Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1857-06-20


it to be at present. It was it's secret conclaves
and their attendant machinery which served to
wreck it, and which few men at the present
day we doubt not, who participated in them
formerly, can now approve. But, whatever the
errors Of the American party, they were lost
sight Of BY the oyershadowiDg of those great
principles which gave it origin--and we em~
braced it as many other editors did, enthusiasts
ticalIy and without counting the costs. Our
readers best know whether we were faithful
and diIigent at our post.
We soon discovered, however, that we were
to be a pecuniary sufferer to a considerable ex~
tent By our advocacy Of the American party
subscribers were leaving US in consequences
and we were losing considerable advertising
patronage. But we were not discouraged
we scarcely dreampt of anything but the eyen~
tual supremacy of our ~party-with which
however, pecuniary hopes had no connexion
whatever. But we were deceived. The 4th of
November came at length, when thousands
INV OuioGtl TCIC GH OAEAlCu NOM tAlC IN+"l1I
to feel the crushing force Of stern reality. The
Democratic party was foremost, through the
extraordinary efforts Of the first statesmen Of
that party the Black Republicans, who are
the acknowledged enemies Of the South and
the Constitution, were but little behind the
Democrats and the American party, respects
tko oyrooacc re vuhiob ca mann s4-oppo md
hearts were beating, received the vote
of but one State Hopes that were bright
among the friends Of the American party, were
now darkened. How could it be otherwise?
We saw at once, or thou ght We saw, the
of attempting another national organ
ization of the American party consequently,
the tone and complexion of our journal were
materially changed. We saw that the Black
Republicans were elated by the vote they had
received, and that they looked to their success
in 1860 as q fixed fact. With three or four
new States added to their list before that time,
is such an event at all improbable? We have
expressed ourself as to the course of
necessary 10 view of the Increasing
of the Black Republicans--and we
are proud TO say that not one Of our patrons
has yet signifed his disapprobation in consen
luence of our expressions, the justice and
plausibility Of which no unprejudiced mind
ian deny.
Those views as to the action Of the South,
n consequence Of the alarming attitude Of a
party which is publicly proclaimed by itself as
he enemy Of the Supreme Court, the Consti-
ution, and one Of its most important guaran-
ees, was merely an expression of opinion. and
# that character which is expected of every
Independent editor, whether protesting party
attachment or not, and who can say with truth
hat his soul and his press belong to him. But
We fully anticipated, in consequence of such ex-
preston, to be attacked by a "strain Of sarcasm
md ridicule" by some appreciati0e friend Of tre-
nendous consistency and patriotism; but as
We expected to survive such an attack, we
we're not deferred from expressing the opinion
lluded to: it is our duty honestly to warn
'ur patrons of danger, whether or not the
comes within the lines Of strict party
actics.
But whatever might have been The claims
which the American party had upon its friends
editors, orators and ofHers--when its might
ras being measured by a national contest,
hose claims were considerably lessened after
he Presidential election. Men will give their
leans, their time, and even sacrifice their
ealth, in their enthusiastic desires TO see a
reat political principle predominant. But af4
er the issue has been made, and that principle
the triumph of which its friends struggled
o hopefully and manfully) finds victorious
place in but one isolated spot upon the
road continent which we hoped and believed
9 see governed by it-when, in fact, we find
principle, sublime as we conceived it 10 be,
rushed to earth, nationally, under circumstan-
es which swept away the most remote hope
nat it could ever be resuscitated while weigh
d down by the errors and foIlies of it's prima-
Y organization, the fever that fed and bnoyed
S up was consequently cooled, the pulse as
umed its wonted action, and reason and wis
ON, if not policy, naturally regained their
lastership Of the mind and those who were
in unfolding that principle upon the
lump and in the sanctum) when It seemed to
g a principle vital and omnipotent, did not
its strength was tested, and in the face
f new and impending evils arising in the pos