Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1855-03-03
A MASKED

"o"S hilS vi ORSA"sS "suSs Nv uPSN
the course of his immaculate journal-like a
purge, causing it to vomit forth bile and vitu-
peration-its masked batteries" are opened
upon us with all the power and skill of those
who handle the match and frelock-pouring
their destroying missiles upon US in the shape
of personal rancour and invective, that we be
made to cover and retire from the field at the
first discharge of these powerful engines which
have acted SO prominent a part in the battles
OF his paper since its origin, that they may
well be called the very pulse of its being
the Gibraltar, which feels not the puny "thun'
dera"which the solitary Sentinel Yields. Blu.
such displays, such ontbursts of passion, smell
ing of pent-up enmity, and sounding so much
of sfuss and fury" neither dismays us nor irri'
tates us into a disregard of the duties we owe
to our readers, or causes US to lose the dignity
of a high.toned and independent journal. Ep-
ithets, vituperation, a descent to low and un-
becoming language, in lieu of reason and ar
gument or candid admission, whenever politi-
cal defeats are heralded or base political acts
exposed, is a course which we think is not cal
culated to excite admiration or meet the appro-
baton of an intelligent community.
Our contemporary, through the pen of some
one behind the screen, and which we have de-
nominated a masked battery" let loose upon
US last week a terrible discharge of ball and
cannister-onslaughts of temper the more
reckless when the source from which they ori.
ginate are not known to the world. When the
editor is truly the author, more consideration
and respect for his contemporaries will be
| evinced. .-
The occasion for the display to which we
allude, as Appeared in article No. l in the Ga
zene of last week, was the fact as asserted in
substance by US that the Administration did
its utmost to elect SEWARD BY every artifce
known to political chicanery.' Now, instead Of
showing the contrary by force of argument,
and proof if it had any, the pen behind the
screen commences thus:
"The Sentinel is magniloquent, perspicacious
and deep on Know Nothings. 1t assured the
community, or that small portion of it which
reads the Sentinel, in its issue of the 10th inst,
that the administration was in favor of the
election of William H. Seward, although it
knew full well that it was giving utterance to
as black a falsehood as erer disgraced its co.,
umns."
Now here is adash in language polite, either
to smother our charge or smother US, probably
the latter. The italics are ours, for we wish to
draw attention to the peculiar kind of amuni-
ton which is used by our neighbours "masked
batteries" when they are directed at US. 1t is
perfectly annihilating, yet we still survive. 1t
is astonishing, too. considering that such a
'small portion" of the community reads our
paper, that he would condescend to devote two
long columns to a notice of such insignificant
and harmless objects as our paper and ourself.
The above paragraph is the first of lengthy
article which we would not have noticed had
it not been for the exceedingly courteous and
gentkmanly remark which we i~talicise.
And now for our meaning of a "masked
battery" if not already sufficiently understood.
accredited editor, unable himself to fill
the position he assumes as editor, EMPLOYS or
allows another to take the pen, particularly if
are the subject. Now it can be easily dis.
from the style of those articles, high.
" personal, that the author is a personal enc
my. We do not think it fair dealing for our
contemporary to let such persons attack: US in
paper-for they, being in the dark, un-
known. are reckless of their language, and at.
Tempt to the utmost extent which they think
sentiment will justify or permit, to in
Iure personal feelings by personal allusions.-
make no objection to his employing wri.
to assist him when their articles are free
rom personalities. What if the accredited ed
tor does take the responsibility. We know
hat; allowing personal enemies to vent their
spleen at us through his sheet under cover of
is what we justly complain Of. He
cannot deny that such is the fact after what
he personally admitted to us, to say nothing
Of the articles themselves, which are as plain,
10 all who know the gentleman, that they are
not his productions, as that political truths,
when exposed by 80 humble an individual as
ourself, set him and his clique and advisers in
to spasms. Thus much for the masked bate.
ry,"' w will now attempt to show upon
what evidence, or a portion Of it, we found the
'black falsehood' charged upon us above.
The Washington American Organ, Of the
18th nit, (as good authority we presume as
the Gageae's political bible, the Washington
Union,) says: 70 ssg
"As we predicted, the Forney and Pierce
presses at the Sonth, are seeking to cheat the
people there into the belief. that Seward owes
election to the .Annerican party" when on
txe1pe votes were given to him BY members
pr0fessed to ha GKnnv. Nnfh;nr y al &c.