The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1862-02-05
Now or Never-the Crisis is at Hand.

We are no alarmist but cannot, public joqrnnh
conceal facts aud deceive the people as to our PFFSh
situation. We wish to create no unnecessary eAc7e-
ment in regard dangers that may menace US ffol any
quarter but we deem It duty to arouse the people
from the dreamy ethgrgy that has oyeraken them ad
advise them to grid their or the fearful srg
gle that must soon come The department OF the west
IS now the grand theatre for the war transferred from
Virginia to Kentucky and from tile line Of the Pot3mac
to that of the Ohio Columbus is the Manassas Of the
great basin of country holding secure gateway Up the
valley Of the Mississippi if it's properly deended ia
the mingled fortunes Of the war; are about tot aye
our turn little of its hardships, and it behooyFs ils
I to be prepared to defend our soil and our rights
We have been slow to arouse people in regard 70
this matter remembering that they were thrown ihto
panic ii November last by rumors which ended ~ tA
cited and breathlcss talk. But think the me bps
now arrived when should warn our citizens OF tHe
coming danger, that they may be prepared Tor It. I've
crisis certainly upon us and in less than thirty days
such scenes will be enacted in Kentucky and IehnessFe
as history has never vet recorded We are to be tQr
midaby threatened at Columbus Bowling Green, ahdat
some points in east Tennessee by force OF at least
I75 600 men, while fifty sixty thousand additional
troops are to down the river from Cairo, pndfr
Gen Halleck Our coast, too is to be attacked slms
taneou3ly and fields laid waste and our houses de
sroved by the torch We cannot close eyes Up tits
situation of affairs nor can we resist an appeal Tor none
men annihilae these invading armies as they arg pre-
cpitated over our borders.
To-day We stand in more danger than some Of oiH
people imagine. A powerful army of over two hug
dred thousand men knocks at outer wall Our Gn
trance is protected by two main gateways, and against
these two points columbus and Bowling GreenI the
enemy will bring all their force to bear The divisions
are commanded by able and experienced officers Have
we men enough at those points to meet them?P is a
question which have often been asked, and here W
plainly answer NOT we have not. We shall debeiFe
our readers with false hope vain illusion, Weshtl
exhibit the emergency of the occasion in its true light
tt,S.tt 4 mo
we must have if we expect to keep the invader out o
the Mississippi valley.
An army of over two hundred thousand men, sup
piled with all the improved equipments Of modern w9
fare is now actively employed in preparing to invade
our country. These hosts to kill, to eXiIf, aC
subiugate and make vassas of our whole nation a;lG
people and possess themselves of our heritage. Thi.y
come to conquer and gain rich spos Failing in thtiI
great object, they will wanonly desoute our borders
With their feet they will lombard cities and ry
waste our fields The crisis is drawing nearerand nearer
and already almost feel the sulphurous bre4th
the enemy tainting pure atmosphere His drum aC
rampngs echo deeper and deeperin our soil. Ihb his
with which he is preparing the death stroke Is almGs
audible The rafting Of his chains almost heard
/ be gazes over our ramparts The day is at hand
Win the brave MissssiPpans pause2 VIII they cingtt
the comforts OF home when the honor and security b
that home is in danger? VIII they when the eue
mys rifles ringing aud their swords flashing lonl
our border?
to reduce our cities; III view OF the approaching He&t
of lnstul and blood thirsty foes who threaten dew
tate our plantations, burn houses and polute
desecate their sacred precnts by the blood Of VIC
men, in view Of all these appeal TO Missssippianst
come out armed and upftcd with the strength apI
sinews of holy purpose Come out from the AilB ant
valleys and rcpel at one swoop the ruthless uyAd5Y
Come cut in your might and fight for the protection 10
your homes, your lands and those fair women whosh
watch your coming, and grow gIadder when you come
Let no man console himself with the heartless s0pstty
/ that he can live under any government We mus
breathe the free and pure air Of yon blue welkn. W,
must be tIeetree to speak, free TO think and free }C
act
Our people must put in order the best they cal
procure, and be ready to move at moments warming
to use them. More must be sent the field or Sic
/ spectaces will be witnessed.
/ Come forward and enroll your names on history page
Every must do his duty to his country The llaGA
clouds OF war are lowering around our horizons L%
none iater The red tide Of war spreading wider arc
wider, aud rolling higher and higher We can arc
must resist it. or be compelled to wander us pennies
and homeless tugtives in land Of strangers.
Yicksburg Wing, Of the 8lst ult.
THE Horn OF TRIAL.-In our issue of yesterday We
attempted lift the curtain of ignorance or toal mis-
apprehension which has so long Shut out from public
mind the actual condition Of affairs in the west. WIZ
deem it duty faithful public Journalist stat
the situation fairly squarey, and arouse our pebpEe
from the prevailing inactlou and Indifference. We trie
to demonstrate the clear and unalterabe fact that Tx
crisis of fate nation and people, is rapidlE
i coming upon Us with almost overwhelming force WI
have tried to the people, who have been ulle
! INTO tanced security, of the coming danger wEicI
the stupendoGs preparations of the embaed legiors d
tyranny have warned Us near at hand. This matter d.
uands more than passing thought; and to-day we a.
Jude to again and tile people of the danger th
conrOnts them. Soon the land will be clothed in gloom
covered with deSolae homes and filed with suferin:
to say nothing of tue horrors Of prolonged confess
perhaps brought to own doors. We who live aunt
the river should look with chfnl vigilance and kee&
concern the defence OF Columbus for should it fall
there is but little to prevent the enemy from sweeping
down the river with their feet of gunboats am;
batteries, and fifty sixty thousand men under Gen,
IIaieek. Yieksburg Wing, Of the lst inst.
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/ An AMAZING CHANGE.--In the Mobile Advertiser VIZ
find the usual comparative statement of the receipts Of
cotton all the ports for the first four months of thu
cotton year" viz from the LIST of September to the Isl
Jan The following is the result;
1850 1861.
Received at New Orleans col .o75. / ,789 bales
f" Mobile. 5000. S26,a71... u
Savannah. ...... 80, $50. 49,. $50
+" Charleston. 49,. 15I SOS. 1895
Memphis ...... 70,3l0 1925
Total. ..............1,4S ass, 004s =. 1853
1t may be doubted if tie world ever saw a smila
showing. crop worth three hundred millions Of dol
lars necessary to the well being and peace Of the world
| totally excluded from the markets of the world o
the crop of 1869 about eighty millions OF dollars wortl
had been sold up to the lst of January OF the las
crop only one millions worth in the same length 0
time The resources of the south be great indeed
when it can stand such deprivation as it has stoodit
with far less inconvenience than could have been sun
posed.