The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1859-03-16

The Picayune, commenting on the terrible
disaster of the Princess, gives expression to the
following pertinent sentiments:
Our STEAMBOAT COMMANDERS mourn
full accident of the explosion and burning of the
steamer Princess has necessarily created COM
ment The fact is mentioned as worthy OF
public attention, that old and experienced cap
tains, in whom the public have great confidence
do not actually command boats which they are
/ supposed to have in charge from the public
advertisements Of the owners.
1t is well known that persons will delay THEN
( departure from this city for week 10 travel
with particular captain His prudence, his
skill. bis judgment, his decision and his con
scientious integrity, are matters of personal
/ knowledge 10 those who are thus wiling to trust
/ their lives, and, what is dearer, the lives Of
( their families, to his hands. The anxiety pro
duced by finding such an officer in the city,
after his boat has sailed with It's precious freight
can scarcely be conceived by those who have
not had the same interest at stake.
/ The question is now put with much force IS
it right to advertise as commanders OF popular
boats men OF tried capacity, when IN reality the
boat is under the management OF other officers
perhaps as trustworthy, but less known, and
less trusted by the community.
Some underwriters have adopted the course
of inserting a clause in the policy OF insurance,
that the insurance shall be forfeited if a loss
occurs to the boat when not in charge OF the
bona fde officer, publicly recognised as the
captain. When insurance companies exhibit
this c2ufipn in rnnarJ Ia tla CppuTjtV n DrOD-
erty, should not The trust of the public in our
popular steamers be as carefully guarded? 1t
would be worth while to inquire how many
fearful accidents have occurred in the absence
Of the acknowledged captain. NosUbordinate
however skillful, prudent, and conscientious,
can assume the responsibility Of delays, of ar
rivals behind time, and of other matters re-
curing decision, ia the same manner as the
captain Of a steamer himself 1t is worthy of
inquiry whether it be not due to the public that
the recognized officers of our beautiful river
boats should not always travel with them as
advertised, and if any change be made, the
public should not receive due notice OF the
fact,
Horns OFF.-Tbe Red River American no
ticing the arrival of the Grand Duke at Alex
andria remarks, Capt Applegate's magnif-
cent steamer, the Grand Duke, completely took
those horns off the Peerless, " on her first trip
up Red River, on Monday morning last, beat
ing her from New Orleans to this port some
three hours. As there has been considerable
blowing and putting about the Peerless being
a fast boat, we notice the fact, for the purpose
of showing that the .'beater has been beaten, y
and that, too, in a handsome manner We
think that Capt. Dowty had better take those
horns off and leave them with our friend Racial
who will present them TO the Duke with all
due honors..... ..........The Grand Duke; is one
Of the most magnificent and best adapted beats
for this trade we have yet seen. Her cabin is
large and Commodious, and decorated in plain
but neat ;her state rooms are also of fine size
and furnished with every comfort necessary for
the travelling public. Her popular commander
Samuel Apologize, IS one OF our Oldest steam I
boatmen, whose enterprise and perseverance
knows no bounds and we look forward with T
the bright hope that Capt. Applegate and his
splendid boat will have profitable career.
Mr. Stephens, of Georgia, is reported to have
employed the following language in the recent
caucus OF democratic Representatives:
"Mr. Stephens, of Georgia, said when he
irst entered congress in 1913, the expenses of
he government were only thirty millions per
lnnum. The country had gone through the
expensive Mexican war, with sixty three thou
sand soldiers in the field, for ffty-three nil
ions, and now, in time of peace, the estimates
we're seventy-three millions. Many expend
ures were wholly unnecessary, and reform was
needed He believed forty mil
ions an abundance for the national expense
he was therefore opposed to an increase of /
lutles, and said the expenditures should be I
brought within the present receipts.
This is suggestive statement. Volumes
would not avail for a more impressive repre- '
cntation Of the enormity Of the public expen- {
itures, and Of the urgent need of retrench-
lent and reform, than is compressed in this !
rief but pregnant paragraph. With the skill
f the rhetorican Mr. Stephens exhibits his |
ase in the vivid light of contrast, and deyeI-
pes it with a concentration of effect which
ompels instantaneous and unquestioning con
iction. In the crisis of foreign war, when the ]
sources of the nation were employed in the
onquest Of a wealthy and popuIous empire, I
18th sixty thousand men in the field at dis \
.nce of two thousand miles from the federal c
lpltal the expenditures of government scarce
exceeded fifty million dollars. Now at e
onent of profound peace, with democratic
administration in power and democratic ma o
rity in congress, the estimates amount to +
million! The statement demands %
} commentary. 5
But in truth the public mind was already a
oppressed with an adequate conception of the !,
of government That the fede- u
! expenditure is swollen to a tide of alarming o.
ID increasing volume, and that every expedi- g
1t Of economy is requisite to It's retrenchment
fore it mandates the country and defes ar b.
st, are familiar truths among the intelligent v
asses 81
Nor is there any insensibiity the evils of a W
odigaI administration in republican govern e 6,
ent. History abounds with examples Of its h h
tai influence on the virtue of the people, and d,
e spirit Of liberty, inculcates the lesson
at Spartan frugaIty is an indispensable al
ndition for the pure and permanent operation "
free Institutions, When government begins =
exact burdensome contributions of the mass fiji
and to disburse the public treasure in larg la
ses 10 its fayorics, besides the example of m n
efficacy which If as IFibfs If diractI rararas vi