river, and who are actu-
MY unable to keep up their ~levees, would be
I'd OF that responsibility, while their wealthy
leighbors could rest in security, from the
knowledge that the levees Of their humble
liends would be as good as their own.
Branching forth from this subject to that Of
! political nature, as connected with it, we con-
ader that the candidates for the Legislature the
'nsuing fall should be expected to express
sentiments fully upon the most e~fEectual
eveeing system. and whether they are in favor
TIE State taking it in charge.
But, we had almost forgotten, It would seem
ne text Of our article. We have pictured
omething Of the present prospects Of onr
and pariah-what are there destinies in
fatnfei An achma Of wealth and prosper.
Of which the most sanguine temperament
y never yetdreaned. Present suffering we
elieFe to BE- q general good; warned BY the
resent atate Of things, some e~ffectual good,
some shalpe, will certainly result, and in
W years embarrassments will have ceased,
Id the caf Of fortune. to the mechanic md The !