The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1862-05-28
Correspondence.

For the South-W esleTn
MEssRs ED1roRs--I find this paragraph in the Lou
isiaua Baptist Of the 8h nst viz: hne we seriously
believe that i'm louisiana north ola parallel o. ohrese
port there are not hundred traitors, still we rear tete
are some The public know who to suspect. 4AelT
movements should be specially noticed, theF snouu
be arrested and confined on good grounds OF suseo'
and upon fair conviction of guilt shot without formal,
legal proceedings This may seem rash, but none nave
right now so to talk or act as to bring upon them
suspicion of their fealthy to the south. c.
learn that C. stands for Courtney the preacher, the
DOCTOR the editor. If So what monstrous advice CON-
ing from such a source! The trio in one, with the
sanction of each has given to the world this startling
paragraph 1t is wonderful, because of the source
whence it emanates Wonderful because of the people
to whom it is addressed Fearful because of the fright
full consequences TO which it might lead.
A ripe Scholar has he measured with the full mean
ing of his language He is too advanced in age to
commit any of the folles and indscretons Of youth;
the gravity of his triple position precludes the idea
that he is sporting with the trying times and fearful
scenes in the midst of which he writes. Has passion
subverted the judgment? Does a learned physician
cry for mobaw under reign of political excitement?
Does the pulpit advise deeds OF lawless violence, of
boodshed and death? Can the religious press advise
the fearful crimes OF murder and assassination? How
fearfillly astounding! When before did such advice
from such high sources emanate?
What! At one fell stroke destroy all constitutions,
all laws all civil religious and political rights and in
augurate a reign Of terrOra rule of men Is he pre-
pared for it? He may start it. but who control, who
end il? Has he counted up the COSTS considered
the consequences Who is to be commissioned for
this bloody work? Are men generally calm. deber-
ate and eil-poised in the midst of great revolutions
which oterthrOws governments, constitutions. laws,
and upheage the very foundations of society? Are
fanatics confined to any one ocalityto any period
of time? Has mind always the mastery the pas
siOns? Or reason hold its sway over the fearful
powers Of prejudice?
would ask the doctor who has usually headed such
mob-aw bands? Who headed them in Mississippi iii
the bloody scenes of 1886? Who in California at a
later date? What were the consequences Would you
see reGnaced in our loyal peaceful quiet country like
scenes Of blood and death and ruin? Tell net that
prudent civilians will pass in from good citi
zens to become maiderers and assassns Such is the
advice You advise murder and assassination in their
most fearful forms,
In feariuIy trying times like these passions will in
egiJby have powerful sway over the very best trained
minds Prejudice will have more or less influence
over the better Judgment Many minds are quite car
ried away By peculiar anatcisiu While ALI true
and loyal to the SOUTH many differ wdelyas to the best
meaus of promoting common interests. Is it not
to be expected Il it not allowable? Could it be
otherwise: Some think honesty the best policy-look
facts squarely in the acecall things by their proper
names aud knowing the worst. prepare TO meet the
worst. They think just cause can be most efficiently
advanced BY a straight forward common sense course.
Others believe in suppressing and concealng every
thing that Is uularorable and in magnfying every
thing the least pr0pious. The one proposes to meet
our condition it is; the other he would wish
he. Both are loyal and true; both equally inter
esed in the mighty issue. Each thinks the other
doing an injury TO tue common cause
Hence from these two casts of minds, each equally
bent on the same great purpose, arise differences I'm
souudncss is iusinuated by the more rash. Prejudice
and passion comfort the iHsiuuation into charge
Treason traitor reSouuds along the excited ranks and
then the doctor calls forth his bands, fresh and in
q 4 !,
denim and shoot. Heaven forefend True he exhorts
to calmness But can the upheayng volcanoes be
quoted in the midst of its mighty eruptons by the
same causes that produced them? II so the doctor
may still in breath the mighty sway OF passions
which he had excited by another
But why has he appealed to such measures Does
it emanate from an honest conviction of his better
Judgment Or does it flow from the more probable
source, unsancfed passion? If from the former, the
error is Of the head-if from the latter of the heart
Let him attempt to shelter behind the familiar plea
of necessity He cannot invoke the old adage that
necessity knows law There is no such neces-
sity, any prospect of it, IT. indeed, there be trail
in the land aud the suspicion that there seems
peculiar TO him and his adviser) have not laws by
which, aud courts and iuries before which they NAV
be tried? Who but he has found out that these are
not competent here for present emergencies? Has
any one in all the country openly dehed the laws? Do
armed bands oyeEawe courts aud iuries? Are public
law and order threatened 10 justify their over
throw here uudcr pTetence of executing them2 Has
president Davis, any otderresponsble person. found
the laws inefficient the courts and ures so uucer
TAIN to advise, in violation of al laws, constitu
tons, and IN derogation OF all rights resort to the
barbarous expedent Of moblaw? Would any man in
his senses take the execution of our laws from the
hands of the constituted authorities and risk it in the
hands Of irresponsible mobs2 Much less may minis
ter OF the gospel learned physician, editor of
religious paper, with Proprety, lend the weight of his
responsible and sacred Offices such fearful purposes
ta, r. +b -, I'll, h. Il