Natchitoches union. [volume] ([Natchitoches, La.]) 1859-1864, 1862-05-22
FU
VIGILANCE.

ute VI tle capflttS 01 our nature. we
forget that as particulars we make up
the whole, and are perhaps response
bic for them ourselves. II has become
too common to declam against the
shortcomings Of our civil or military
leaders Nothing can be more unjust.
They may have erred but It is impos-
slble for MS to say exactly where.
We might as well pretend that we
can see ut the foot Of u hill all we
could discover Upon the top. At amy
rntr, we have put them where they are.
II they arc not equal to the e1igcncies
OF the times, 1t is our misfortune. not
their fault, and we but weaken ou
own ranst, IN failing to support them.
Like the famous Mrs. JclIaby, we may
after all be "louking, into Africa, and
forgetting that the closets need dust
ing. and are full Of Old candlcsticls
and broken china. Every man has
himself something to dn--a duty which
~ one can perform for him and which
the ptrils OF the moment make it i'm
perativc that he should not neglect.
Our little town, cut of as We are
FROM all mail communication. is full of
rumours, which, i'll nine eases ont of
ton. have no foundation Mt all yet.
Every thoughtful person feels that this
is not moment to slumhur III Ianeicl
security. We have everything to-
hope for, but we must be active and
rigilant. \ great number Of our Cit
zens have noblv volunteered to- act as
guardians Of the public safety, but
there are others who can be quite as
useful at nnp. and il seems evident
that all Planters who are not employed
in civil OF military offices should he ut
this moment as much with their slaves
rs possible. II would br one of the
most uil,rctual modes Of keeping them
nndcr proper restraint They ac
knuwlcdge III the master an authority
width they seldom recognize when do
legatrd to another and u word OF Il
look from him is often moro ellcacinus
than the most rigid discipline of the
subordinate.
The evil objects of non resident pro-
rertv holding is seen and lamentad in
ireland, as fruitful cause Of The dis.
tnrbanccs which so often arise there;
how much more disastrous must they
ho in our case, In fact. it is doubtful
whether any man ought to hold slaves.
who docs not live among them II
certainty is not best for the slaves;
if he knows and feels his responsible
tics ii is not best for the master if
hc does not. he should not, as u matter
Of public good. hold them at all
But the necessities of the present mo-
mrat demand particular attention
His good setsc would prevent his
slaves from being startled out of the
accustomed routine, hy either undue
severity Or improper indulgence he
would sec that now, when it is impor-
tant to keep them undsturbed, us far
as practicable, all their accustomed
wants should be supplied and that
they should feel, az little as possible,
the shock which agitate the stratum
above them; h. would prevent, hy his
sleepless vigilance, their being tam
pered viii, by evil disposed persons hc
would keep alive, by his presence, those
strong ties Of personal regard which
have grown up between them. aud. hy
the iutlicions exercise Of his authority,
he would impose good order and sn-
hordination. 1t is often sad, that
the most indugcd servants have of.
tencst proved ungrateful and perverse,
! Ii is true. They need kindness. and
Eall the liherty which is compatible
EIwith their best interests more than
this, is great wrong and disndvant-
Inge t. them, the negro i M inferior
being, his reason is sub ordinate to his
natural impulses, and liberty with him
becomes uubrillcd liccncc; religion
degcneratcs into superstition and pas
sion to brutality He needs to be
governed, and is more likely to be
ruined hy excessive indulgence than
undue Sevcrity-he must recognize III
his master kind and benciicent sam.
r3or, never an equal, and we venture TO
say that, if let alone he will remain
grateful and attached There is pro-
baby nothing new in what we have
said but it is well to see at glance
the advantages and necessities OF vi
gilant watchtullness At the present
moment If every Planter would do
his duty what belongs to linn personal
y and Wh1tno aur can ~ t"r him