The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1861-06-12
Chenk.matinr tha no..1h

lines of communication, via New York, to the sea-
making that city to supercedc New Orleans Mobile Sa-
vannah, Charleston and minor places the natural de-
pots Of the commerce in the article-we deem emf
nently wise and expedient In the war in which we
are cmb&rked-as have taken every occasion since
IFS commencement steadily to impress upon read
ersthcre should be no halfway measures, no local
hating executive shily-shaying in the measures
that may be deemed necessary carry to honor
able speedy and successful close en- the contrary
prompt submission to the burdens it demands an alac-
rty in welcoming the many and trying sacrifices which
war, domestic or foreign, always imposes will in all
human probability based upon experience be the cheap
est and least way in which it can be encoun-
| tered AIgeFaing disposition-whch cannot be too
much deFrecated-exiss, to contemplate the war as
momentary affair which will be INDUCED in as pas
time during the summer, and abandoned in the autumn,
heavy expenditures to engage the attention of
the people This is the view of it cannot approve,
believing that the advice of the late duke Of Yelling
ton to the British pariament-that it is never wise to
make preparations if for little war but at once re
gard whatever national conflict that NAV arise as of
most serious dimensions and prepare for it according
ly. That was the opinion Of the great soldier and it
is Of equal significance and applicability when applied
to the state OF domestic affairs at this moment as
when addressed to the British legislature We have
always impressed upon the minds Of those who daily
form modify their opinions from the columns of
this paper in opposition to the assurances so generally
volunteered by journals that no separation of the
United States was practicable or possible without war
] - |,
believing itin the last degree reposerous while others
referred to it emanatng from purpose to create
baseles5 fear and alarm to discourage from the attempt
We then also called upon provisional authorities to
act, when the rrevocable step was taken, in bold
comprehensive and statesmanlike manner by at once
imposing suitable taxes creating loan of sixty eighty
hundred millions Of dollars organising the entire
military of the south and declaring its ports free to all
the world Has the result not shown beyond the pow
er of sceptcism pausiby to question or deny the
wisdom, policy and provision of our advice? In aDT
event, would not its adoption have been wise9 L. il
is, has not its rejection wholly or mainly been 4 mis-
fortune? So now again We raise voice in depreca-
ton Of the unsafe belief that an END Of war to be
made before autumn cumber the earth with the forests
foliage There is no good ground for any such, and
if there any Of absolute certainty of
its taking place, error would be more dangerous
than that which would follow hes;taucy to put every
available man and gun in the position where, should
be disappointed i'll TIE result they could be most
efficiently and ettcctualy employed to conquer Beace
No error the provisional authority III control Of affairs
can commit will be more dangerous or less RENE
dlble than is that eff supposng that settlement or
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sive way rest with Lincoln Seward and their associates
in Washington. 1t is, indeed more than doubtful
whether the at any time was seriously contempa-
ted wished for by thcm they carried upon the
breast Of Irresistible current and thew had to eat
with it perish in it ana disappear This food forced
upon them various calls for troops until now they have
according to their published records some POO 900
militia, armed and equipped awaiting at various
points, the order to march upon these States These
gigantic preparations have not however produced the
smallest sensible effect upon the southern mind ne
human being here is dismayed by any apprehension Of
invasion to be made with 50 formidable force
and with destructive an aim as our enemy has open
" avowed; aud it is well it is so but at the same time
1t will be emnently dangerous to cherish the impress
sion that there il nothing meant by such demonstra
lions of force for whatever may be the wishes Or the
matured opinions of the Lincoln government, one
thing must be present to them and that is that
two hundred thousand men fully armed equipped and
Differed by their fellow men-the latter. too being
neither select fastidousare not to be driven hitber
and thither organised and Gsbanded as the wiln or
caprice of politicians may determine The troops are
thoroughly in earnest if their civil governors are not
and the south should look for peace from the lat
ter, or any truce, unless occupying attitude of great
strength which will carry the conviction of npregna
bity with it. 1t might be more welcome to people
generally to tell them, most writer's do that peace
is hand that their enemies are mean cowar,llv
dogs, without courage, discipline and officers without
the least merit, money credit This might make Us
seem the better patriot but the future is Judged by
US it would be scandaiously false and we prefer-at
the hazard of the of enemies or the loss of
the approval Of the oyersanguine-to picture our po
sition as it is and not should all wish it to be-
We hope the war may not have another six months
aye weeks longer duration, if it can be Justly
aud honorabiy terminated; but we cannot encourage
any one in this expectation do desire to do So
seeing that the most urgent necessity exists for putting
in immediate requjsiien the whole military and none
ary power of the south. We are not afraid of the
issue, however it may come presented; Vie have no
misgivngs of soldiers who full Of enthusiasm and
fighting for all that men hold dear and nestmable are
charged with the defence of resdes; but we have
uneasiness because Of the disposition which is too Oh
yious to hggle meanly aboEt putting forth our full
strength in its most effective form when BY so doing,
perhaps without conflict, honorable for all con
cerned may be obtained; in the meantime let there
he relaxation in preparing for bloody conflict
We copy the following from the Washington Ark
Courier deemipg the remarks of the editor very appli
cable to own exposed situation Hardly night
passes over, but disturbed BY hearing negroes
or Ioafers talking about premises, causing us to
snatch up our ayorite shot gun and prepare for an
emergency We are fully satisfied that very bad .
Set customers iEtests suburbs Of nights, and
most sincerely hope that patrols will be on the
alert Let negro be suffered to be absent from
home after O'Clock, pass pass:
Sometime since, our citizens held Z meeting and
organised nigttguard orhe protection Of town
This is supplying deficiency city has long borne
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