The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1861-04-17
Pea.ne or War.

The great question of peace or war remains still
decided Fort Sumter is still under command OF Maj
Anderson and will probably continue to be- until the
want of provisions compeS evacuation. The prepa-
ratons Of the confederate States for the reduction of
fort Picens still progressing upon formidable
scale The Lincoln administration have declared that
they will not reinforce that fort But the ordering OF
large number of vessels to the gulf is calculated
to throw suspicion upon their pacific intentions, and
coupled with their failure to declare frankly their policy
towards the confederate States it may have tendency
to precipitate hostites
Mhe commissioners washington still believe in the
pacific policy of the republican administration, and dis
credit the teegraphic which look to different
issue of the present difficulties. They have been dis
posed grant all necessary time to Lncons cabinet to
develop their policy. For this they have been severely
by the ardent Hotspurs of the confederate
States but hey have doubtless acted thus with the full
knowledge and appreciation of the authorities at Mont
gomery,
President Davis and his advisers will not probably
seek BY hostities what in their opinion will be as surely
secured by delay. This the policy in relation to
fort Sumter and the Caronians reluctantly acquiesced
in it. Its wisdom is vndidated by the necessity which
compels its evacuation without that fearful sacrifice
! of life which must have attended It's assault.
| The same consequences must flow from the invest
Of fort Pickens by the army of the confederate
States while the warlike preparations there will have
the two fold effect Of guarding against surprise and
convincing the old confederacy that the confederate
States thoroughly in earnest in insisting upon, and
enforcing the abandonment by the United States forces
of Notifications within the limits of the seeded States
| even at the cost of conflict and war.
These States and those who most savored their with
drawal from the Union, have constantly professed thai
4 they sought only an independence of the government
which had become dstasetul to them-that they sough
not to precipitae the country into war-that they haC
no designs of aggression against either the rights the
territory of the old government Many doubtless there
are who would rejoice to conflict precpitated, bu
they not those whose wisdom is most conspicuous
/ or whose eounsels most deserve to be followed.
| Every dictate of prudence and policy points to thC
propetv of assuming the attitude of defense If hos
tilities a consequence of that attitude
man of patriotism will hesitate accept Them and dis
charge his full duty in defending the rights and The
independence of his country.
War, when necessary, is sufficiently disastrous to al
the great interests of society heedessy provok
ing it. Its catalogue of fathers husbands and brothers
slain in battle of towns and cities pilaged of fair
fertile districts laid waste of commerce destroyed, o
industry, Of industry paravsed of manufactures arrest
ed Of general financial Distress Of exhorbitant
which, however necessary, fall with crushing weigh
even upon the bIavest and most sclfsacriicng people
of widowhood and orphanage, of grief and mourning
which send forth their wall from every hearthstone il
the land affords panorama on which the eve of tho
patriot hesitaes to dwell "All the pomp and crcum
stance of war; cannot disguise the mseries which fol
in its train. They endured as necessary evils only
when brought upon in defending dearest rights
If it must come let the fall responsibility of its com
mencement rest upon those who make aggression upor
u.s. While we believe this to be the proper policy tc
be pursued in the present conjunction heartily
believed that should be fully prepared for the worst
Preparations and ability repel aggression often AFFORD
! the surest means of Perpetuatng peace.
LA. tMonroe) Intelligence.